Create your own experience with our Independent Study Journey. Meet as a pair, attend events of interest, and use coursework to help you plan creative projects and meet your goals.
Led By
Kathryn Destin
Kathryn is a nonprofit researcher and writer and also was the 2022-23 Editor-In-Residence for Girls Write Now. An only child from Harlem, NYC, Kathryn looks for community in many spaces centered on her interests such as cooking, comedy, Blackness, queerness and investigative journalism. She is a Girls Write Now mentee and is fascinated by film, media and writing as avenues for social advocacy and activism. As a young creative, she is excited to utilize various mediums to speak against injustice and share stories from marginalized voices.
Learning Objectives
- Create and implement a project plan
- Set your own SMART Goals
- Manage your time while balancing priorities
- Present a completed project
Apply Now
Applications for the Summer 2025 Cycle are open!
Priority Deadline: April 30, 2025
Final Deadline: May 15, 2025
Cycle(s) Offered:
Summer 2025 (July-September)
Time:
3 hours
Areas of Focus:
Project Planning, Time Management, Creative Independence
Requirements:
- Attend one community event per month
- Have at least 2 pair sessions per month
- Complete journey’s asynchronous course work
- Present your project’s progress at the end of the cycle
Independent Study Journey Package
As a mentee or mentor in the Independent Study Journey, you’ll have access to an online course designed help you set goals and plan an independent creative project. You’ll be paired with a mentee or mentor for one full cycle, and you’ll meet with them at least twice each month. Mentees and mentors in the Independent Study Journey must attend at least one Community Experience per month.
Independent Study Course
This self-paced Independent Study course will provide resources and tips for those working on creative project independently. You’ll learn about study spaces & materials, SMART Goal Setting, visualization, calendaring, time management, procrastination – and more!
This course is offered as a part of this journey package. If you’d like to take a course without joining a journey, click here.
Independent Study Mentoring
Mentees and mentors in this Journey will be matched for one cycle. Pairs will meet for at least two hour-long sessions each month. This journey is open to both mentor/mentee pairs and peer-to-peer pairs.
This Journey requires mentees and mentors to commit to two per month. If you’d like to mentor but cannot commit to this requirement, click here.
Independent Study Community Experiences
Mentees and mentors in the Community Togetherness Journey must attend at least one Community Experiences of their choice per month.
This Journey requires attendance at the Community Experiences noted above. If you’d like to attend Community Experiences but cannot commit to these requirements, click here.
Explore 360 Adventure
The Independent Study Journey is a part of the Explore 360 Adventure.
Journeys in the Explore 360 Adventure focus on introducing a variety of genres, topics, and ideas to participants who want to try a little bit of everything. It is recommended for any mentee or mentor who wants to get a taste of all that Girls Write Now has to offer!
Learn more about the other Adventures offered at Girls Write Now below.
Not ready for a Journey?
If you want to be a part of the Girls Write Now Collaboratory but you aren’t ready to join a Journey, you can participate in individual writing courses, short-term mentoring services, and select community engagement experiences. See all of the options available to you below!
Writing
Take a course without joining a journey, being paired with a mentee or mentor, or attending community experiences.
Mentoring
Meet with a mentee or mentor without joining a journey, accessing writing courses, or attending community experiences.
Community
Attend Community Experiences without joining a journey, being paired with a mentee or mentor, or accessing writing courses.