Natalie Streber

Writer Interview

Natalie Streber was born Natalie Lubrano in Orlando, FL, July 1980. She is married with two children and is currently residing (against her better judgment in Chicago, IL). Natalie has not published anything yet unless you count the newsletter articles for a parenting group or the countless letters to the editor of the major paper for whatever city she happens to be living in at the time. She is a chronic mover – 17 times in 26 years and no, her dad was not in the military. She would love to publish a novel in the near future.

Moe: When did you know you wanted to be a writer?

Natalie Streber: I knew I wanted to be a writer once I learned how to write. I loved writing and illustrating my own stories when I was younger. I have since given up the illustrating when my stick-figure princesses failed to impress.

Moe: Describe three lessons you have learned about writing?

Natalie Streber:
1. The act of writing (or typing) is like riding a bike – my hand remembers how to form the letters, but the actual transfer of coherent thoughts to paper is a whole other skill entirely. Writing takes practice – everyday.
2. I am my own worst critic. The days I can release my inner critic I am able to write more freely.
3. Write what you know. My mother gave me this advice when I had writer’s block and I still use it today.

Moe: What are you working on now?

Natalie Streber: I am working on a fiction novel about a woman’s battle with Postpartum Depression and the psychotic break that results (I promise it is not as depressing as it sounds). I also have another, much lighter, fiction piece I am working on about a female private eye. And there are the occasional articles for the newsletter of a parenting group I belong to.

Moe: Do you have a favorite writing related book?

Natalie Streber: Well, since you said only ONE, I guess it would be Anne Lamont’s Bird by Bird. I felt as if she could have been sharing the information with me over coffee and a croissant (that is my favorite pastry in case you want to know) and that made her advice easier to apply to my own writing.

Moe: What is your favorite writing website?

Natalie Streber: Book-in- a-Week, naturally! I really enjoy the sense of community. Just knowing there are other writers out there pushing to write more is motivation enough for me. Along with BIW, I also love http://rejecter.blogspot.com (the author is an assistant at a literary agency), I believe someone from BIW posted a message about it and ever since I have been hooked.

Moe: Do you have an important writing tip you’d like to pass along?

Natalie Streber: I have to set aside specific writing time because I have two children under the age of three and free time is rare. I find if I plan ahead when I am going to write I am more likely to sit down at my desk at that specific time and get the job done. I also skip a few loads of laundry that week!

This interview was first published on the Book-in-a-Week website, May 2007.