JHB West - Nov 21

Text: RIALIEN FURSTENBERG. • Photographer: CARLA SHANNON PHOTOGRAPHY.
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We chat to four inspiring women who turned their writing dreams into reality.
Caitlin Anne Tallack - Engineering student
The words engineering and poetry are rarely, if ever,
used in the same sentence. They are polar opposites,
right? Well, there’s always that exception. Take Caitlin, for
example. Despite being an engineering student - with
a bright future in front of her, since she was eight, she’s
dreamt about being a published writer. A dream that has
finally come true.
“The first poem I ever wrote was a two-verse ode to my
family’s double-my-size Great Dane puppy. The poem
was called Puppy Love. It was probably a terrible poem,
but it was the beginning of my attempts to express
myself through that poetry.’’
And from scribbling poems about dogs and the
garden, 21-year-old Caitlin has come a far way. The
86 free-verse poems in her book are all about her
personal experiences. About love, hope, heartache.
About the beautiful and mundane experiences that
each year brings.
“Growing up, I read poems by long-dead, ancient poets.
I loved the poems, but they weren’t my story. I wanted
a book by a young woman about what it’s like to be a
young woman, so I wrote it. A book that readers can
relate to and resonate with. And it is really pretty too,
filled with full-colour pages and images. So between the
poems about break-ups and the pressure to be pretty,
you can also expect beautiful images.”
Caitlin loves to spoil herself with food and guess what …
books. So it comes as no surprise that she is quite a book
collector. ‘Maybe a bit of a book hoarder rather?
Haha. My books are organised in colour order and
nothing makes me happier than staring up my
bookshelves. Especially when I notice my pretty in
pink book there as well.’
Although she does not have any plans for another
book just yet, she hopes that her book will inspire
others to pursue their dreams, despite how
intimidating they may seem. Right now, she is
enjoying the fact that she now has the freedom to
choose a new dream.
“But, this book won’t be the last. I would still like to
write about my experiences as a South African. I
think our country has learned lessons that the entire
world could benefit from learning too.”
Caitlin’s advice to anyone thinking of writing a book?
‘It is one thing to commit to starting your book. It is
much more important to commit to finishing your
book. I know so many incredibly talented writers
with hundreds of unfinished drafts. It is challenging
and terrifying and it should absolutely scare you a
little. But give yourself a deadline. And then finish it!’
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From New Year’s Day to
Peculiar People Day, holidays
recognised, religious and
ridiculous, each provides a
medium through which to
explore the love, the hoping,
the heartache, the beautiful,
the mundane and the
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12 Get It Magazine November 2021