Summer 2026
Fresh Mouth: Confidence Through Comedy
This Journey transforms your unique observations and “wild and wacky” thoughts into a structured comedy set. Through bi-weekly Journey Meetings and personalized coaching, you will explore the mechanics of humor, moving from a raw premise to a polished delivery. You will learn to find the funny in the everyday while building the stage presence and confidence necessary to share your voice. The experience concludes in a live showcase alongside peers and professional comedians, where you will debut your original material and celebrate the power of humor as a tool for connection and self-expression.
Girls Write Now Collaboratory
This Journey is Closed, but You Can Pre-Enroll in a Spring 2027 Journey Now!
Journey Teaching Artist
Ready to Apply?
Check with your parents or guardians, learn more below, and 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?
Check with your parents or guardians, learn more below, and 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.
- JOURNEY REQUIREMENTS
- Cycle(s) 1 Cycle (July 1st to September 30th)
- Time Commitment A minimum 3 hours per month (4-5 hours strongly recommended!)
- Journey Meetings Attend monthly Journey meetings. See dates listed below.
- Mentoring Have a minimum of two one-hour pair sessions per month.
- Journey Project Prepare a comedy set and participate in a stand-up comedy show.
- Age Range for Mentees 10-13
- Mentee Journey Fee $1500 or $1200 for applications received by April 6
Learning Objectives
Fresh Mouth: Confidence Through Comedy Community Experiences
Participants are required to attend two Journey Live Meetings each month throughout the cycle. Additionally, they can schedule 1:1 office hours with the Journey Teaching Artist for individual assistance as needed.
This journey concludes with a Stand-Up Comedy Show, where participants perform their sets for a live audience.
Summer Cycle Journey Meetings:
- Wednesday, July 8, 6 – 7:30 PM ET
- Wednesday, July 22, 6 – 7:30 PM ET
- Wednesday, August 5, 6 – 7:30 PM ET
- Wednesday, August 19, 6 – 7:30 PM ET
- Wednesday, September 2, 6 – 7:30 PM ET
- Wednesday, September 16, 6 – 7:30 PM ET
Showcase
- Saturday, September 26, 2026, 4 – 6 PM ET
If you’re unable to attend a Journey meeting, please notify your Staff Lead in advance.
Fresh Mouth: Confidence Through Comedy Course
Finding Your Funny: An Intro Stand-Up Comedy
This accompanying course teaches the fundamentals of joke writing, comedic structure, and crafting punchlines. You’ll explore how to develop your unique comedic voice, shape personal stories into tight sets, and experiment with timing, rhythm, and delivery. By the end of the course, you’ll have polished original material and the confidence to perform it for a live audience.
Fresh Mouth: Confidence Through Comedy Mentoring
Mentees and mentors in this Journey will be matched for one cycle. Pairs will meet for at least two hour-long sessions each month.
Lead 360
All journeys within the Lead 360 Adventure emphasize leadership, aiming to help mentees and mentors develop their leadership skills and work together to create a better future. Explore the other Adventures offered at Girls Write Now below to learn more.
Fresh Mouth: Confidence Through Comedy is a Journey in the Lead 360 & Performance 360 Adventures.
A Word from Teaching Artist Hollie Harper
Explore All Journeys
Explore All Journeys
The Power of Punchlines: Stand-Up Comedy for Change (Spring-Summer 2025)
In this 2-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. 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.
Careers for Creatives: Unexpected Opportunities (Spring 2025)
The Careers for Creatives: Unexpected Opportunities Journey is perfect for mentees and mentors who are looking to turn their passion for storytelling, content creation, or journalism into a career. Through a dynamic online course, mentoring sessions, and live networking events, you will explore various career paths available to writers today, learn practical skills to help you succeed, and discover how to build a sustainable career that aligns with your interests and strengths. Discover career paths in finance, technology, corporate communications, publishing and more!
Read: Memoir (Spring 2025)
Each cycle, we’ll close read a new book and discuss it at monthly fixed meetings. We’ll focus, in particular, on reading as writers and taking note of the ways each author crafts their story. This cycle, we'll be reading How to Say Babylon: A Memoir by Safiya Sinclair.
