Our team has expanded substantially since the company was formed almost 8 years ago, yet we’ve been fortunate to have many of our original and earliest joining colleagues remain with us throughout its growth. One of our longest standing members is Patricia, who joined us in 2017 as a German Content Writer. In our latest ‘Meet the Team’ segment, we caught up with Patricia to hear about her role as a writer—both in and outside the company—and her firsthand experience working with 360 Digital Starters as it evolved over the years.
Hi Patricia!
Our company is headquartered in one of Europe’s most vibrant cities—Berlin! Can you tell us a little about your connection to the city?
I was born and went to school in Berlin so, of course, I have a very close relationship with the city. My family and friends live here and the city is the center of my life. I can imagine that Berlin feels different when you move here for the first time or have your roots in another part of the world. The Berlin I grew up in however doesn't compare to the city it is today; everything is faster and more colorful, which I find very exciting. The start-up scene also didn't exist in this form.
As one of the members of the 360 Digital Starters team, can you shed some light on how you came to work for the company?
I have been working here since 2017. At that time I published my first book and I was looking for an additional mainstay. The company wanted to expand into the DACH market and my partner was working in the Content Department at the time, so one thing led to another and here I am.
As someone who has been with us for 5+ years, what do you feel is the most notable change the company has undergone since you came on board?
The team has grown dramatically—and this has, of course, been accompanied by a change in how the company is structured. Each internal department has been defined more concretely now, and with new larger products (such as the recently launched TerraYou platform) there are lots of clearly defined projects for which I work. There is now a really focused vision for the company and the type of content I get to work on is much more varied, which really challenges me as an author.
While you do dabble in English products from time to time, you predominantly write for German audiences. In your experience, what do German readers seem to enjoy the most?
Every market is tricky in its own way and every channel works differently. In the German market, products where you can prove and test your knowledge usually work well. IQ tests, brain challenges or spelling quizzes for example have proven themselves time and again in the past. Products that focus on nostalgic (somewhat patriotic) values and personal identification also do well—our GDR quiz is a good example. Not to forget the niche audiences that value spiritual or NEW-AGE content.
The company has in recent months adopted a hybrid work set-up for all employees. Can you tell us how having the opportunity to work from home has impacted your workflow?
Best decision ever! Although I am very extroverted and communicative, I value an isolated workspace. In a home office, I can separate this contrast much better and focus more effectively on my work. I also like the fact that I don't have to travel to and from the office. The two hours I gain as a result are used for my daughter.
You just recently published a book! What advice would you give to writers aspiring to do the same? What came first, the book or the publisher?
The book of course! Usually, no publisher will ask you to write a book for them (unless you're famous for something other than writing). Through my creative writing studies, I had a different approach to the literary business and to the corresponding network of publishers, editors and agencies. When my debut novel was almost finished, I had already found a publisher through my agent who wanted to print it. Finding an agency that will negotiate with publishers for you is a good first step to take.
We heard you studied Archeological Studies at university. Are there any distinctive overlaps between archeology and writing?
As an archaeologist, you deal with a vast amount of data that you mentally store in a kind of "archive". As a writer, you don't actually do anything else. You conceive a story, a plot, characters, and try to depict a fictional parallel to reality. In this respect, both the archaeologist and the author reconstruct reality. Some archive the past, others create an archive of the present.
To study archaeology you must have an appreciation for history. If you could live at any point in time, when would it be?
This is a very good question. I would like to pay a short visit to each epoch (in a time machine for example). Out of pure curiosity, the first trip would probably take me to the Middle Ages. But I would also like to have a lavish party in the Palace of Versailles or attend the world premieres of great classical works or films. Luckily that's not possible, otherwise I would make it my business to correct errors in history...
Thank you Patricia! We’re looking forward to seeing where your creativity will take us next.