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!
What am I made of?
This piece showcases not only the hardships I faced as a queer girl in a Christian household but how I overcame my self-doubt and learned to accept myself as I am.
Where I’m From
This is a poem about where I'm from as a 16-year-old, born and raised in Queens, New York in a small family of four.
Summer
A short story I wrote about one of my favorite memories from summer that blurred into my favorite dreams.
9 Weeks Until My End Of Year Algebra Exam – Here’s How I’ll Pass It
I have a big Algebra exam coming up at school so I need to get organized ASAP and study so I’m one step closer to my dream of going to medical school. Wish me luck!
The Long Winter
A short film about the daily lives of high school students following the Omicron outbreak.
Let It Sink In
“Let It Sink In” is a short montage film translation of a piece that I wrote revolving around teeth. It’s an exploration of love and relationships through using teeth metaphors and food/teeth imagery.
you, me, and the borough
Lena and Courtney are both New Yorkers—but they live in different boroughs: Brooklyn and Staten Island. After a year spent on Zoom, they gave one another tours of their respective corners of the city.
‘Taking Root’ Introduction
For every teen who Girls Write Now helps to find their voice on the page or elsewhere, that’s one more young writer who will have confidence in their own ability to learn and achieve and lead.
‘Taking Root’ Foreword
Never underestimate the power of a story.
LOST
As your voice fumbles, I look into your eyes, to never look back. You are shaking—or should I say trembling.
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.