Writers for Recovery

Writers for Recovery We provide writing workshops, trainings, and talks to help people process trauma, build self-esteem, and practice healthy, sustained recovery.

Writers for Recovery provides writing workshops, trainings, and talks to recovery groups, residential treatment facilities, and recovery organizations. We help people discover the power of the written word to process trauma, build self-esteem, and support healthy, sustained recovery. Participants in Writers for Recovery workshops write deeply personal stories of struggle and perseverance, doubt an

d inspiration, and the slow but steady work of renewal and healing. They share their stories with the public through literary readings, the Writers for Recovery blog, our annual print anthology, One Imagined Word at a Time, and our newest collaborative venture, the Writers for Recovery Podcast on VTDigger.org. Since 2014, Writers for Recovery has brought workshops, public readings, trainings, and talks to communities from Newport in the Northeast Kingdom to Brattleboro on Vermont’s southern border. We’ve held workshops in state correctional facilities and recovery centers. We’ve done readings in libraries, gallery spaces, and the Vermont State House. We’ve given talks to recovery professionals, educators, and community leaders. And we’ve shared our message in newspapers, TV, radio, and online. Our work has helped people across Vermont gain new perspectives on addiction and recovery. And it’s helped reduce the stigma of addiction by showing that people in recovery can make valuable contributions to their communities and lead rich, fulfilling lives. In 2016, more than 59,000 Americans died from drug overdose. Addiction has devastated our communities, pushed our healthcare systems to the limit, and torn countless families apart. In such an environment, the need for recovery resources is more important than ever. Our goal as an organization is to expand the work of Writers for Recovery across New England so that we can provide more support to help individuals and communities win the battle against addiction. This means training more workshop leaders, providing more workshops to people in recovery, and increasing our outreach through trainings, talks, and our media channels. To do this, we need the financial support of people like you. If you believe in our mission, please give today.

You can't imagine how pleased I am that Writers for Recovery is offering its first ever workshop for parents and guardia...
05/29/2026

You can't imagine how pleased I am that Writers for Recovery is offering its first ever workshop for parents and guardians of people with substance use issues. Please join us if you need support — and help us spread the word!

We have a workshop rolling in Burlington! Come and write with Nelly W and the rest of the great BTV area writers there!
05/29/2026

We have a workshop rolling in Burlington! Come and write with Nelly W and the rest of the great BTV area writers there!

Don't miss this one, folks!
05/21/2026

Don't miss this one, folks!

Always a great time! 😎

Writers for Recovery

Writers for Recovery does critical work in correctional facilities across Vermont. Here's a perspective from a formerly ...
05/14/2026

Writers for Recovery does critical work in correctional facilities across Vermont. Here's a perspective from a formerly incarcerated person who found hope and support in our programming. If you have time, please read his message. And if you are able, please hit the "Donate" button on our site, so we can provide more programming to people who need it. Thanks for your time.

I found myself in a building full of locked doors and barred windows, each passing moment feeling less and less human. It was as if time was slowly turning me toward a more animalistic side of basic instinct, with waves of aggression and abnormality carrying me further from myself. I longed to be on

05/13/2026

Reeta shares the reason for all of it, on the Writers for Recovery blog.

HEYYYYYY St. Johnsbury! Writers for Recovery is headed to YOU this summer!! Come and write with Bess O'Brien. Share your...
05/05/2026

HEYYYYYY St. Johnsbury! Writers for Recovery is headed to YOU this summer!! Come and write with Bess O'Brien. Share your recovery story, get some support, and meet some great people!

Sad news for the Writers for Recovery community.
05/01/2026

Sad news for the Writers for Recovery community.

It was with great sadness that we recently learned of the passing of longtime WFR participant Texas Bob. A stalwart member of the Tuesday afternoon Zoom group, Bob rarely missed a session over what I’d guess to be six years or more. His deep, gravelly voice brought a compassionate, steadying prese...

Burlington, new Writers for Recovery workshop coming up May 17. Come share your story!
04/30/2026

Burlington, new Writers for Recovery workshop coming up May 17. Come share your story!

Bess brought a Writers for Recovery workshop to Ben's House, a housing and workforce development residence in Derby Line...
04/24/2026

Bess brought a Writers for Recovery workshop to Ben's House, a housing and workforce development residence in Derby Line, VT for men coming out of incarceration or substance use rehabilitation. We got the state covered!

Writers for Recovery holds in person workshops from Vermont’s southern reaches all the way to the Canadian border. So even if your organization is in a faraway corner of our state, we’re ready to come write with you! Recently, Bess had the opportunity to work with residents at Ben’s House in D...

What's bugging you today? For Ellen, it's the Next Big Thing. Read all about it on the WFR blog.
04/21/2026

What's bugging you today? For Ellen, it's the Next Big Thing. Read all about it on the WFR blog.

The Next Big Thing(s) The next Big Things followed the previous thousand Big Things that seem to occupy my mind in a single moment, None of which turn out to be very big after all. Maybe one or two were mid-sized But the remaining 9,998 were actually small enough To be forgotten In the space

Address

949 Somers Road
Barnet, VT
05821

Telephone

+18023574616

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