Summer 2025
Book Club: Summer Read
Book lovers, unite! Each cycle, we’ll do a close read of three new books and discuss them at monthly fixed meetings. Based on enthusiastic community input, the books selected for this summer are all from our longtime partner Penguin Random House: -Michelle Zauner’s Crying in H Mart; -Safia Elhillo’s Home Is Not a Country; and -Sulieka Jaouad’s The Book of Alchemy For all three books, we’ll focus in particular on reading as writers and taking note of the ways each author crafts their story.
This Journey has mentor spots available
If you are interested in being a mentee, you can still join the Collaboratory, too! Explore other pathways this summer, and be the first to know when fall Journey applications. open.
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This Journey has mentor spots available
If you are interested in being a mentee, you can still join the Collaboratory, too! Explore other pathways this summer, and be the first to know when fall Journey applications. open.
As a mentor or mentee in the Book Club: Summer Read Journey, you’ll have access to an online course designed to help you get the most out of the books we’re reading. You’ll be paired with a mentee or mentor for one full cycle, and you’ll meet with them at least twice each month. You’ll be expected to attend Book Club meetings to discuss the books.
- Cycle(s) Summer 2025
- Time 3 hours per month
- Areas of Focus Facilitation, Community Engagement, Audience Engagement
- Available Spots Per Cycle 20
Requirements
- Read the assigned books.
- Attend the monthly Journey meetings.
- Review of one book read during the cycle (800-1500 words) or submit to Writing for Life Essay Contest
Book Club: Summer Read Course
Each cycle, we’ll close read 3 books and discuss them at monthly fixed meetings. We’ll focus, in particular, on reading as writers and taking note of the ways each author crafts their story.
Book Club: Summer Read Mentoring
Mentors and mentees in the Book Club Journey will be matched for one cycle. Pairs will meet for at least two sessions each month. Each session should be at least one hour long.
Book Club: Summer Read Community Experiences
Mentors and mentees in the Book Club Journey must attend at least one Community Experience per month. They are expected to attend Book Club meetings to discuss the books. It is strongly recommended that they attend Exploratory Community Studios, College & Career Chats, and Salon Experiences.
Read 360 Adventure
The Book Club: Summer Read Journey is a part of the Read 360 Adventure.
Journeys in the Read 360 Adventure focus on close readings of books and creative works in community with other writers. Think of it as a Girls Write Now book club!
Learn more about the other Adventures offered at Girls Write Now below.
Find Your Journey
Find Your Journey
Explore Tour (Spring 2026)
Explore all of the creative and storytelling pathways Girls Write Now has to offer through a multimedia, multi-genre experience that includes mini courses, exploratory studios, and one-to-one pair sessions. Discover new skills and build on existing ones with offerings that range from fiction to journalism to publishing, and dive into formats like video, podcasting, visual storytelling, and more.
Independent Study (Spring 2026)
Create your own experience with our Independent Study Journey. Mentors and mentees meet as a pair, attend events of interest, and use coursework to help you plan creative projects and meet your goals.
Journalism: The Art of Profiles (Spring 2026)
Every person has a story to tell, and profile writing is an invitation to share those stories with the world. In this journey, mentors and mentees explore how to establish trust and rapport with their subjects, conduct interviews with mutual respect, and present a friendly, welcoming demeanor while maintaining the role as the writer—not a friend or confidante. Unlike traditional approaches that focus solely on extracting details for the reader, this course emphasizes a holistic perspective that honors the reader, the writer, and the subject. Participants will practice structuring interviews, managing the flow of conversation, knowing when to push back against the profile subject, and using their own experiences as a guide to create compelling, thoughtful profiles.
Poetry Rising: Voices from Latin America (Spring 2026)
Explore the voices representing Latin America in their poetry! Mentors and mentees will read poems that reflect on love, identity, and social change. Alongside reading, mentees will write their own poems inspired by these works, experimenting with rhythm, imagery, and voice. Through discussion and creative practice, you’ll discover how poetry can express both personal and collective experience!
Writing Our Way to Wellness: Podcast Production (Spring 2026)
This Journey invites mentors and mentees to explore the intersection of storytelling and wellness through the art of podcasting. Participants will engage in intergenerational, holistic conversations that honor both the craft of writing and the power of human connection. They will explore what wellness means to them personally and as a practice, and learn to structure episodes that educate, inspire, and resonate. Mentors and mentees will also build practical skills in shaping and producing a polished podcast episode. By the end of this two-cycle journey, each participant will have a published episode on the Writing Our Way to Wellness podcast streaming on all platforms!
Perspectives on Editorial (Spring 2026)
Embrace editing as an essential aspect of writing in this journey that leads you through lessons and experiences that explore everything from line edits and grammar to the psychology of revision. Great for individuals who are interested in honing their skills for editing their own creative work (and the work of others!)
The Power of Punchlines: Stand-Up Comedy for Change (Spring 2026)
In this Journey, mentors and mentees will explore the power of comedy as a tool for social change, with a special focus on stand-up comedy. From climate change and economic inequality to LGBTQ+ rights, racial justice, and mental health, participants learn how to write and perform material that blends humor with meaningful social critique. Through workshops and performance coaching, mentors and mentees will develop their own comedic voice. Discover how satire and personal storytelling can raise awareness, inspire dialogue, and challenge the status quo— all while keeping your audience laughing. By the end of the journey, you’ll have developed a 5 -10-minute stand-up routine that not only entertains but sparks meaningful conversations about the world around us. Comedy is a form of intelligence, whether you’re new to comedy or a seasoned performer, this journey will help you use humor as a force for social impact.
Teach GWN (Spring 2026)
In this Journey, members of the GWN community will develop curriculum and facilitate a community studio for one or more cycles within GWN’s Collaboratory structure. Each Cycle involves facilitating three community studios, one per month. Participants will gain valuable skills in leadership, teaching, and community building. Mentors and mentees can facilitate a community studio either solo (if they are 18 or older) or together as a pair.
Civil Discourse: Connection & Persuasion (Spring 2026)
In this Journey, mentors and mentees will develop essential skills in public speaking, argumentation, and critical thinking. Through engaging activities and interactive discussions, participants will learn to craft persuasive speeches, construct well-reasoned arguments, and present their ideas with confidence. They will explore techniques for effective communication, refine their ability to think critically under pressure, and practice responding to diverse perspectives in a structured setting.
STARS: Crafting White Papers for Change (Spring 2026)
In this Journey, Fellows from STARS CGI partner organizations engage in a youth-led writing and advocacy experience that empowers them to turn their experiences into policy-focused narratives. Through in-person and virtual sessions, participants learn to research, write, and collaborate on a White Paper that amplifies youth voices across New York City and advocates for increased support, funding, and policy improvements for youth programs. The Journey builds communication, leadership, and advocacy skills, culminating in a youth-authored White Paper presented to a City Council Member as a public call to action.
