Lily Dunn

Who’s in recovery now?

This past Wednesday I taught my last creative writing session at Hackney Recovery Service. There were strawberries, pastries, cards… we had readings from our students, and we had tears. What started as a six-week voluntary pool dip, turned into a year of teaching on every aspect of writing imaginable. Thanks to the generous donations from…

Writing well & writing to get well #4

Last Friday I chaired the fourth event in our five-part series at Birkbeck, University of London, on writing well and writing to get well, organised by myself, Toby Litt and Richard Hamblyn. We had Nathan Filer, author of award-winning Shock of the Fall, in conversation with clinical psychologist Agata Vitale, both from Bath Spa University….

Writing well & writing to get well

I’ve been very privileged to be involved with a recent conference at Birkbeck, University of London, called Writing Well and Writing to Get Well, concerned with the links between mental health and creativity, particularly within the academy. The events happen each Friday evening, throughout May and culminate in a day conference on Saturday 27th. You…

Lost property of words

Last Saturday I left my writing book on the bus. It was red with a purple binding, with the words: ‘REACH FOR THE STARS’ embossed in gold on the front. A friend gave it to me for my birthday. I’d only recently started writing in it, and it lived beside my bed. I liked the…

Writing our way to recovery

Today, while cycling through Hackney, I had a wave of joy at a recent achievement. I think it’s called happiness. Not just the fulfilment of a personal pleasure – finishing a short story, or novel, even; getting through the day without losing my temper at my two children! – but the recognition that that personal pleasure will also…