Shine the Light of Truth
Don’t miss out on this week’s Monday Memo, where we’re spotlighting December’s story collection, “Shine the Light of Truth,” curated by our Editor-in-Residence, Morayo Faleyimu.
Plus, we’re showcasing more of our Holiday Gift Guide, amazing opportunities, upcoming events, and so much more!
Shop the Girls Write Now 2023 Holiday Gift Guide
Get a head start on your holiday shopping with the Girls Write Now 2023 Gift Guide. Each week we will feature products from our mentors, mentees, friends, and partners designed to make gifting a breeze and a delight.
RBC Foundation USA Spotlights Girls Write Now as Nonprofit Partner
In highlighting Girls Write Now as an impactful nonprofit partner, our partner RBC Foundation USA sat with mentee alum and Editorial Intern Dolores Haze, alongside her mentor Brenda Henry-Offor.
At Girls Write Now, we break down the barriers of gender, race, age and poverty to mentor the next generation of writers and leaders. Together, our community channels the power of our voices and stories to shape culture, impact industries and inspire change.
SHINE THE LIGHT OF TRUTH: A JOURNALISM COLLECTION
Respite? More like ReSPITE!
Have you ever chosen to sacrifice sleep to binge-watch something on Netflix? You might…
Diet Woes: Will Polar Bears Make It?
No other animal seems more threatened by climate change than polar bears. Will these…
Not So Fast, Fashion
Fast fashion has become a staple of the fashion industry, but at a closer…
COVID Rewind: Thoughts & Reflections
A look into 2020 through the diverse eyes of interviewees from New York City.…
What Does it Mean that TikTok Users Are Getting Their News From the Platform?
Social media is revolutionizing the way we receive information, from beauty hacks to geopolitical…
High School Students Across the Country Start Projects During Quarantine
The article centers on five high school students in the US who are pursuing…
‘How Did I Get Here?’ – Episode 2: Leah Chernikoff
“How Did I Get Here?” is a podcast about the different stories of women in media and their career journeys. This episode highlights Leah Chernikoff,…
The World Cup at Qatar
The world cup was a beautiful experience and it's something that should be remembered.
Free Palestine
To honor the Palestinians that have passed and for those who are still fighting for their country.
Let’s Create Together
We are a diverse, multi-generational, passionate community of writers, creatives, leaders, artists and activists who all share a love of stories. Our programs are interwoven with wellness- and activist-minded curricula and offer endless opportunities for friendship, networking and professional development support.
UPCOMING EVENTS
December 1 – 6:00 pm – 7:15 pm ET
Writing Hope at The End of A World with Ross Gay
Join us for an evening exploring what it means to experience hope and radical joy during periods of personal and political tumult. In this Friday Night Salon, Ross Gay will join us to discuss his 2015 award-winning book of poems, Catalog of Unabashed Gratitude.
December 6 – 4:30 pm – 6:00 pm ET
More Passion, More Energy: The Art of Telenovelas with Telemundo & NBCU
Join us for an exhilarating event that celebrates the craft of telenovelas! Hear from employees at Telemundo & NBCU about the elements that make telenovelas so enthralling and brainstorm ideas for your very own show!
December 8 – 6:00 pm – 7:15 pm ET
Building Racial Awareness: A Reflection on Socialization & Race
In today’s rapidly evolving and complex world, it is imperative that mentors and professionals understand the concept of race and the origin of racism in the United States. Throughout our lives, we have absorbed racist messages all around us. From loved ones to TV shows, we have learned stereotypes and stories rooted in harmful racist messages.…
December 11 – 6:00 pm – 7:00 pm ET
Bread & Roses: on the Accessibility of Stories
Art too often is the first thing that’s cut when budgets are tight. Stories, ideas, and perspectives are treated as a privilege, rather than a necessary part of life. As New York City’s libraries are forced to close their doors due to budget cuts, join us for a timely discussion about accessibility of stories for…
Create Write Now with Women & Gender-expansive Teaching Artists
Turn Tragedies into YA with Joy L. Smith
Learn how exploring complex emotions associated with tragedy can create a poignant story with author and mentee alum, Joy L….
Channel Your Senses with Bernice L. McFadden
Learn how to channel the senses on the page with the author of ten critically acclaimed novels, Bernice L. McFadden.
Heal and Grow with Yasmine Cheyenne
Join Yasmine Cheyenne as she explains how to deal with feedback & be compassionately honest with ourselves.
Write Magical Realism with Alexandra V. Méndez
Explore belonging through magical realism with Alexandra Méndez, author of What The Jaguar Told Her.
Write Workplace Romances with Donna Hill
Join mentor and bestselling author Donna Hill as she leads us through the intricacies of writing about romance.
Write Nonfiction with Michelle Duster
Uncover history through the tales of those dear to you with Michelle Duster, author of Ida B. the Queen.
Write Memoir with Elle Johnson
Join TV writer and author Elle Johnson as she shares turning a family tragedy into a heart-wrenching story of love.
Pen Personal Narratives with Qian Julie Wang
Join New York Times bestselling author Qian Julie Wang as she leads us through the process of writing a memoir.
Create a Graphic Novel with Kate Gavino
Learn from graphic novelist Kate Gavino how to create a graphic novel that illustrates the industry!
Write Poetry that Shatters Expectations with Mahogany L. Browne
Break down the prescriptive norms of being “girl.”
Memorialize the Important People in Your Life in Writing with Gigi Coleman
Learn how to honor and celebrate the important figures in your own life with Gigi Coleman.
Practice Writing Conflict & Tension with Natalie Baszile
Learn how to find and accentuate conflict and tension with Natalie Baszile, author of Queen Sugar.
Learn to Write Micro Narratives with Darien Hsu Gee
Find a new way into your story in this micro narrative writing workshop with Darien Hsu Gee.
Write the Intimate & the Invented with Daphne Palasi Andreades
Learn how to write fiction using your lived experiences with Daphne Palasi Andreades.
Become an Expert in the Art of Interviewing with Abby West and Rebecca Carroll
Learn how to break down simple conversations into dazzling narrative stories with Amistad’s Abby West and Podcast Host Rebecca Carroll.
Rewrite Your Past into Poetry with Christina Olivares
Make new meaning from what matters most to you with writing prompts designed to dig up the details.
Dive Into Historical Fiction with Emily Neuberger
Use your memories to write Historical Fiction with Emily Neuberger, mentor and author of new novel A Tender Thing.
Develop Your Fictional Identity with Brit Bennett
Indulge your fictional half with the New York Times bestselling author Brit Bennett.
Build a Powerful Podcast with Dr. Joy Harden Bradford
Dive into podcasting with the renowned therapist behind Therapy For Black Girls.
Deep Dive Into Character Study with Megan Giddings
Experiment with voice and character dimension with the author of Lakewood.
Pen Lyrics for Lonely Hearts with Anna J Witiuk
You don’t need to be a musician to write great lyrics. Turn heartbreak into art in this songwriting Salon.
Craft A Poetry Collection with Jasmine Mans
Freewrite to uncover a thematic thread for your collection with inspiration from Jasmine’s experience growing up in Newark, NJ.
Find Your Narratorial Voice with Olivia Abtahi
Learn how to make your writing sound as authentic as possible!
Get Super Personal to Write Comedy with Nikki Palumbo
Learn to turn your most embarrassing experiences into comedy gold.
Explore What Home Means to You with Sepideh Moafi
Discover what home and belonging mean to you with actor, singer, writer, and producer Sepideh Moafi.
Enter the World of YA Fiction with Amy Zhang
Write young adult fiction with author Amy Zhang, who published her first novel at age 18.
Love [Poetry] Galore: Write Hip-Hop–Inspired Love Poems with Sam Arriozola
Learn about the history of Hip-Hop and write love poems with writer, poet, and youth worker Sam Arriozola.
Start a Novel with Keisha Bush
Learn how to start small to write a novel with Keisha Bush, author of No Heaven for Good Boys.
Go All In in Memoir with Maria Konnikova
Learn to write high-stakes memoir scenes with Maria Konnikova, New York Times bestselling author, journalist, and professional poker player.
Write as a Form of Resistance with Dominique Morisseau
Learn how to use art as protest with TONY nominated playwright Dominique Morisseau.
become an ambassador
Girls Write Now Ambassadors provide girls, women, and gender-expansive writers of all ages with extraordinary opportunities to be heard, to be seen, and to create change across sectors.
BECOME A PARTNER
Together, let’s mentor the next generation to be creative, communicative and competitive candidates shaping the future of your company and industry.
spread the love
Get empowered to ask for money to support a cause you care about. Spread the word about a mission you believe in. Access our Advocacy Kit.
IN THE WORDS OF OUR COMMUNITY
“Girls Write Now has given me the unique experience of being at the cross-section of so many types of art—something I hope to carry with me as I continue to create.”
ANAÍS FERNÁNDEZ
MENTEE
“Girls Write Now gives us a community and a wealth of opportunities to figure out what we can make of our passion.”
TIFFANI REN
MENTEE ALUM & CURRENT MENTOR
“You are giving underprivileged girls and gender-nonconforming kids the tools and connections that other people get in their starter pack for life. That’s what equity means. That’s what activism is.”
KAT JAGAI
MENTEE ALUM & CURRENT MENTOR
“My years at Girls Write Now were some of the best parts of my high school experience. I learned that there are other people who are just like me who felt lost in the world and were able to find themselves in their writing.”
MAXX CARR
MENTEE ALUM
“I am super grateful to (still!) be in community with the many friends, mentors, and supporters that I met through Girls Write Now. Without them, I never would have pursued my dream to become a writer.”
ROMAISSAA BENZIZOUNE
MENTEE ALUM & TEACHING ARTIST
“Most young people in my neighborhood do not have the same opportunities that I am lucky to have received, but what we do share are the difficult experiences of living in East New York / Brownsville. When I won the Posse Scholarship, I felt like their voices and dreams were also being honored.”
KAYLA MORGAN
CLASS OF 2022 MENTEE & POSSE SCHOLAR