ANTHOLOGIES
Ctrl + B: The Girls Write Now 2019 Anthology
Girls Write Now is thrilled to be in partnership with Dutton who produced this year’s anthology. This collection was also made possible thanks to a charitable contribution from Amazon Literary Partnership. Thank you to The Feminist Press and Jisu Kim, their Senior Marketing and Sales Manager and Girls Write Now mentor, for partnering on the e-book for Ctrl + B.

The Girls Write Now 2019 class of mentees, and young people the world over, are coming of age in strange times; times when the powers that be are attempting to strip our control over our art, our livelihoods, our homes, and our bodies. But these young writers are bold. In this unique collection, mentees and mentors boldly take control of their own narratives, tackling topics such as inequity, love, belonging, ignorance, power, lineage, beauty, and so much more.
Introduction by
Foreword 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 "CTRL + B" Coming Soon!
Stories from Inside "CTRL + B" Coming Soon!
A Love Letter to My Apartment on 69th Avenue
This piece is a reflection of childhood nostalgia; I dive into living in my old apartment and attempt to savor its beauty. Though I struggle with growing pains, I eventually lean towards acceptance.
Vogels/Girls
An ode to southern Germany and my cousin, Marlene.
Everlasting Color
This piece was written to shed light on creatives. Artists often perceive the world in a unique way that many people don't understand, so I wanted to do my best to describe that.
Mr. Cupid Taught Me There is More to Life
In 2023, I had an apprenticeship program at Second Chance Outreach in Capetown, Mr. Cupido’s drug rehabilitation NGO. Every day, I learned about the lives of others and the true meaning of a second chance.
Train Ride to Danger Station
An uncomfortable experience among girls and women is sexual harassment, something that I encountered on the train that left me furious.
Self-Defining a Strong Black Woman
In this essay, I discuss my personal journey with the Strong Black Woman schema and how basing my self-worth on
My Tears Have Traveled
A reflection of my tears throughout my life.
the shame of sons
An excerpt of a short story surrounding a boy with his father's hand-me-down anger.
The Sea Beneath Caroline Street and True Love Comes From
My home will one day be underwater and it will be as if it never existed to anyone else. Where does true love really come from?
The Dying Friend
This piece is simple, yet I hope it can still be striking to whoever reads it. I have been thinking about writing this poem for a very long time.
Praise for Ctrl+B
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.