ANTHOLOGIES
Girls Write Now Unmuted: The 2021 Anthology
Girls Write Now is thrilled to be in partnership again this year with Dutton, who produced this anthology. A special thanks to the team at Dutton—Christine Ball,Maya Ziv, and Lexy Cassola, and to Feminist Press and Jamia Wilson, who produced the ebook. Thank you as well to Amazon Literary Partnership for their continued support, which directly funds the production of our anthologies.

In the 2021 Girls Write Now Anthology, our mentees give voice to fear and silence, demand justice, and hold nothing back. To be unmuted right now requires a new brand of bravery, and these writers show how it’s done. Using stories, poems, essays, fiction, drama, interviews and more, they report on a global pandemic, a climate crisis and the movement for racial equality. They also invite us on their personal journeys through the labyrinth of young adulthood: feeling the rich soil of a neighborhood garden beneath their fingers; traveling through time in search of their parents; inhaling the charged air where young love is brewing. In a world pushed to the precipice of change, in a society that values the tried and true over the dynamic and new, the Girls Write Now class of 2021 is breaking the chains and showing what it means to speak loud, clear and true—to be unmuted.
Foreword by
Introduction 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 "Unmuted" Coming Soon!
Stories from Inside "Unmuted" Coming Soon!
Private Language
Every student that expects to achieve a higher education prepares for this assignment. They spend months trying to find the perfect words to describe their passion.
Her, An Indian Girl
“Her, An Indian Girl” reaches out to girls who may feel low about their appearance or features. It teaches her to love how she looks and how she has been crafted.
Her, A Constellation
All of us are beautiful. Our scars and fears should be valued as much as the parts we love. Since we are human all of us have imperfections and they are not something we should be embarrassed of but something we should love.
My Hero
A daughter's way of showing her appreciation to her mom.
Of Her
The story of a woman who is willing to ignore many things for her love.
The Power of Language
A linguistic perspective of the popular superhero dilemma: If you were a superhero and could have any superpower, which would you choose?
Scars
Acne is not permanent; it will go away eventually. But there are also scars that can't go away—they stay with you forever. In my piece, I decided to elaborate on this concept by explaining that not all scars can disappear, but we have the opportunity to embrace them, love ourselves for who we are as human beings, and not let society dictate our beauty.
A Wise Woman Once Told Me…
This is a personal essay about the unexpected whirlwind of bonding with strangers, inspired by a conversation that I had with my professor when I was studying abroad in Italy a few summers ago.
Resplendent At Dawn
My life has come with many struggles, but throughout all of them, the cold blue of the morning has always brought comfort. This is my way of sharing said comfort with you.
Prison Through the Eyes of a Former Inmate
A look at the U.S. prison system through the eyes of someone who has lived through it.
Praise for Here & Now
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.