Writers for Recovery

This month, I had the privilege of interviewing Gary Miller, Creative Director of Writers for Recovery, a Vermont-based nonprofit that runs writing groups for people in recovery from substance use disorder and other process disorders. I also participated in a Writers for Recovery meeting and was impressed with the way these groups blend the free expression of a good creative writing workshop with the sharing and support of a recovery fellowship. 

A typical meeting of Writers for Recovery works like this: The workshop leader sets a timer for seven minutes then reads a short prompt for the group. During those seven minutes, participants write whatever comes to mind in response to the prompt. These prompts are short, evocative, and often incomplete phrases. For example:

“This is what I really wanted to say…” 

“I am the one who…”

“I’ll never forget that night…”
“The last time I was using…”

Gary told me that the prompts “sometimes lean more toward recovery, and sometimes more toward fun.” Either way, the point is to provide room for expressive writing and see what comes up for people. At the meeting I attended, we did two rounds of writing and used the prompts: “I had it locked away…” and “The current took me…”

These short phrases are just enough to set your mind moving in a surprising direction. Between that spark of inspiration and the short, focused time of writing, these sessions have a way of drawing out surprising material and connections on the page. 

When the seven minutes are up, there is a period of sharing where anyone can read what they wrote and participants comment on each other’s writing. The golden rule of these sharing sessions is that comments must be positive. Here’s how Gary described it:

No one has to share, and for those that do, we keep it as safe and welcoming as possible. We keep confidence in the group, meaning that we don’t tell others what was shared in the group. And all comments need to be positive and supportive. “That line really made me think.” “That got to me.” “I love the vibe of that piece.” “You wrote about losing custody, that happened to me too.” “You wrote about how it feels to be new in sobriety, I totally relate, let’s talk about that.” Sometimes it’s funny and we all just laugh. Sometimes it’s heavy, and we deal with that too. Some people pour their hearts out in their first meeting. For other people, it takes four or five sessions before they are ready to share.  

At the meeting I attended, I witnessed a great deal of both talent and compassion. Members heard each other’s work with open hearts and responded by being moved, by identifying, and by pointing to parts of the work that they most enjoyed. I found the writing and sharing to be surprisingly powerful, especially for spur of the moment texts. 

“What people are capable of writing in seven minutes is mindblowing,” Gary told me. “I got my masters in fiction writing, and if you slipped some of this stuff into an MFA reading, it would not be at all out of place.” 

Gary also spoke to the value that these groups have for people’s recovery:

It ranges from person to person, but I’ve heard people say things like “I love you people! I’ve written things here I’ve never even told my therapist.” I think positive feedback is an important aspect. We are non-judgemental. A lot of us in recovery have heard so many negatives about ourselves that the inverse can be really powerful. It builds self-esteem, and people even become better writers as a result. 

Writers for Recover hosts workshops all over the state of Vermont—in community recovery centers, in prisons, and private rehabs—and they have held occasional workshops  south into Massachusetts and north into Canada. With COVID, Writers for Recovery took their workshops online and continue to host two weekly open workshops over zoom, which has put them in contact with recovering writers worldwide. In fact, thanks to these zoom workshops, a similar zoom group has sprung up in Ireland with Tús Nua (look for “Writers All Fellowships” on Mondays).

How to Write like Writers for Recovery

The easiest way to do this kind of writing would be to attend a Writers for Recovery meeting, in person or by zoom. Here are some direct links to the zoom meetings: Tuesdays at 2:00pm Eastern and Tuesdays at 6:30pm Eastern. Meetings sometimes go on hiatus, so check the website for details. 

But you can also try their writing exercises on your own if you like. The procedure is straightforward:

• Pick a prompt.

  • You can use the ones mentioned above, 

  • come up with your own, 

  • or pick from the titles on the Writers for Recovery blog.

• Set a timer for seven minutes.

• Write!

• When the time is up, review what you’ve written. 

You can also gather together with other folks in recovery to do this kind of writing, but keep in mind the following guidelines:

• No one is obligated to read.

• If you do read, it helps to read your writing twice, so that everyone can absorb your work before commenting.

• After someone reads, anyone who feels moved can comment.

• Comments must be positive. Focus on what was moving, what was effective, and points where you identify with the writer.

• No one is obligated to comment.

If you would like to start an official Writers for Recovery group, contact them and ask about getting trained as a workshop leader. 

If you have a recovery writing practice that you’d like to share, please reach out to me using this form on my website. I’m looking forward to writing and growing with you.

Be well, stay connected, and keep your pen to the page.

-James