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.

Taking Our Place in History: The Girls Write Now 2020 Anthology
Taking Our Place in History: The Girls Write Now 2020 Anthology

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.

Support Young Writers

Get a copy of the Girls Write Now 2020 Anthology “Taking Our Place in History” to support our mission to champion writers to break down the barriers of gender, age, race, and poverty to mentor, teach, and connect writers and leaders across disciplines and around the nation. With a focus on those historically disempowered due to their gender and gender identity, we harness the power of stories to shape culture, impact industries, and bridge worlds.
Reading from the 2024 Anthology Launch Party

Introduction by

Christine Ball

Honoree

Christine Ball started her career in publishing in publicity and then marketing. She is now SVP, Publisher at Dutton, Putnam, and Berkley, three imprints within the Penguin division of Penguin Random House where she has been since 2005. Dutton is the proud publisher of the Girls Write Now anthology for the last three years.

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With a Poem by

Rupi Kaur

Honoree

Rupi Kaur is a poet, author, and performer. Her second book, the sun and her flowers—an instant global bestseller, is an artistic sibling to her debut, milk and honey—one of America’s bestselling books of 2017. milk and honey has sold over 5 million copies, been translated into more than 42 languages, and was on the New York Times Bestsellers List for over three years.

Photo Credit: Nabil Shash

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Rupi Kaur

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.

Stories from Inside "Taking Our Place in History" Coming Soon!

Stories from Inside "Taking Our Place in History" Coming Soon!

History: What About Me?

History: What About Me? is a piece reflecting on women in history and the mark I plan to leave in history. The inspiration came from when I was speaking to my mentor, Rachel, about the legacy many women have left and how I would like to do the same, even if it was not written in a textbook. By this, I mean that history is not just the one we learn about in school. It is something we all are part of without knowing. I believe this piece represents my best work because I did something new and the result felt rewarding. I demonstrated to myself that I was capable of stepping out of my comfort zone and accomplishing great things.

The Reality of Death

For most of my life, I've seen Death as the enemy. He stole the people that I love away from me. Most importantly, my father. I never knew what Death's true intentions were until I dared to dive deeper. I realized that he wasn't just out to get me and ruin my life. Death was never in charge of calling the shots on who's next, he was just doing what he was asked to do. In the end, Death was always just a messenger who got a bad rep.

Toilet Talks Podcast

Toilet Talks is a podcast inspired by the fact that my friends and I have a range of conversations in the bathroom at school. We always hang out in the bathroom because it is the one way we can all be together and just talk. In this podcast, my friends and I talk about what it's like to go to high school in NYC. I think this podcast represents my best work in the program this year because it shows how I have explored different ways to produce my writing.

Chronicles of Care: Ep 1

Ever wonder how you can be your best possible self in a world that can be so stressful and hectic? Look no further. “Chronicles of Care” is a comprehensive, entertaining podcast filled with helpful tips for budgeting, looking good, and feeling great. Join Caroline Sydney and Tatiana Mezitis as they walk you through recipes, life hacks, and insider advice.

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Girls Write Now 2020 Anthology

Taking Our Places in History

From the Literary Community

“The young women and gender non-conforming youth whose work fills these pages are not only tomorrow’s greatest writers, speakers, activists, and thinkers—they are also today’s. Here are the voices shaping the world.”
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JULIA PHILLIPS Author
“The voices of girls and gender nonconforming youth have historically been downplayed, belittled, or lost to us—but they refuse to disappear any longer. Girls Write Now is giving a loudspeaker to these crucial voices, their wants and desires, and preserving them, putting them right in the stream of history, where they have always belonged.”
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ILANA MASAD Author
“The written word has often been the only outlet for women and girls to express their authentic stories and unique voices in so many societies across the globe. Girls Write Now harnesses that power, nurtures it, and amplifies it so that these singular voices can become generations.”
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ROBIN THEDE Author
“Too many girls are living their lives as a whisper, Girls Write Now teaches them to turn the volume all the way and let the world hear and see their stories.”
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CLEO WADE Author

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.