How many jobs did you go through before this one?
A bunch. My first three jobs were 1) waitressing at Elby’s (kind of like Denny’s) where I learned to make hot fudge brownie delights, 2) selling clothes at the Cambridge Dry Goods outlet, and 3) hawking popcorn, Raisinets and Goobers at a movie theatre at the Fairgrounds Square Mall in Reading, PA. And that was just high school. In college, there was telemarketing for magazine renewals, bartending at Penn State’s Holiday Inn and cleaning motel rooms at the Jersey shore. After college, the jobs were a little more interesting. After a brief stint in advertising, I bounced around doing video and TV production at a bunch of different places. But through it all, writing was a part of what I did—whether it was writing for work, writing in my journal or writing editorials about something going on in the world that really got me going. Once I realized that writing was what I was supposed to be focusing on (instead of writing at nights and on weekends when I wasn’t doing my “real job”), it all just kind of clicked.
What do you love about being a writer?
I love that it is so challenging, yet so rewarding at the same time. When I’m in the middle of writing a book or article, I go into a sort of “zone,” and while it’s far from effortless, I do feel like there’s a little voice inside my head that tells me what to write…if everything’s going right, it just kind of flows out of me. That being said, it is the most difficult job I’ve ever had, mostly because it takes so much out of me and the work itself can be really intense. But when I finish a book or an article and I can sit back and reflect on what I created, that’s a pretty satisfying feeling. And knowing that my writing has a positive impact on other people, especially teens, feels even better.
What do you do when you’re feeling uninspired?
Working alone can get pretty isolating, so I’ve got lots of tricks for dealing with feeling uninspired. Here are some of my techniques for digging myself out of a writing slump:
- Watch one of my TIVO’d shows, like Grey’s Anatomy, Project Runway, Oprah or Entourage
- Go for a run with my iPod and my dog, Baxter
- Take a long, hot shower (although since watching Al Gore’s An Inconvenient Truth, I’ve been making these much shorter!)
- Sing along with the soundtrack to Rent
- Jam for a while on my piano or guitar
- Work in my garden
- Take a nap (my personal favorite!)
Email me at deborah@deborahreber.com… I read every email that comes my way and while it might take me a while, I do my best to respond to them all!
Where do you live?
Since graduating from college, I bounced around a bit, spending ten years in New York City and then heading to the West Coast to give Los Angeles a whirl. I eventually landed in Seattle, WA in 2004, and I absolutely love it! I think that Seattle will be my home sweet home for a long time to come…
How do you spend your free time?
Since I have an industrious preschooler and am somewhat of a workaholic, I don’t have a ton of “free time.” The time I do have is spent doing things like running, hanging out with friends, reading, sleeping, gardening and watching TV. If I could have a week all to myself with no husband, no child and no responsibilities, I’d spend it at a health retreat and spa tuning in and recharging. (Hey, I can dream, can’t I?)
Where do you get your ideas for your books?
I do a lot of reading…everything from newspapers and YA novels to teen mags, oodles of websites and blogs. Usually an idea just kind of jumps out at me that connects with my passion and then I’ll start researching it to see if it is an idea that has an audience out there. If it does, I start writing!
What are your guilty pleasures?
Peeps, Twizzlers, Ring Dings and Devil Dogs, staying in my pajamas until 3pm, extra butter on my popcorn at the movie theatre, old John Hughes movies like Pretty in Pink and Some Kind of Wonderful and singing sappy love songs from the 70’s and 80’s.
What kind of a teenager were you?
Hmmm. I was the smart aleck kid who tortured substitute teachers and called my high school teachers, and my parents, by their first names. I was the kid who always got in trouble when a group of us was doing something we weren’t supposed to do. Let’s put it this way…in my senior class poll, I was voted “Class Clown,” “Best Excuse Maker,” “Most Talented” and I tied with my best friend for “Most Outspoken.” I wasn’t all bad, though. While a bit of a spaz, I was also friends with just about everyone and had dreams of saving the world someday (I still do!). I participated in lots of school sports, musicals, and was involved in student government. Lastly, in keeping with the styles of the 80’s, I wore vintage clothes to school and teased my bangs to hang in front of my face, not unlike how Robbie Smith from The Cure wore his hair at the time. (Yes, the photos are now a little embarrassing…check out my photo album and you’ll see what I mean!)
What are you working on now?
I’ve been super busy promoting my new book Chill for the past few months. But I'm also working on a new, amazing book project for teen girls. I can't spill the beans yet, but stay tuned for more details soon!
© 2003-2007 Deborah Reber
