Please tell us a little about your writing process.
I see it as a process of gathering and then stripping away. I usually begin with a single idea or image that won’t leave my head and let a narrative unfold. The real work happens in revision, where I peel back the layers of a draft until only the most resonant words remain.
How do you believe a writer improves?
Improvement is a collision of wide reading, constant practice, and the messy courage to fail. Personally, I look to improve by reading everything – particularly outside my preferred genre.
What motivates you to write?
I started my writing career interviewing authors – established and emerging ones – helping to understand what was ‘behind the paragraph.’ During that time, I realized I was looking for my own “why.” I am motivated by the “unsaid”—the gaps between what we feel and the language we have to describe it. Writing is my way of making sense of fragmented ideas and capturing passing moments of clarity before they disappear.
What is the role of the writer in society?
In a world of automated content, the writer’s role is to offer something raw and unfiltered—to be a witness and a mirror. Our role is to record the emotional temperature of our time, ensuring that the human experience isn’t lost to history or buried under headlines.
Which mistakes have you learned the most from?
My biggest mistake was waiting for the “perfect” moment or the right mood to strike before sitting down to work; the perfect moment is a myth. I’ve been very lucky to have had writing mentors who encouraged me to simply start. Over time, I learned that inspiration usually shows up only after I’ve already started typing, and the surprise of the draft is its own reward.
Which successes are you most proud of?
While awards like this are deeply validating, I am most proud of the quiet successes – when someone I know, or a stranger, tells me a specific line helped them articulate a feeling they couldn’t name themselves. That moment of striking a chord is powerful.
Laura Cococcia is a New York City-based writer and communications strategist focusing on societal change and cultural themes. She is active in the Aspen Institute and TED and has held leadership roles at Google, American Express, and GE. Her work has appeared in various online publications. Laura holds a master’s degree from Cornell University and a bachelor’s degree in English from the College of the Holy Cross.