Meet Elina Katrin | Poet & Writer

We had the good fortune of connecting with Elina Katrin and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Elina, what’s something about your industry that outsiders are probably unaware of?
One thing outsiders are probably unaware of about the poetry world is how vibrant, diverse, and accessible it really is. There’s so much more to poetry than Robert Frost or the inspirational snippets that go viral on Instagram or TikTok. From chapbooks and themed anthologies to full-length collections and online literary journals, there are so many opportunities to interact with this genre.

One of the biggest misconceptions about poetry is that it’s difficult to understand or that it’s exclusively written for other poets. But you don’t have to understand a poem in order to feel it. Meaning can be made or found in a variety of ways, and your personal interpretation is just as valid as anyone else’s.

I firmly believe everyone needs more poetry in their lives. And if you ever find yourself at a loss for words to describe how you feel, read contemporary poets, and I promise you, you’ll hear your own life echoing through the pages.

Can you open up a bit about your work and career? We’re big fans and we’d love for our community to learn more about your work.
Much of my writing revolves around the liminal: languages, illness and recovery, the places I’ve lived and left. I’m drawn to poetry because it allows me to make a home within the in-between, to hold complexity without rushing toward resolution.

The path even to publishing my chapbook, If My House Has a Voice, has been full of pauses, detours, and recalibrations. I’ve learned to let go of control, valuing the slower pace and the unexpected turns as they helped shape how I think about sustaining an artistic life.

Having recently finished my first full-length manuscript, I’m excited to find a home for it. Weaving together research, lived experience, and lyric imagination, this collection explores how the speaker can carry both personal and inherited histories across time, sickness, and geography.

The processes of writing, revising, and publishing have taught me to be patient with uncertainty. I’ve learned to treat interruptions not as setbacks but as part of the texture of the work itself. And I’ve been lucky to grow within communities of writers and artists—within residencies, workshops, and literary spaces—who have shown me that poetry extends far beyond the page.

What I hope readers take away from my story is that there is no one timeline for publishing your work. Making space for life itself, with its challenges and unexpected encounters, is just as important to the practice as the act of writing, if not more. All experiences will eventually find their way into poetry, often in beautiful ways we couldn’t have planned for or expected.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
Whenever friends visit me, I like to mix a little of the classic “touristy” LA with some of the quieter gems that don’t always make the guidebooks. Living on the west side, getting Randy’s Donuts one of the mornings is a must. From there, we’d probably explore Santa Monica and ride the Ferris wheel on the pier or walk along the Venice canals.

Over the week, we’d make time for museums: the Getty Villa or Center, LACMA, and the Huntington. I love these spots because they balance indoor and outdoor activities really well, offering exhibits, architecture, and nature to enjoy. To show off LA’s vibrant literary scene, I’d take my friends to the Last Bookstore, an event at Beyond Baroque, or an open mic at Village Well.

LA is known for delicious food, and my “must eat” list always includes the nearest taco truck, Colapasta for the incredible Italian, Sugarfish for the amazing sushi, and 786 Degrees—probably the best pizza I’ve ever had (sorry, New York). Evenings might mean a casual night out at Barney’s Beanery or checking out some new bar I’ve been curious about. And, of course, at least one whole day would be reserved for the beach—ideally Playa del Rey, because it’s less crowded, and you can see the planes fly really close by.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
Writing doesn’t exist in isolation, so I owe my sanity and any resemblance of success to the people and communities I learn from and within, as well as the organizations and publications that have uplifted and supported my work. I thank my mentors Maureen Seaton and Richard Dillard for instilling and fueling my love for poetry. I am also indebted to my Mizna colleagues and am eternally grateful for my friends and loved ones who most often get a literary earful from me: Seth, Erin, Jamie, G.H., Dareos, and Carolene.

Website: https://elinatkatrin.com/

Instagram: @elinatkatrin

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/elina-katrin/

Image Credits
Bruce Silcox, Nikki Mirghafori, Alexa Rivera