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  • Book Club: Fantasy (Summer 2026)

Summer 2026

Book Club: Fantasy

This Journey offers an immersive dive into contemporary literature, shifting from passive reading to a strategic analysis of a writer’s craft. Over the course of three monthly meetings, you will engage in close readings of selected texts, dissecting how authors build intricate worlds and develop complex character arcs. Through collaborative discussions and the application of literary frameworks, you will connect narrative themes to broader historical and modern contexts. By the end of the summer, you will have sharpened your critical eye and gained a suite of storytelling techniques to inform and elevate your own creative work. The required books this cycle are Katabasis by R. F. Kuang, Call of the Dragon by Natasha Bowen, and When They Burned the Butterfly by Wen-Yi Lee.

Girls Write Now Collaboratory

This Journey is Closed, but You Can Apply for a Fall 2026 Journey Now!

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Book Club: Fantasy Community Experiences

Mentees and mentors in this Journey must attend the monthly 90-minute Journey Meetings.

Journey Meeting Dates:

  • Thursday, July 30, 2026, 7:30 – 9 PM ET
  • Thursday, August 27, 2026, 7:30 – 9 PM ET
  • Thursday, September 24, 2026, 7:30 – 9 PM ET

If you’re unable to attend a Journey Meeting, you must notify your Staff Lead in advance and attend a community event to make up for it—strongly recommended options include Exploratory Community Studios, College & Career Chats, and Salon Experiences.

Journey Circle: Community

Book Club: Fantasy Courses

Book Club: Fantasy
This course is designed to help develop critical thinking skills, engage with literary criticism, and form a reading practice. Specific topics range from active reading to review writing to connecting stories to current events.

Writing

Book Club: Fantasy Mentoring

Mentees and mentors in the Book Club: Fantasy Journey will be matched for one cycle. Pairs will meet for at least two hour-long sessions each month. Mentees will work on a review of one of the books read during the cycle, while mentors will offer support and guidance throughout the process. This Journey is open to both mentor-mentee pairs and peer-to-peer pairs.

Journey Teaching Artist

Girls Write Now

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Book Club

What Past Participants Have to Say

“I really enjoyed being able to read some great books and watch some cool performances.”
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Alejandre Lamas-Nemec Mentee
“[I] learn[ed] new things about myself through being in community with others who love words and language – I knew I would love being a mentor, as I have been one in other capacities, but the specific literary emphasis surprised me in how connected it made me feel with others.”
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Lisa Borten Mentor
“I think seeing the Literature for Life presentations in person was the best. I was able to see incredible performers bridge both theater and literature in beautiful adaptations that I was lucky enough to see in person. I was also able to talk to some of the adults in the audience and have meaningful conversations with some mentors and guests from the public. Many of the people I talked to were much older than me yet we were able to have meaningful and enjoyable conversations. I probably would never have seen the performances or connected with the people I did if I stayed at home so I’m really happy that I went in to the office for those experiences. Girls Write Now impacted my personal growth by teaching me the skill of editing my work. My mentor encouraged me to look for edits that I could make, and even discuss or question her edits to my essay. I feel confident in my editing which is a skill that I never had before as a writer, and I’m excited to keep working. ”
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Sofia Elena Salyer Mentee

Read 360

Journeys in the Read 360 Adventure focus on close readings of books and creative works in community with other writers. Think of them as a Girls Write Now book club!

Book Club: Fantasy is a Journey in the Read 360 Adventure.

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Explore All Journeys

Explore All Journeys

Everything Is a Story: Nonfiction that Reads like Fiction (Fall 2026)

In this Journey, mentees and mentors will explore the ways in which creative storytelling techniques can be applied to nonfiction writing of all kinds, from memoir and personal essay to op-ed and how-to articles. We will dive into what makes a story—from structural archetypes to writing that flows—and learn how to harness the power of story to make nonfiction compelling and transformative.

Wild Ideas: Nature, Science & Creativity (Fall 2026)

Created in honor of Helen Ghiradella’s pioneering work at the intersection of science and creativity, this Journey invites mentees and mentors to explore the natural world through the complementary lenses of scientific inquiry and artistic expression. Inspired by Ghiradella’s legacy, and through close observation, research, and reflection, they will investigate the forms, patterns, and processes found in nature while creating an original project—through writing, visual art, media, performance, music or another creative form—that celebrates the connections between nature, science, and creativity.

Dark Tales: A Horror Book Club (Fall 2026)

Step into the shadows of horror and explore what makes a story truly unsettling. Through three monthly book club meetings, participants will engage in close readings and lively discussions of selected horror works, examining how authors build suspense, create atmosphere, evoke fear, and use the genre to explore deeper social, psychological, and cultural themes. Together, we will analyze storytelling techniques, character development, and the many forms horror can take. By the end of the fall, you will have deepened your appreciation of the genre, sharpened your critical reading skills, and gathered inspiration and craft techniques to enrich your own writing.

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