Explore Tour (Summer 2025)
Deadline: May 16, 2025
Explore all of the topics that Girls Write Now has to offer with mini courses, exploratory studios, and one-on-one pair sessions. Discover new skills and build on existing ones with courses and experiences that touch on a range of topics from horror writing to journalism to publishing and much more!
Girls Write Now Collaboratory
This Journey Is Closed, but You Can Pre-Enroll in a Summer 2026 Journey Now!
Requirements
- Complete at least 3 mini online Explore Tour courses.
- Submit 1 piece to be published on the Author Page/Girls Write Now’s website.
- Attend at least 1 Community Engagement Experience per month.
- Complete at least 2 pair sessions per month.
Explore Tour Courses
The Explore Tour offers short courses that introduce different genres and topics that mentees and mentors can explore in further depth in pair sessions, community engagement events, and through more journeys in future cycles.
Courses:
- Horror: Becoming an Architect of Terror
- Making Change: Leading from Where You Are
- Poetry 101
- Magical Realism
Explore Tour Mentoring
Mentors and mentees in the Explore Tour Journey will be matched for one cycle. Pairs will meet for at least two hour-long sessions each month.
Explore Tour Community Experiences
Mentors and mentees in the Explore Tour Journey must attend at least one Community Experience per month, such as Exploratory Community Studios, Affinity Group Meetings, College & Career Chats, and Salon Experiences
Explore 360 Adventure
Explore Tour is a Journey in the Explore 360 Adventure.
All Journeys within this Adventure focus on discovering new genres, mediums, and topics to inspire mentees and mentors to create together. Learn more about the other Adventures offered at Girls Write Now below.
Find Your Journey
Find Your Journey
Teach GWN (Fall 2025)
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. Mentees and Mentors can facilitate a community studio either solo (if they are 18 or older) or together as a pair.
The Power of Punchlines: Stand-Up Comedy for Change (Fall 2025-Spring 2026)
In this two-Cycle Journey, participants 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, you’ll learn how to write and perform material that blends humor with meaningful social critique. 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.
The Lead Incubator (Fall 2025-Spring 2025)
The Lead Incubator is a crucial extension of the Lead Community Change Journey, offering Mentees the space, resources, and support needed to implement their project plans and drive meaningful change in their communities. It acts as a dynamic platform where they can turn their ideas into action. Mentees participating in the Lead Incubator focus on advancing their community-based social activism projects with the support of their mentors and Girls Write Now’s resources.
Explore Tour (Fall 2025)
Explore the creative and storytelling pathways Girls Write Now offers through a multimedia, multi-genre experience with mini courses, exploratory studios, and one-on-one pair sessions. Build new skills and deepen existing ones across fiction, journalism, publishing, and formats like video, podcasting, and visual storytelling. Ideal for mentees working across media or focused on specific projects, this Journey offers the flexibility to tailor your learning experience to your goals.
The Power of Punchlines: Stand-Up Comedy for Change (Summer 2026)
In this Journey, participants 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, you’ll learn how to write and perform material that blends humor with meaningful social critique. Through workshops and performance coaching, you’ll develop your 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.
Explore Tour (Summer 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-on-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. Ideal for mentees who enjoy working across multiple genres and media or are focused on specific projects, this Journey offers the flexibility to tailor your learning experience to your individual needs.
Life Lines: Crafting Memoir and Nonfiction (Summer 2026)
This Journey invites you to explore personal truth through nonfiction and memoir writing. You’ll learn to shape real experiences into compelling narratives that resonate with readers. Through reflection, drafting, and feedback, you’ll develop your authentic voice and storytelling skills to share your unique story with confidence.
Visual Voices: Video Storytelling (Summer 2026)
Explore the art of storytelling through video by learning how to craft compelling narratives using visuals, sound, and editing techniques. This Journey offers hands-on experience with video production from concept to final cut, empowering you to share your unique stories on screen. Gain skills in filming, scripting, and post-production while expressing your creative vision through multimedia.
Nature Narratives: Zine Production (Summer 2026)
Dive into the world of zine-making with a focus on nature and the environment. This Journey guides you through crafting personal and creative expressions about the natural world using multimedia, writing, and visual art. Celebrate your unique perspective while learning to produce and share your own impactful zine.
Writing for TV: From Script to Screen (Summer 2026)
The Writing for TV Journey is designed to help develop the skills and understanding needed to work as a writer in today’s TV industry. This Journey provides insight into the work of a scriptwriter – a deep understanding of TV storytelling and professional scripts, drama vs comedy scripts, professional working practices, and employment strategies. Specific topics range from story structure and formatting scripts to actually seeing a script to fruition.
