ANTHOLOGIES
Taking Our Place in History: The Girls Write Now 2020 Anthology
Girls Write Now is thrilled to be in partnership with Dutton, who produced this year’s anthology. A special thanks to the team at Dutton—Christine Ball,Maya Ziv,Marya Pasciuto and Hannah Feeney, and to Feminist Press and Jamia Wilson, who produced the e-book. Thank you as well to Amazon Literary Partnership for their continued support and for recognizing Girls Write Now as a 2020 grant recipient, which directly funds the production of our anthologies.
The Girls Write Now 2020 class of mentees are using their voices for change in one of the most uncertain periods of modern history. This book invites you into their homes and families, their schools and neighborhoods, their hearts, hopes, and fears. Enter a world where clay creatures take on aluminum oppressors. Get thrown against an elevator wall in the midst of a horror story. Go backstage with a rock band, say goodbye to relatives as you start a new life, stand with an engineer solving a coding problem. Stare out from a coffin—or up at whales in the sky—and fall in love with the color of your skin. Experience tragedy in a mosque, feel the wounds of slavery, know the terror of glass shattering in a World War II village, and see how this next generation of leaders look to the past and write their present to create a better future.
Introduction by
With a Poem 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.
Taking Our Place in History: The Girls Write Now 2020 Anthology
Stories from Inside "Taking Our Place in History" Coming Soon!
Stories from Inside "Taking Our Place in History" Coming Soon!
To Go or Stay
"To Go or Stay" uses drawings and images to describe an apocalyptic world suffering from climate change. The people in that society have to choose to stay on or leave Earth as disasters affect different parts of the US. This choice will affect how they can contribute to society and improve the environment.
Lover
This poem depicts a dysfunctional relationship in which the protagonist feels constricted by the person they love, but nevertheless wants to be with them. The color schemes and backgrounds used heighten the emotional complexity as well as the aesthetic of the piece. This poem was inspired by many books I have read in which the characters have an unusual romantic relationship, and I wanted to show the intricacy of the emotions the characters feel.
Angry Black Women
I made this presentation because within American society, black women are at the bottom of the totem pole. Whenever we speak up to defend ourselves, we are seen as aggressive, overbearing, and too much to handle. This common approach to our struggles reinforces the denials of our pain and further pushes preconceived notions from those we've yet to meet. I don't want black women to humble themselves in order to not be seen as a stereotype.
Things About Me
In these few slides, I am being fully vulnerable in telling my audience about myself—with funny remarks, of course. I share the emotions that I have about my life and just how crazy it is. What sparked my inspiration for this project was the desire to share the experiences and thoughts I’ve had in my short life. This project shows how much I improved this year. In the beginning, I was hesitant to share these things about myself. I feel like I came a long way, being as open as I was in this project.
The World Through Me
This project will take you through the places I've grown to call home. From the dazzling lights of New York City to the blue skies of Miaoli, Taiwan, you get to travel through a multitude of locations, in seconds, all while sitting in your chair. It is important for all the works I create to represent a part of me or reflect who I am as a person, and The World Through Me has given me a chance to do just that.
Erasures of ‘Star-Spangled Banner’ & ‘Lift Every Voice’
These pieces are erasures of “The Star-Spangled Banner” and “Lift Every Voice and Sing,” the national black anthem. My mentor gave me prompts to erase both of them, side by side, after noticing the differences between them.
Homemade Constellations
Homemade Constellations By Blake Coniglio So, if you’re like me, you live in the city. And every night, you can’t
Armed Allegiance
My erasure poem "Armed Allegiance" represents the immigrant experience. I moved from Mexico to America when I was young, and I know how hard it is to adapt to a new place. The Naturalization Oath is important to me because it reflects the sacrifices my parents made to give me more opportunities in life. I know many undocumented immigrants dream of becoming U.S. citizens and see it as the ultimate achievement. I also wanted this poem to convey how important it is for me to make my parents proud and show them that their hard work was worth it.
Nancy Drew, Sherlock Holmes, Who Else?
This year, I decided that I was going to improve my mystery-writing skills, as I had always been an avid mystery reader. I think my podcast sums up my love for it and what I'm trying to do with my works!
Your Weekly Dose with Mareesa and Abena
In this podcast, I give you a taste of my love for South Korea and present two delicacies of South Korean culture in a fun and calm way!
Taking Our Places in History
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.