Summer 2026
Independent Study
Create your own experience with our Independent Study Journey. Meet as a pair, attend events of interest, and use coursework to help you plan creative projects and meet your goals.
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.
- JOURNEY REQUIREMENTS
- Cycle(s) One cycle (July 1 to September 30).
- Time Commitment A minimum of three hours per month.
- Journey Meetings Attend Independent Study Showcase. See date listed below.
- Mentoring Have a minimum of two one-hour pair sessions per month.
- Journey Project Present Independent Study project at the showcase.
Learning Objectives
Independent Study Community Experiences
Please attend at least one Girls Write Now Community Experience each month. You can find upcoming events in your portal under the “Events” section.
Summer Cycle Independent Study Showcase:
Saturday, September 26, 2026 4:30 PM to 6:30 PM ET
Independent Study Courses
Independent Study
This self-paced Independent Study course will provide resources and tips for those working on creative project independently. You’ll learn how to create a focused study environment, set SMART goals, and use scheduling systems like calendars and reminders. Topics include time management, tracking progress, managing distractions, and overcoming procrastination. Students will also develop essential academic skills such as critical reading, annotation, and note-taking, supported by strategies for reflection and visualization.
Independent Study 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. This Journey is open to both mentor-mentee pairs and peer-to-peer pairs.
Explore 360
Journeys in the Explore 360 Adventure focus on introducing a variety of genres, topics, and ideas to participants who want to try a little bit of everything. It is recommended for any mentee or mentor who wants to get a taste of all that Girls Write Now has to offer!
Independent Study is a Journey in the Explore 360 Adventure.
Explore All Journeys
Explore All Journeys
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.
