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  • Book Club: Summer Read (Summer 2025)

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.

Book Club: Summer Reads, photo of two girls reading books

Girls Write Now Collaboratory

This Journey is Closed, but You Can Pre-Enroll in a Spring 2027 Journey Now!

Pre-Enroll Now

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
two women looking at each other and smiling

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.

Writing

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.

Journey Circle: Community
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 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.

See All Adventures

Find Your Journey

Find Your Journey

Independent Study (Spring 2027)

Create your own experience with our Independent Study Journey. Mentees and mentors meet as a pair, attend events of interest, and use coursework to support creative projects and personal goals. Along the way, you can connect with others during a mid-cycle mixer designed to spark inspiration, share ideas, and build community. The Journey culminates in a showcase where participants present the work they have developed throughout the cycle and celebrate their accomplishments together. Mentees and mentors will benefit by gaining greater independence in their learning, deepening their creative practice, and building meaningful connections while pursuing self-directed goals.

Independent Study thumb nail featuring Girls Write Now logo, one woman studying at a desk, and another woman writing.

Teach GWN (Spring 2027)

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. Mentees and mentors will gain valuable skills in leadership, teaching, and community building. Mentees and mentors can facilitate a Community Studio either independently (if they are 18 or older) or together as a pair.

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Screenwriting: Crafting Short Film Stories (Spring 2027)

This two-cycle Journey guides participants from crafting a short film script to bringing it to life on screen. In the first cycle, mentors and mentees focus on developing compelling stories, dynamic characters, and engaging dialogue, learning the essentials of screenwriting for short films. In the second cycle, participants move from script to screen, exploring the practical aspects of video production, including planning, collaboration, and bringing their creative vision to life. By the end of the journey, mentees will have both a polished script and hands-on experience in producing their own short film.

Life Lines: Crafting Memoir (Part 1) (Spring 2027)

In this three-cycle Journey, writers will get the support and expert industry insight they need to write their memoir. In the first three-month cycle, participants will outline, structure their book, and begin their first drafts; in the second three-month cycle, participants will write and workshop their drafts; and in the third cycle, participants will finish their drafts and write their book proposals.

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