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!
The Mysterious Reappearance of Princess Amantdeiylaia, an Excerpt
The excerpt is about an alien princess who is ostracized from the outside world and is forced to be isolated by her controlling grandmother.
Contempt of Love
After five years apart, Aurora and Griffin's lives collide again. Aurora can't see past her anger, while Griffin spends his time hiding his past and trying to ignore his feelings for Aurora, which never left.
An Ode to Sandy: Three Things I Love
This poem was written from the perspective of Sandy. The word “sandy” itself may spark memories of your own, but I will leave it to you, reader, to figure out who Sandy truly is.
a study in nihilism
A short story about what happens when dreamers give in to hopelessness and futility.
spacetimecontinuum
This poem was originally rooted in the pandemic and quarantine, but evolved into a piece on introspection, rumination, and growth.
Palms
When I was born, I didn’t have hands…
Living in Gratitude While Missing My Native Tongue
It's easy—almost far too easy to just say where we are from. A country. A place. A word. But where we really come from is from our parents and our culture. A history.
Have You Seen This Word?
This poem explores the mystery of lost words and where one must go to find them.
Light-bulb
Note: Even if you’re like me and prefer to read the ending first, surprise! There’s no ending and you’ll still be as curious as when you started.
The Watchtower, an Excerpt
Two Japanese American twelve-year-olds in World War II relocation centers, hatch a plan of escape. But something unexpected happens on the day they plan to leave.
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.