Writing
WRITING EDUCATION Girls Write Now takes a 360 degree approach to writing, offering courses across genres, media, disciplines, and industries, including college and career readiness. Writing courses can be taken as part of a Journey or ad hoc. Find courses that fit your goals, passions, skill level, and schedule, with both live and asychronous offerings. Learn & Write
WRITING RESOURCES & OPPORTUNITIES
Mentorship
Mentors & Mentees Girls Write Now mentors and mentees across the U.S. are all backgrounds, ages, genders, and skill levels. Our mentor and mentee writers come from and enter into all fields, disciplines, and professions. If you can write, you can do anything. Find a mentoring type that fits your passions, goals, and schedule. Become a Mentor or Mentee
Mentorship Types
Community
COMMUNITY EXPERIENCES Girls Write Now offers a wide variety of interactive live community experiences, designed for you to explore, learn, connect, and grow. Tailored to the meet your needs and interests, events feature expert teaching artists, guest speakers, and facilitators dedicated to enhancing your writing and media skills, expanding your personal and professional development, and fostering collaborative creation. Experience Community
Core Events
Studio Events
All Events
- Full Calendar
Media
Girls Write Now Media Girls Write Now’s vast collection of original multimedia writing and art will warm your heart, give you chills, inspire action and resonate on a soul-deep level. This is storytelling that bends, blends, and transforms Explore Media
Print
- Books
- Zines
Mixed
- Stories
- Film
- Blog
Podcasts
Membership

Membership Anyone can become a member and get access to select writing, mentoring, and community services. Former Journey Mentors or Mentees are automatically promoted to Silver Membership. Become a Member

WRITING Learn and build skills though select synchronous and asynchronous courses on a range of genres, media, and topics, including college, career, and leadership development. Learn More

MENTORING Connect one-to-one as a Mentor or Mentee for the Day or a Mentor or Mentee on Demand. Make a connection without an extended commitment. Learn More

COMMUNITY Collaborate and network with other inspiring minds at engaging events and experiences that are not exclusively for Journey participants. Learn More

OPPORTUNITIES Access unique, thoughtfully sourced, and curated opportunities, including jobs, internships, scholarships, fellowships, writing contests, publications, and more. Learn More
Partnerships

Partnerships Inspired by a sense of urgency to elevate diverse talent across industries, Girls Write Now proudly aligns with academic, community-based and corporate institutions to build customized partnerships. Together, let’s mentor across generations, shaping the future of your industry with creative, communicative, and competitive candidates. Join Forces

Employee Engagement Get the benefits of interfacing with an extraordinary multi-generational community of writers and leaders; access unique professional development across all forms of writing; and find rare opportunities to mentor and be mentored. Learn More

Talent Pipeline Girls Write Now advertises, recruits, trains, coaches, and refers diverse, competitive candidates of all ages and experience for internships, jobs, and opportunities at all levels of companies across departments and industries. Learn More

Passion Projects We collaborate with companies, employees, and ERGs on the projects they are most passionate about: From publications and panel discussions to contests, merchandise, and celebration of special holidays and initiatives. Learn More

Speaking Executives, authors, experts, and game-changers: We offer talent the opportunity to pass on their craft to the next generation. Formats range from intimate workshops to interactive salons to high profile Awards, and more. Learn More

BOARD & COMMITTEE PLACEMENTS Girls Write Now's dynamic leadership bodies focus on editorial, technology, teaching, and more—while often serve as launching pads to our high powered board of directors. Learn More

Publicity Girls Write Now's rapt audiences reach 60K+ across channels. We have a built in community of media professionals who spread the word, and Getty photographers at our high profile events. We feature our partners through workshops and salons, interviews, panel discussions, articles and more. Learn More
Contributors

Authors, Artists & Leaders Our Contributors are authors, leaders, creatives, and technologists. If you can write, you can do anything. Explore our members, showcasing their unique profiles, areas of expertise, and significant contributions to our community. Meet Contributors

Honorees Girls Write Now is proud to honor the trailblazers and game-changers who embody our mission. Learn More

Teaching Artists Our skilled teaching artists help deliver our diverse curriculum across all genres and media. Learn More

Gold Members Girls Write Now Gold members are mentors and mentees who have devoted five or more years to the Girls Write Now mission. Learn More

Silver Members Girls Write Now Silver members are mentors and mentees who have been on at least one Girls Write Now Journey and are not currently enrolled in a Journey Learn More
About

Mission & Vision We are a powerhouse of voices that have been ignored or silenced for too long. We are a pipeline of talent into schools and industries in need of different perspectives. Learn More

Leadership Girls Write Now's extraordinary staff, board, committees, and funders support and guide the organization to fulfill our mission. Learn More

News & Press Girls Write Now has been featured in The New York Times, Newsweek, Fast Company, Teen Vogue, The Today Show, Book Riot, The Kelly Clarkson Show, and many more. Learn More

Ways to Donate Donate today, match your gift, plan your giving, honor or loved one, and more ways to support the next generation of writers. Learn More

Join Our Team We seek diverse talent across fields and industries—skilled professionals at all levels who have new ideas, different perspectives, and who push themselves to think outside of the box. Learn More
Calendar

Donate Join Us

Summer 2026: Stories of Becoming: Crafting Young Adult Romance

Christine Obiamalu

Learning Objectives

- Develop Relatable Characters: Create dynamic characters whose emotions, motivations, and relationships feel authentic to young adult experiences.

- Craft Engaging Romantic Plots: Learn techniques for building compelling romantic storylines, including tension, conflict, and resolution.

- Explore Themes of Growth and Identity: Examine how love intersects with personal development, friendship, and self-discovery in YA narratives.

- Refine Storytelling Skills: Practice writing with voice, emotion, and pacing that captivates and resonates with YA readers.

Requirements

- 2 pair sessions per month

- Attend all live Journey Meetings (see the Engagement Dates section below)

- Complete all lessons provided in the course Summer 2026: Stories of Becoming: Crafting Young Adult Romance

- Submit a YA Romance short story

Asynchronous Coursework

Complete each lesson in the following course. As you progress through each lesson, make sure to press complete before moving on to the next.

Summer 2026: Stories of Becoming: Crafting Young Adult Romance:
This course explores the world of young adult romance, authentic stories about love, identity, and emotional growth. Through character development, plot design, and creative writing exercises, mentees will create heartfelt narratives that resonate with YA readers.

Engagement Dates

Participants will attend one Journey Live Meetings each month as part of the course for that cycle.

Summer Cycle Journey Meetings:

- July 25, 2026, 1-3pm ET

- August 22, 2026, 1-3pm ET

- September 19, 2026, 1-3pm ET

Submissions

By the end of this class, you will write and complete an original romance short story. Please upload your final project HERE by September 30, 2026!

Submission instructions are within the LMS course.

Curriculum

5 Sections
26 Lessons
10 Weeks

Expand all sectionsCollapse all sections

Introduction
3 Items
Section 1: Main Character Energy
7 Items
Section 2: Doing It for the Plot
7 Items
Section 3: Happily Ever Afters & Revising the Before
8 Items
Final Project: Your Own Romantic Short Story
1 Item
- 5.1
  Your Own Romantic Short Story

Instructor

Christine Obiamalu

71 Students

2 Courses

Summer 2026: Stories of Becoming: Crafting Young Adult Romance

Curriculum

Instructor

Modal title