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!
Thrombocytopenia
Thrombocytopenia is a semi-autobiographical poem that details the struggles of a health condition exacerbated by America's broken health care system. Through the conglomeration of a child's worst fears, I hope to spur the need for change.
Two Sides
My inspiration for this piece came after having a deep conversation with someone I trust. I came to the realization that there are two different sides to everyone—including myself.
In and Out of the Struggle
I tried to be different this year and not make a piece about me or my family but I failed terribly. This piece shows how I am no different from anyone and how I can make my mark in my community by creating awareness of the issues in NYC.
Monolid
This piece describes my experience growing up with beauty standards. It highlights my first encounter with eyelid tape and the contrast between East Asian and Western notions of beauty.
Serendipity
This is a piece dedicated to some of the closest people of my life, all of whom I had never expected to be so crucial to my personal growth.
The Desert
This poem is about a deeply personal experience I’ve had this year. It’s about feeling bitter, betrayed, and abandoned. And no, it’s not about a romantic relationship.
For All the Choices Given to the One Taken
I wrote this piece to emphasize the struggles of women in a male-dominated society. Throughout history, social justice leaders have fought both within the system and against it. In my piece, different women have to make a similar choice in how they choose to fight against discrimination.
Hereditary
This poem is a reflection on what being multiracial means to me and how it impacts the space I occupy in the world.
5 Years From Now
This is what I imagine my life to be like in 5 years. The future makes me nervous because anything can happen but I remain optimistic always.
Perfect Woman
In correlation with the theme, this piece was written to show the roles women are often desired to play and to be in.
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.