“Always be yourself. Retain individuality; listen to the truest part of yourself.”
— Marilyn Monroe
Girls Write Now is partnering with fine jewelry brand, M. Monroe. Collective womanhood is a powerful force, and the organizations align on the commitment to recognize women making their own mark on the world. Unbeknownst to many, Marilyn Monroe was an avid reader and writer, frequently penning poems and musings. Her writings were later discovered by Anna Strasberg, and published in the book Fragments. More information about M.Monroe and photos of the jewelry line can be found on their website.
“Remember there is nothing you
lack – nothing to be self conscious about
yourself – you have everything but the discipline and technique which you are learning & seeking
on your own – after all nothing was or
is being given to you –
you have had none of this
work thrown your way
you sought it
– it didn’t seek you.”
— Marilyn Monroe
Girls Write Now’s partnership with M. Monroe comes at a time when the organization is celebrating 20 years of mentoring young women writers, all of whom share Marilyn’s drive, creativity, and self-awareness. In this year’s annual Girls Write Now anthology, Generation F, our mentees explore what it means to be a part of Generation F, guided by the passion, experience, and dedication of the women who have come before them. Generation F: The Girls Write Now 2018 Anthology, is set for release on May, 22nd. Read an excerpt from Girls Write Now mentee Sade Andre’s piece, “(F)ear,” below. Sade says: ‘”(F)ear” is about my outlook on how life should be perceived. I know many teenage girls who sometimes take life too seriously. At this age, we should think of life as more of a big picture that is still unfolding, rather than as a micro-moment.”
(F)ear by Sade Andre
Taught from experiences, she knows that even though these experiences may be dark, she must go through them. Not because she’s terrible or deserves the worst—but because these hardships, sufferings, are nothing but lessons and experiences. The scars and burns are stories to tell someone who needs it. From this she learned a lesson—maybe even a philosophy—that without fear there would be no function, no motivation to get out of where she is. But we must pull positivity from our experiences because we don’t know our expiration date.
So why live in the darkness and not chase the light? Why take everything while we’re young as such burdens and not lessons? There’s no need to view teenage years as if they are negative times, because this time we have is for lessons. Shaping. To formulate the best versions of ourselves. Generation (F)ear is the generation of hope and strength.