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INTERVIEW

Author Gavin Prinsloo did not begin writing with publication in mind. Writing emerged instead from a deeply personal struggle during one of the most uncertain periods in recent memory. ‘I started writing in 2020 with the pandemic after suffering a mental health challenge,’ the South African poet tells Global Despatch. What began as an emotional outlet gradually transformed into a prolific literary journey rooted in imagination and introspection.

From Emotional Catharsis to Published Poetry

Since beginning his writing journey, Gavin has authored four books, all centred primarily on poetry and free verse. The series, Pieces of My Mind, is available on Amazon and spans an eclectic range of themes and moods. Volume One explores a mixed genre approach, while Volume Two delves into gods, myths, and legends. Volume Three, Eros Awakened, ventures into more sensual and adult territory. A fourth volume, Philosophy & Sharp Stones, is nearing release.

Alongside these collections, he has also recently published Souls Desire, a collaborative hardcover project that combines original colour photographic art with descriptive poetry. The work stands apart for its visual-literary fusion and high-end presentation, reflecting an ambition to create poetry not merely as text, but as immersive experience.

Writing Without Maps or Blueprints

Unlike authors who meticulously outline plots and characters before writing, Gavin’s process is instinctive and immediate. ‘No, I publish what comes to mind,’ he says simply. There are no elaborate frameworks or carefully engineered structures behind the work. Emotion leads, and the writing follows.

This spontaneity is perhaps what gives his poetry its rawness and immediacy. Rather than constructing stories from a distance, he allows thought and feeling to arrive unfiltered onto the page.

Influenced by the Masters of Melancholy

Among the writers who have left a lasting impression on him are Edgar Allan Poe and Robert Frost. ‘The pinnacle of poetic skills,’ he calls them.

The admiration is unsurprising. Both poets are remembered for their emotional intensity, rhythmic command and ability to confront darkness without losing lyrical beauty — qualities echoed subtly in Gavin’s own outlook toward writing.

An Emotional Writer Without a Schedule

For Gavin, writing is not something confined to a timetable. ‘I write all the time. I am an emotional writer,’ he explains. Inspiration is not summoned artificially but emerges organically from lived experience and emotional states.

This refusal to compartmentalise creativity has allowed writing to become inseparable from daily existence rather than merely another task to complete.

Life in Cape Town and Beyond Literature

Currently residing in Cape Town, the 56-year-old writer describes himself as ‘56 years young.’ Outside literature, much of his emotional energy is devoted to helping others. He spends time on TikTok and speaks warmly about his affection for his dogs.

Becoming an author, however, was never part of a carefully designed plan. ‘Not actually,’ he says when asked whether it was a conscious decision. Encouragement from poetry groups gradually persuaded him to take his work seriously and move toward publication.

Between Poetry and Fiction

Even now, Gavin’s literary ambitions continue expanding. He is currently completing a fifth poetry collection while simultaneously working on two novels. Though unemployed at present, he remains open to wherever writing may lead him. ‘Let’s see what happens?’ he remarks with characteristic openness.

For aspiring writers discouraged by poor sales or lack of recognition, his advice is both practical and philosophical. ‘You don’t publish a book for sales; you publish to realise a dream,’ he says. ‘After that, book sales are a bonus.’

The Purpose of Writing

Gavin believes authenticity is what ultimately connects writers and readers. ‘Write for YOU, then readers will find you in the characters.’ His reflections on life itself carry the same contemplative weight.

If there is one thing he would change about the world, it would be humanity’s relationship with time and legacy. ‘Life is hazardously short,’ he says, adding that leaving something meaningful behind matters far more than accumulating wealth.

Final Thought

As for routine, he laughs at the very notion of it. ‘Lol… what routine? The bonus of trying to be a writer is that your time is your own,’ Gavin, who also speaks Afrikaans and ‘a smattering of Xhosa’ says, reflecting the multilingual texture of South African life.

He leaves readers with a final thought that encapsulates both his philosophy and his journey as a writer: ‘If you have a dream, don’t let anyone wake you up to ‘reality’. Fulfil your dream, for your time is shorter than you realise.’