Welcome to your site
At Creative Writing for Recovery, we understand the challenges of addiction and mental health issues. That's why we've created a space where you can explore your thoughts and feelings through the art of writing.
Join us and rediscover your voice and sense of self by sharing your work with us here.
you will be able to read pieces of work submitted by myself and other members of our site.
Join us on Facebook also and connect with the creative writing members.
Q: What is Creative Writing for Recovery?
A: Creative Writing for Recovery is a platform designed to help individuals in addiction and mental health recovery connect with their emotions and express themselves through creative writing, including poetry.
Q: How can Creative Writing for Recovery help with addiction and mental health recovery?
A: Creative Writing for Recovery provides a safe and supportive space for individuals to connect with others in similar situations and express themselves through creative writing. Writing can be a cathartic and therapeutic process, helping individuals to process their emotions and navigate the challenges of recovery.
Q: What resources does Creative Writing for Recovery offer?
A: Creative Writing for Recovery offers a variety of resources, including support groups, which include "Casual Minds Matter" and
"MS Angling and Education".
Check out our services section that will be regularly updated.
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Who am I?
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Mark was born on 31 July 1965, at home in Preston, Lancashire where he lived for most of his early life.
In adulthood Mark entered into the construction industry as a laborer then furthered his career to become not only a qualified joiner, but later he would become a site supervisor, within the construction industry.
Alcohol unfortunately was prevalent in the majority of his life.
Unbeknown to Mark this would have massive consequences and lead him to a life of addiction.
In 2007 Mark had moved to Burnley with his work, where he soon settled in and made a new life for himself. It’s here he found true love and his relationship flourished.
Things took a turn for the worst in March 2015 when a family tragedy escalated his already unknown addiction of alcohol to becoming fully dependent.
However, after two failed attempts to overcome his addiction finally Mark was able to conquer his demon.
In February 2023 Mark entered a recovery program and after twenty weeks of rehabilitation, Mark completed his treatment.
Mark only began writing poems and lyrics in June 2023, for him this is one of the tools he uses to express his feelings and emotions.
By building this site Mark hopes that it will help others, either in recovery or still suffering.
www.creativewritingforrecovery.com
Email: -markg668@googlemail.com
I am thrilled to share with you my first publication, a book of poetry that features the collective works of individuals who are dealing with addictions and mental health issues. This work is a tribute to the resilience and courage of those who have refused to surrender to their struggles, and who instead have fought for their healing.
An emotional book of personal poems outlying the Authors life of trauma, addiction and mental health issues.
The Author hopes that by sharing her words it may reach out and bring hope and understanding to others who have similar life stories
From the Dark into the Light
by Joanne Moyles
Now available to Purchase in Paperback & eBook
Services
About casual minds matter
Casual Minds Matter CIC was started in Jan 2022 by a group of friends in Burnley.
From a small idea, Casual Minds Matter soon grew in popularity and has been a safe place for men and women ever since.
We provide counselling and weekly group sessions on Anxiety, Grief, PTSD, Suicide Awareness & Prevention and Anger Management for the people of Burnley, Pendle, and Rossendale.
We work in partnership with lots of local agencies including the D.W.P., HMS Prison and Probation Services, Inspire Substance Abuse Services and Social Prescribers in all local G.P. Practices.
We are also on the Police Mental Health Diversion Panel, rehabilitating offenders in the community.
Promoting positive health & wellbeing, happiness and opportunity for all ages and abilities.
'Making life better by water.
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GET FISHING FOR WELLBEING APPROVED PARTNER - MS ANGLING AND EDUCATION
Poems from the people
03
Acceptance
Beep! Beep! Beep!
No where to hide, no where to sleep.
Sitting for days waiting for hope,
Life on a balance struggling to cope.
All of the day and all of the night,
Watching machines helping you fight.
I know you can hear me, but feelings are gone.
I listen to heart beats and sing you a song.
I long to be near you and kiss you again,
This glass in between us just causing me pain.
When you awaken and breath once again,
You struggle to feel kisses and struggle to feel pain.
Your body is broken full of brackets and bolts.
Your life changed forever through nobody’s faults.
Hours turn too days,
Days turn to weeks,
Weeks turn to months,
Months into years,
Silently sitting showing no tears.
Acceptance is crucial for us to go on, you fight like a warrior so brave and so strong.
Our time did come to an end, our hearts have started to mend.
But sadly were no longer lovers, I accept you just as my friend.
Acceptance! Acceptance! Acceptance!
Our Features
Functionality You Will Love
01
Who is an Addict ?
02
What is creative writing ?
Most of us do not have to think twice about this question. We know! Our whole life and thinking was centered in drugs in one form or another-the getting and using and finding ways and means to get more. We lived to use and used to live. Very simply, an addict is a man or woman whose life is controlled by the drug of their choice. We are people in the grip of a continuing and progressive illness whose ends are always the same: jails, institutions, and death.
CREATIVE WRITING HELPS YOU TO EXPRESS YOUR FEELINGS:
Writing can be a self-care method for many; helping to unwind and de-stress. Some may also use creative writing as a way of connecting with others. Sharing tales and perspectives while also learning from, and supporting one another.
04
Produce a book of your work
Create your own masterpiece with the support from myself, who is a self taught author and publisher.
Whether it's a collection of poems, stories, verses or song lyrics, you can bring your literary dreams to life and add your own personal touches to make it uniquely yours and let your creativity shine through.
Prognoses
Tomorrow seems a lifetime away,
I awake and today is the day.
I travel for miles no tears and no smiles.
Silently waiting for news of my fate,
Funking NHS making me wait.
I go for a walk and talk in my head
The feelings of worry I just want my bed.
2 hours of waiting it's finally me,
I sit next to DR to see what will be.
The words that are spoken are strangers to me,
My hands are all sweaty I wipe on my knee.
Just as I was deaf, I see their mouth move,
But the words that come out get stuck in a groove.
Silently sitting waiting in hope,
My mind turns to living and learning to cope.
Leaflet in hand I walk out the door,
Corridors looming footsteps on floor.
Taxi is waiting to take me away,
This was my calling, my judgment day.
I sit all alone while trees pass me bye,
I read from the leaflet my eyes start to cry.
Finally home once more on my own,
I process the morning and pick up the phone.
I talk and they listen to words from my mouth,
My tears start to flow and my head heads south.
While words are all broken, I ease myself back,
Back from the worry now back on track.
Wise words I did listen and acted upon,
There's time in the future to mention to my son.
I'll work every day and play the same way,
This thing that's inside me not going away.
But one thing is for sure of that I am certain,
This ain't the end it's the rise of the curtain.
I've beat my addiction and battled so brave
I'm 58 years and I'm ready to rave.
Tuesday 15th August 2023
Casual Minds Do Matter
I wouldn’t talk I couldn’t talk I kept it locked tightly away.
For years in a muddle, for years I would struggle, for years and day after day.
You look at my face and don’t see the scars, you smile as we pass in the street full of cars.
I see my reflection in windows of shops, all I see is madness I hope this shit stops.
The words you keep saying for ever and ever, “your just being stupid just pull yourself together”.
My bones aren’t broken my body is fine, in my head I’m messed up most all of the time.
This thing in my head rules my life and my heart,
This thing in my head it ripped us apart.
For years in a muddle, for years I would struggle, for years and day after day.
Do Casual Minds Matter? they so fucking do.
They open up doors to something that’s new.
A place to be noticed and judged no more, just pop into Burnley and walk through the door.
With people like you who know how you feel, we talk of our problems we talk fuckin real.
No need to feel shamed or totally alone,
CMM here to help you turn over that stone.
Videos & Music
Poem written by Mark Gornall
August 2023.
Man on the track
Sat on this train on me way home
Should have been different too soon to go.
I wonder what could have been.
At the wonders I could have seen!
I'm tired and alone I’m on way home
I wished I'd have stayed and dream of could bee’s.
There's no point in thinking what could have it been,
The wonders ill wonder if I'll ever, see?
The train is now stopped due to man on the track.
We can't go forward I want to go back.
But life is mystery to me, what was once a dream
I'll now never see.
I hope he's safe on the track, I hope that he will go back.
There's no way of knowing and no way of showing what happens to man on the track.
I'm lucky in So many ways. For trips out on rainy Sundays.
But if I'd have stayed, and if we had played,
The man on the track may have been saved.
I'm grateful for being with you, your someone that I never knew.
You know you are welcome to come visit me.
To see the wonders the wonders to see.
But think of the man on the track.
For him There's no turning back.
So stay where you are. We are not very far.
We can wonder one day and wonder what may.
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Burnley man Mark Gornall has published a poem raising awareness of suicide.
Man on the Track features in his book, One Day at a Time.
Gary Kay
"Just a quick one to say what an experience it was to watch and listen to Mark Gornall in action on Wednesday night at the Recovery’s Got Talent open mic night at Sion Baptist Church.
Absolutely inspiring and incredibly relatable words that hit home with everyone in attendance."