In this edition of Write Enjoy Repeat (featuring all male guests for Movember uk.movember.com), David talks about how he loved to read and learn as a child and entered writing competitions in comics like the Beano.

 He now writes about the criminal justice system and historic organised crime amongst other things. He also likes to write for his mental health and says that being creative is a great coping mechanism to help feel less isolated, give you a voice and release feelings. When David was in prison he did creative writing courses and found that he could be free in his mind even though he wasn’t physically. David says you should give writing a go, especially during the pandemic. He says it’s a great way to mess about with your feelings and re-frame your life.

David has a Podcast called ‘What can be’ where he talks about the criminal justice system and will also be featured in The Best New True Crime Stories: Well-Mannered Crooks, Rogues & Criminals by Mitzi Szereto next year.

His favourite author is Bryce Courtenay, and David recommends ‘The Potato Factory’. If you'd like to give some writing a go today, try writing from the prompt “Imagination can take us anywhere”. Just write those words and keep writing. A few years ago, David did grow a moustache in prison along with his fellow inmates and raised around £200 for Movember. For more information about Movember - movement supporting men’s health - go to https://uk.movember.com/. For more about David and his writing, go to:

journeyofareformedman.net

And

https://www.nationalcrimesyndicate.com/taking-down-the-outfit-an-interview-with-fbi-special-agent-elaine-smith/. Do get in touch if we've inspired you to pick up a pen either again, or for the first time. For more about my work to help people to discover, look after and  express themselves through writing, go to cpsdayoff.com. #writing #Movember #mentalhealth #writingpromt