In this interview for our Writers at Work series, we caught up with DUKE AL – spoken word artist and creator of the Poet Treehouse event series – to hear more about why writing is, and always has been, so important to him.

Tell us about your writing life. When did it start? What does it look like now?

I started writing raps and poems when I was 11 years old, inspired by hip hop artists such as Eminem, 2Pac and 50 Cent. I love clever lyricism, wordplay and storytelling. These artists spoke about their lives in such an interesting, authentic way. Their music had meaning.

By age 13, writing quickly became a self-therapy – a positive coping mechanism. I began to experience horrifying intrusive thoughts which were linked to my morals, values, ethics, and the things and people that I love. I felt a hydraulic press of responsibility on my shoulders to prevent these intrusive thoughts from happening. I would perform compulsions repetitively, to a certain number, to try and prevent catastrophe. No matter how many times I repeated this debilitating process, I was always left with the grip of uncertainty.

Did I complete my compulsions to a good enough degree, or to the correct number, to ensure these horrendous intrusive thoughts would not become a reality?

I later found out that I have obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) – a heavily stigmatised and misunderstood mental health condition. My earliest memory of an intrusive thought was that my mum was going to die in a car crash, and it was all going to be my fault. As you can imagine, for a young boy this was extremely difficult to deal with on my own. I didn’t want to tell anybody about my intrusive thoughts in fear they would think I was crazy.

My brain told my hand, my hand told the pen, and the pen told the page. I was able to articulate and figure out what was going on in my head through the power of poetry, rhyme and rhythm. I didn’t know I was writing poetry until my late teens: I always assumed I was writing raps, but I would never write to a beat. I wrote to beats in my head. I discovered I was writing free verse poetry, which felt more powerful when performed. I had discovered spoken word.

I’ve been extremely blessed in my career so far to have performed my spoken word live across the UK and North America. I have been commissioned by TNT Sports, Fujifilm UK, BBC Wales, Go.Compare, BBC Scrum V, FAW and more. I have a published collection with the supportive Lucent Dreaming called Imagine We Trade Bodies with Sheep, a surreal yet deeply emotional collection.

My new challenge is writing long-form fiction and scriptwriting. I have a short film script that I am looking to put to the screen.

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“My brain told my hand, my hand told the pen, and the pen told the page.”

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What kind of writing excites you most? 

Writing, for me, has always been about expressing how I feel; being real, raw, and honest with the page. My most authentic self.

Weaving creative, interesting, and unique concepts and themes into my work really excites me. Doing something different. Pushing the boundaries of the norm.

Writing something that is not only passionate, but that connects with others on a deeper level.

I create to relate-to and educate.

What are you working on right now? 

PARASITE is a psychological fiction novel that delves into the brutal reality of living with OCD. The story follows an individual haunted by relentless intrusive thoughts, which take the form of a parasitic entity; an ever-present force that only the protagonist and the reader can perceive.

At first, OCD appears as a bully, taunting and controlling, making every action feel like a matter of life and death. Over time, it evolves into a malevolent monster, looming over every decision, warping reality, and crushing the protagonist under the weight of responsibility. But OCD is neither a bully nor a monster. It is a parasite, weaving itself into every thought, feeding on fear, doubt, and the things they love most.

Through raw, honest storytelling, PARASITE immerses readers in the exhausting cycle of obsession and compulsion, exposing the devastating weight of intrusive thoughts. Emotionally intense and deeply authentic, this novel will challenge misconceptions, break down stigma, and force readers to confront the hidden torment of OCD.

This isn’t just a story. It’s an experience. It’s time people understood that OCD is not a quirk.
It’s a parasite.

Where do you write? 

I usually write at home, either in my bedroom, my home studio, or the living room.

If I’m away on holiday, I write then too, as I always feel inspired being in a different place, surrounded by nature, new scenery, buildings, culture. A gym for my imagination to work out in! I feel the freedom to write more.

When do you write? 

There are some people who are early risers, who enjoy peace and quiet in the morning, where they can focus and begin. I would say that I write mostly at night, when everybody else is asleep, when there is quiet, and time for me to think… clearly. (I’m always thinking.) Time seems to slow down, and there’s no obligation for me to be anywhere.

This is my time. My time to be creative, to reflect, to think deeply about all aspects of life.

Allowing my mind to wander and focus simultaneously.

Where thoughts grow into poems.

And… why do you write? 

I write as a form of self-therapy first and foremost, to make myself feel better from the everyday battles of OCD and type 1 diabetes. To understand the world. To articulate my thoughts.

But I also write to challenge myself creatively, to explore different concepts and themes that might be entertaining for others to listen to. I write to raise awareness of important topics like mental health. If I can help just one person, then I’m doing my job as a writer and spoken word performer.

I write to fight the injustices of the world.​
I write to be thought-provoking, to challenge people’s perspectives.​
I write to create intriguing rhyme schemes. I find it really fun to rhyme unusual words and play with double meanings. Wordplay is a craft I’m always trying to master.

My goal is always to be unique, to write something in a different, unexpected way that leaves the audience in awe. The shock value is invaluable.

At the heart of what I do is writing with purpose and meaning.​
To connect with others going through struggles.​
To show them they are not alone.​
To inspire change, one rhyme at a time.

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“If I can help just one person, then I’m doing my job as a writer and spoken word performer.”

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Is there a book or author that has influenced you? 

There’s a book that really inspired me and it’s probably not something you’d expect. It’s a non-fiction book called Can’t Hurt Me by David Goggins.

Because of my OCD, I struggle to read. I don’t read nearly as much as I’d like to. I experience intrusive thoughts linked to certain letters, which makes reading really challenging. I often have to read the same sentence over and over again before I can move on and that becomes exhausting and time-consuming.

I remember picking up this book and being inspired by the legend that is David Goggins. I was about 25 when I read it, and it was the first full book I’d managed to read in years.

It didn’t just motivate me to push myself physically, it helped me challenge myself mentally. I now carry that same drive into my writing and everyday practice.

I’ve always had the will to succeed. But mentally, I was struggling.​
This book helped pull me out of a dark place.

Tell us about something you are really proud of. 

I’m really proud of my collection Imagine We Trade Bodies with Sheep.

This collection is not only surreal, but also unique in how I’ve constructed it. It’s a concept poetry collection which must be read from front to back, as characters evolve throughout. I believe it challenges the traditional format and the ways in which poets usually structure their collections.

Think of it as spoken word on a page, with a concept that will make you giggle, squeal… or should I say ‘baa’… and feel.

It was a challenging collection to write, as it explores some disturbing topics, but also weaves in the love and tenderness that “sheepanity” has to offer. I’m beyond grateful that my publisher trusted me with such a surreal, absurd idea and understood my creative aims.

Are you ready to remove the wool from your eyes?

What’s the best advice you’ve been given as a writer developing your practice? 

The best advice I’ve ever been given:​
Be authentic with your writing.​
Edit, edit and edit again.​
Never ever force a rhyme.

There are so many ways to have a creative career. What would life as a ‘working’ writer look like for you?

What I love most about being a writer and creative is the variety, it keeps my work meaningful, dynamic and full of purpose.

From performing spoken word poetry, to (hopefully) writing a novel.​
From currently working on my first-ever play, to one day writing for the screen.
From creating and delivering workshops for all ages, supporting people struggling with mental health, substance misuse, and loneliness, to leading my own retreats.
From mentoring young writers, especially those from low-income backgrounds, to running my own open mic events called Poet Treehouse, which I hope to grow even further.

I’m excited for the future.​
Writing is life: just tell the story.

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Writers at Work is a creative development programme for Welsh writers at Hay Festival, with the support of Literature Wales and Folding Rock, funded by Arts Council of Wales.

Offering a fully-programmed ten days of creative development opportunities, Hay Festival Writers at Work allows the selected writers to engage in Festival events, attend workshops with publishers, agents and, crucially, with established international artists.

Check out some of our recommended events for this year’s Hay Festival here, including showcase readings from the 2025 Writers at Work cohort.