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.
Stories from Inside "Rise Speak Change" Coming Soon!
Stories from Inside "Rise Speak Change" Coming Soon!
Too Fast
It is hard being a teenager in this day and age. Layla is constantly pestered with questions about what she wants to do with her life and is it going to make her money. However, she just wants the freedom to be happy in her career path.
Fear Is My Superpower
This piece reflects on my bravery on how no matter how scared I was to do something, I always went for it. Fear has become my superpower and has helped me grow and see how strong I am.
Into the Underworld, Chapter 1
This is the first chapter of a novel I've been developing for about six months. It is set in a future where humanity is divided by pollution, class, and race and the world order is on the brink of total upheaval by two very spunky girls and a suction tube.
A Place in History
This memoir is about realizing a place in history is out there, you just have to find it.
Her First Day
I'm tired of stories about girls falling in love with others, so I wrote, inspired by the meaning of self-love, how I realized I love myself. I define self-love as the regard for one’s own wellbeing and happiness. I wanted to portray a snippet of the journey that I made.
The Inside Whirl
I write all my pieces about something that affects me in life. This one is about Emotions and how they feel.
Verb: To See
This piece is about the process of reconnecting with our past selves and how the way we see things changes as we age.
Green Tea. Hot. Mint With Honey.
My piece, “Green Tea. Hot. Mint With Honey” is a reflective personal narrative about a specific vulnerable period of time in my young life.
My First Rejection
My first rejection was serendipitous. While a relationship seemed appropriate at the time, the universe didn’t agree. I devoted my time to writing and painting many works. I thank that event for giving me the precious time to make history.
Beloved
This piece was an exploration of different relationships; friendship, familial, romantic, and self. I hope to make other women want to take a reflective look inside themselves and the way they interact with others. Honesty is the best way to take your place within your own history.
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.