Home for a Multi-Generational Community to Connect & Create
For nearly three decades, Girls Write Now has broken through polarizing forces to mentor and teach writers across age, gender, race, class, region, and discipline. Throughout all of our work, we are committed to amplifying systemically under-represented voices—particularly those historically disempowered due to their gender and gender identity—that have the power to shape culture, impact industries, and bridge worlds.
The Collaboratory is our central home for connecting and creating as a community. The doors are now open for Mentors, Mentees, and Members from all walks of life and across the country to join us this fall. Welcome!
The Collaboratory Model
In the Collaboratory, we take a 360 degree approach to developing the whole writer: academically at the intersection of arts and social justice; professionally across all industries; and personally in a healing-centered space.
All Collaboratory experiences combine writing, mentoring, and community in different combinations. Select and customize one that is just right for your personal and professional interests, schedule, goals, and passions across a broad range genres, media, and topics, including college, career, and leadership development.
Get the benefits of being on a “Journey” for a minimum 3-month cycle, or become a Member with no extended time commitment.
Who: Mentors and mentees hail from around the U.S. Mentees are 14-24, eager to learn and grow as writers and leaders across genres, media, and platforms, and down many different academic and career paths. Mentors are ages 25-95, and passionate about passing on their knowledge, experience, and craft to support the next generation of writers.
What & When: As a mentor or mentee, you make a commitment to mentoring for at least once cycle, and in turn, have access to the full suite of mentoring, writing, and community experiences. You can access these services ad hoc, or via curated packages called Journeys that build over time towards majors called Adventures.
How: Mentors volunteer their time and expertise, and there is no fee for anyone to participate. Apply now to start as a mentor or ormentee in the next Journey cycle.
Who: Members can be any age, gender, identity, or background, from anywhere!
What & When: With Girls Write Now membership, you get access to resources, opportunities, select courses, mentorship sessions, and community experiences, anytime. You do not need to make a commitment to a mentor, mentee, or schedule, unless you choose to apply for a Journey or take part in another structured engagement.
How: Membership is free when you join now. Simply create an account and start exploring!
Collaboratory Access for Mentors, Mentees & Members
Mentoring
Connect one-to-one across generations and establish a supportive relationship that lasts a lifetime.
All mentors, mentees & members also have access to our Resources, including jobs, internships, scholarships, writing contests, enrichment opportunities, and more.
Explore Curated Journeys
Enroll in a Journey as a mentor or mentee to get the full package! Our Journeys are curated by a professional team of educators and artists to be a dynamic, multifaceted experience built with specific mentorship types, community experiences, and curricular courses to meet your interests, needs, schedule, and goals. Explore genres, media, leadership, activism, public policy, college and career readiness, and beyond
Adventures are like majors— collections of Journeys that mentors and mentees can enroll in over time to deeply explore, build broad skills, and meet longer-term goals. Within each Adventure, writers get a 360 degree understanding of each field—and collectively our Adventures offer a 360 degree view of writing across all fields and disciplines.