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  • Dark Tales: A Horror Book Club (Fall 2026)

Fall 2026

Dark Tales:

A Horror Book Club

Step into the shadows of horror and explore what makes a story truly unsettling. Through three monthly book club meetings, mentees and mentors 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 summer, mentees and mentors will have deepened their appreciation of the genre, sharpened their critical reading skills, and gathered inspiration and craft techniques to enrich their own writing. The required books this cycle are Dark Is When the Devil Comes by Daisy Pearce, The Body by Bethany C. Morrow, and I’ll Watch Your Baby by Neena Viel.

Ready to Apply?

Learn more below or get started now. If you do not already have a Girls Write Now Portal account, you will be asked to create one in order to apply.

Apply Now

Ready to Apply?

Learn more below or get started now. If you do not already have a Girls Write Now Portal account, you will be asked to create one in order to apply.

Applications are reviewed on a rolling basis, and each of our Journeys can accommodate a limited number of mentees and mentors. Apply early to secure your spot in the Journey of your choice!

 

Apply Now
  • JOURNEY REQUIREMENTS
  • Cycle(s) 1 Cycle (3 months, Nov 1 – Jan 31)
  • Time Commitment a minimum of 3 hours per month
  • Journey Meetings Attend all Journey Meetings (see dates below).
  • Mentoring Have at least 2 Pair Sessions per month
  • Journey Project Submit one review (400-800 words) that assesses one of the required books

Dark Tales: A Horror Book Club Community Experiences

Mentees and mentors must attend one Journey Live Meetings each month. 

Fall Cycle Journey Meetings:

  • Saturday, November 21, 2026 | 12:00–1:30 PM ET
  • Saturday, December 19, 2026 | 12:00–1:30 PM ET
  • Saturday, January 30, 2027 | 12:00–1:30 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—recommended options for this journey include Community Studios and Career Chats.

Journey Circle: Community

Dark Tales: A Horror Book Club Courses

Dark Tales: A Horror Book Club
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

Dark Tales: A Horror Book Club 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

Annaya Baynes

Girls Write Now Staff

Annaya Baynes (she/they) is a Community Coordinator. They graduated from Spelman College with a Bachelor of Arts in English and French. As an undergraduate, she worked on Spelman’s social justice podcast, The Blue Record, and the reproductive justice-oriented podcast Black Feminist Rants. Annaya has interned at various publishing houses, including Penguin Random House, Macmillan, and The Feminist Press. They have a deep love for literature and film. She is a Master’s student at NYU’s Martin Scorsese Department of Cinema Studies.

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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

All Journeys within this 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! Learn more about the other Adventures offered at Girls Write Now below.

Dark Tales: A Horror Book Club is a Journey in the Read 360 Adventure.

See All Adventures

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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