Meet Catherine Balaq

Alright – so today we’ve got the honor of introducing you to Catherine Balaq. We think you’ll enjoy our conversation, we’ve shared it below.

Hi Catherine, so excited to have you with us today, particularly to get your insight on a topic that comes up constantly in the community – overcoming creativity blocks. Any thoughts you can share with us?

I’ve had many years in my life when I was unable to be creative, due to work demands and family. I think you have to have a bit spare in the tank to feel you have the energy for creative acts. I didn’t writer between the ages of 22 and 40. I was so busy with children and working as a psychotherapist that time for me in that way just didn’t happen.

For me I need a lot of time around writing to settle to it, time before to sink down into it, time to stay there for long enough to find something under the surface, and time to come back again before the school run!

When I can’t write, I read, and when the can’t read, I knit!

Thanks, so before we move on maybe you can share a bit more about yourself?

I am working on novels at the moment, one is finished and about to go out on submission. It’s a slow process working a way through the literature world. And coming from a working class background I think makes it harder to network in the right places.

I won a scholarship to study an MA in poetry at age 44 and am just graduating now. I’ve published 2 collections of poetry and am editing a third. Animaginary is my first and is available from the Black Cat Poetry Press website.
The second Deathless is available at the Verve Poetry website or from most online retailers.

I also co edit at Black Cat Poetry Press and mentor other writers along side the editing work.

I am available for mentoring or editing of poetry or novels. You can contact me here: catherinebalaq@gmail.com

I’ve stopped work as a psychotherapist over the last 2 years and I am not sure I want to go back!

Looking back, what do you think were the three qualities, skills, or areas of knowledge that were most impactful in your journey? What advice do you have for folks who are early in their journey in terms of how they can best develop or improve on these?

Being able to fake confidence and self belief has been a massive learning for me. Having belief that I can belong in arts spaces has been difficult. So I’d say feeling the fear and doing it anyway is a good life moto for me. And knowing that art and creativity is for everyone.

Also knowing that art has inherent value, right from the creation through to the delivery. It’s a precious and important part of being alive.

Knowing that things just don’t happen, unless you are very lucky, you have to work hard to achieve your goals.

All the wisdom you’ve shared today is sincerely appreciated. Before we go, can you tell us about the main challenge you are currently facing?

My number one obstacle at the moment is my health. I have M.E, and sometimes the flare ups are really bad after travel or events. I’ve just finished a little reading tour with my new poetry book Deathless and find I am not well after each event. It’s a lot to manage and finding the balance between living some sort of happy and fulfilled life, and giving myself enough rest and stillness.

Contact Info:

• Instagram: @catbalaq
• Twitter: @catbalaq