Healing through through spoken word and poetry
Founded in 2024 by poet and photographer Tim Foley, Write Speak Recover is our photography and poetry initiative where we explore how writing, spoken word and performing are transformational art forms for mental health and recovery. Write Speak Recover captures the subject's essence through medium format, b/w portraiture. We then present the people behind the poetry, honouring their creativity, vulnerability and fearlessness in an open interview. It is a reminder that healing processes, though deeply personal, can be universal.
Since establishing the imprint with TheNeverPress, we have published over 30 articles, spotlighting a huge range of poets, each one with a story to tell, a poem to give and a journey of healing to share.
A Note from Tim Foley, Write Speak Recover Founder
Write, speak, recover is a simple framework that I have found enormously helpful to my mental health, and recovery. The act of writing something, then saying it out loud, to myself, or a crowd helps me work through things. I have seen this in others in the spoken word poetry community. Something important happens in those rooms. The bravery to lay down a story that is deeply personal and reflective and to then stand in front of others and perform it is very inspirational. The Write Speak Recover project is a way to connect to other poets to learn how writing and speaking has helped them. In the hope their stories and art may help others.
Latest Write Speak Recover Articles
What Write Speak Recover Means
Some words about the initiative from the poets we have featured.
Seb Bance
The Write Speak Recover project found me at the time I needed it the most. When I was trying to make sense of a profound sense of loss in my life. Writing the article was a way to shape my thoughts around my grief and to share it with the community. I received so much love and kindness from friends, family and strangers who had read my article and who said it resonated with them. Write Speak Recover has done so much for the community it serves in terms of building awareness, offering support and community and helping people to not feel alone during their struggles. Showing them there are other people out there like them (and not like them) also going through similar situations and sharing the tools they have found to help them through. I have cried while reading other articles, I have smiled, I have laughed and I have felt a deep sense of warmth and connection to people's journeys. It is such an interesting project which allows people to be both vulnerable and empowered and produces beautiful art. With Tim at its helm taking beautiful photographs that allow the individual to be seen as they want to be seen. If there were more Write Speak Recover communities and projects the world would be a better place. I'm immensely proud to have been a part of it and The Neverpress where I have met some wonderful people and had my eyes opened to a whole world of artistry I did not know was out there.
Mahir
Working with Tim on the Write Speak Recover project was such a memorable experience. Mental health can be so personal and repressive to many of us, but with WSR I felt so comfortable and open to share my story. Outlets like this are so important for grassroot artists as they provide us a genuine, safe space to speak out, reflect, and inspire others around us to be able to do the same.
Sasha
My name is Sasha. My being is endless.
Write, Speak, Recover is a fantastic community of creators; driven, passionate individuals who create from words in the same way that nature sculpts the landscape with weather. The diverse range of perspectives and real sense of inclusion feels like a blend between friends, family, mentors, and students. There's something magical about going to write and speak with people who recognise that the journey to healing starts with recognising recovery: it's one step at a time in the right direction.
The ability to be heard, when combined with the ability to listen, has given me a sense of confidence, strength, and close bonding that helps me walk my own journey towards my own inner nature. I am blessed with the ability to express my storms safely and practice peace and humility in receiving. This is a place where the universe goes to experience itself; will you join us?
May you find the peace in your heart for all sentient beings.
Becoming Part of the Initiative
Write Speak Recover is continually open to submissions from poets who are using their art to heal from any form of dis-ease in their lives. If you would like to be involved in maintaining and growing this initiative, then please reach out.
If you need support, here are some resources:
Samaritans
Alcohol Change
Recovery Dharma
Alcoholics Anonymous
