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!
Layers of Art & Me
Family expectations. Fear. Uncertainty. Some of the many negative thoughts that flow in a teenager's mind. Cue art, a community, a tool, and a coping mechanism that changed a girl’s life.
Mental Health Disparities within the Latino Community
This piece examines the biological, cultural, and socioeconomic factors that limit Latinos from receiving mental health treatment.
Black Bodies
I am showcasing my love for Black features, our hair, skin, and lips. They are often portrayed in a positive light when they are on white bodies, but they should be celebrated on our bodies.
The Art Kid Who Hated Art
A high school junior relearns their love of art.
What Love Is…
Explore the beauty of love alongside its downfall… Only love someone who can love you back… the same way…
A Guide to Telling the Tale of Two Cities
I’ve written a scholarship essay showing how I’d bring a diverse perspective to NYU. I’ve shared my experiences growing up in Jamaica and America, my love of sharing knowledge and my love of writing.
Human Rights Is A Global Issue, U.S. Take Note
South Korea needs to improve human rights policies for anti-discrimination laws and cleaner air. The U.S. needs to take notice.
Mistranslations, Misinterpretations and Costly Mistakes
Squid Game has had a profound impact as it exposes the Western front to Korean culture and media. Despite Squid Game’s widespread popularity, it does not cover all things related to Korean culture.
Happy Days Are Here Again
In this personal statement, I reflect on how suffering alters the way we see the people around us, and how that phenomenon ended up playing a big part in my life.
Superiority, Schmuperiority
What identities do you perform in your day-to-day life and how have they changed over time? How can you care for others as they perform their identities with honesty?
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.