ANTHOLOGIES
Rise Speak Change: The 2017 Girls Write Now Anthology
At the QWERTY Digital Media Exhibition, our mentees showcased projects that are changing the way we tell narratives. A video overlaid with powerful poetry, thoughtful podcasts, and interactive games created with Twine — our mentees used the skills they learned in our digital workshops to create these multi-platform masterpieces.
Our mentees are defining the digital age by bringing the craft of writing into the 21st century. In our Digital Media Mentoring Program, we boost girls’ tech savvy and creative potential through digital media. In bringing our curriculum and writing approach into the digital age, we prepare the girls we serve to truly be the next generation of writers—on whatever platform they choose. Students are paired one-to-one with a digital media professional and together they transform their writing into digital art. All workshops are facilitated by graduate students at Parsons The New School for Design. Our workshops feature writing and digital skill-building exercises, prompts, and share-outs to diversify participants’ modes of self-expression. At the end of a program year, girls are equipped to tell a story in GIFs, a poem in HTML, and take their words to the next level.Together we embark on a journey of creative workshops, public readings and showcases, opportunities for publication, and more, all to give girls the tools to advance their writing through different mediums.
Introduction by
Foreword by
Moderated by
Read What's Inside
Browse our collection of stories from inside the book. Complete with notes from the author and anecdotes from our mentees and mentors.
Rise Speak Change: The Girls Write Now Anthology 2017
Stories from Inside "Rise Speak Change" Coming Soon!
Stories from Inside "Rise Speak Change" Coming Soon!
Poem Generator
Do you want to write a poem without having to fully put in effort to make your piece? Use my Poem Generator! After completing a Mad Libs–like questionnaire, you will have the end result of a unique poem to share with your loved ones. Enjoy!
Confirmed-Rosemary
Confirmed-Rosemary is a culmination of all my literary triumphs. It includes crowd favorites like “God is a Girl” and girlhood poems like “Growing Pains”—old to new, each making history.
To Those Who Hide in Words
This project sums up the type of writing I typically read and write myself. It is meant to be suspenseful and vague, which is why the words are so limited. I like giving the reader a lot of space to interpret my work in ways that are unique to them, which is why details about the characters and setting are not specified.
Mixed Media Poems
How often do you get to read poetry from the brain of a real teen? Everyone reads young adult books, but they’re written by adults so here’s your chance to read poetry from a teen, expressing themself. My work is inspired by prompts given to me by mentors or random thoughts and questions I have about life.
Evolution of Nylah and Kathleen
It's hard to maintain a relationship for more than three months, let alone three years. Follow our journey and become inspired to start your own. It can be with your little cousin, your mom, or even a cactus!
Feelings Change
”I know you say you love me; I don't really feel it sometimes.”
Vulnerable Mirage
Vulnerable Mirage presents the complex balance of vulnerability and safety of relationships in the form of bubbly, easy to read graphics. Many of the themes I touch on are an attempt at leaning into the confusion of teen angst which is universal in teenage relationships. These excerpts were taken from larger personal works and strive to represent a feeling which I feel could apply to many people in a diverse array of situations.
Everything You Need to Know About Sheyla
My multimedia piece is a slideshow on Canva called “Everything You Need to Know About Sheyla.” This was my first time working on a digital piece. I wanted the Girls Write Now community to have a guide of everything they need to know about what makes me who I am.
Making our Mark
My piece is on women and the word “history,” so I decided to put those words together. The idea that inspired both my poster and the short story is really the idea of woman power. The story isn’t about a woman herself being powerful, but more about women being able to write a story because women today are still discriminated against across industries, whether we recognize it or not. The poster symbolizes sisterhood, women from different backgrounds coming together, and the idea that we are all stronger together.
Running Different
Caster Semenya is a South African runner who has been banned by the IAAF from competing with women because she was found to be hyperandrogenic, meaning she has a higher level of testosterone. This whole investigation was based on the opinion of fellow athletes that she looks like a man. As a result, she must either take testosterone decreasing drugs to compete with women or run with men. As of now, Semenya is still fighting the case, not just for herself but for the human rights of all women.
Praise for Rise Speak Change
From the Literary Community
Intersectional Voices in Editorial Print Committee
Every year, the Intersectional Voices in Editorial (IV Edit) Print Committee brings their talents to the task of editing, producing, and promoting this fresh collection of writing from today’s emerging voices. The committee is made up of mentors, mentees, and other volunteers who are passionate about diversifying the publishing landscape.