Why do you write? What purpose does writing serve for you currently?

I write as my primary form of catharsis. I'm addicted to it; most feelings that pass through me I record and interpret first in a journal entry, then in a poem.

How do you usually start a poem, story, etc?

I'll catch a witty line, or a rhyme, or metaphor in my head that aligns with one of the themes I create from. From there I just have to feel the flow in the moment. My advice to myself is to know what the punch line of the poem is - or where I want it to end - before diving into the details.

How do you know when a piece is finished?

For me a poem is finished really only when I can read it over and over without replacing any phrases or words.

What writers/artists are influencing you right now?

I'm in love with Aimee Herman. Her book To Go Without Blinking changed my life.

What do you want people to know about your work?

My friends and family most often complain to me that my writing isn't transparent enough, but it's not supposed to be. I want people to know that each poem is playing out an idea, or a scene, but that my language puts more emotion into just a blank description.

What question do you wish I asked you?

I suppose where my ideas come from, but I think that everyone who writes knows they come from the writer's own experiences.

View Natalie's Works Here