Writers for Recovery

“Here’s the prompt. You have seven minutes. There’s no way to do it wrong. Ready? Go.” 

For the past six years, Writers for Recovery workshop sessions have begun with these words. And from those words hundreds of writers have been given the freedom to tell their stories of substance use disorder and life in recovery. The stories our participants share are harrowing and triumphant, bitter and sweet, but they all have something in common: they break the silence that keeps people locked in the fear, shame, and isolation of substance use disorder. 

The pieces you will read here were each written in seven minutes. Each one tells not only a story on the page, but a bigger story of a writer’s life in recovery, and of the loving, supportive communities our writers create. In person at local recovery centers or dropping into Zoom rooms from around the world, our writers share and talk about their stories. They comfort each other and cheer each other on. And they discover that writing is a great source of power. As Jacqueline Joy, one of our longtime participants, recently wrote, “The page is a place to practice talking about everything I have been warned not to talk about. As I write, I heal.” 

We hope you enjoy the work. 

Bess O’Brien 

Gary Miller 

Founders, Writers for Recovery 

In My Hands

A poem by Judith Janoo.

I Couldn’t Sleep

A non-fiction piece by Nelly W.

Does It Really Matter?

A poem by Robyn Joy.

I Saw a Ghost

A poem by Robyn Joy.

I’m Still Here

A non-ficiton piece by Bill Cote.

It Wasn’t What He Said…

A non-fiction piece by S. J. Cahill.

I Showed Up Early

A poem by Cheryl Hartley.

This Is Where It Gets Tricky

A poem by Nelly W.