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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.

Independent-Study

Girls Write Now Collaboratory

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

Pre-Enroll Now

Learning Objectives

Create and Implement a Project Plan

Turn an idea into a structured plan with clear steps, timelines, and goals.

Set Your Own SMART Goals

Practice setting Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound goals to guide your progress.

Manage Your Time While Balancing Priorities

Develop tools to organize your schedule, meet deadlines, and stay on track while managing other commitments.

Complete a Project

Carry out your plan from start to finish, creating a final or in-progress product that reflects your interests, effort, and personal growth.

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

Apply to Summer Journeys Explore Community Experiences
Journey Circle: Community

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.

Apply to Summer Journeys Explore Courses
Writing

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.

Apply to Summer Journeys Explore Mentorship Opportunities
Independent Study

What Past Participants Have to Say

“Together [my mentee and I] explored wellness and the impacts of that on our creativity, we also explored poetry styles together, and briefly touched on the importance of calendars and accountability in preparation for college (which we hope to dive into deeper in the next cycle should we be paired).”
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Emily Meyer Mentor
“GWN impacted my personal growth by matching me with an amazing mentor who takes genuine interest in my work, which has encouraged me to become more confident in my abilities.”
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Zaina Rivera Mentee
“[I] was able to finish my college applications with support from Sidney, my mentor.”
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Ayushree Dahal Mentee
“Girls Write Now helped me to do a lot of self reflection and personal growth surrounding my writing and my personal well-being. In addition, my mentor supported me with my journalism work, which is a possible future career path for me.”
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Coral Buchalter Mentee
“I think connecting with my mentor has been the most valuable part of the program for me. I’m so thankful that GWN introduced us! The mentorship aspect of Girls Write Now is incredible. I also really like the Independent Study Journey, which gave my mentor and I the freedom and flexibility to move at our own pace and take the time to develop our own projects and meet our goals.”
Navya Vasireddy
Navya Vasireddy Mentee

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.

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Explore All Journeys

Explore All Journeys

Girls Write Now Girls Write Now .
Girls Write Now Girls Write Now .

Investigative Podcasts (Fall 2024-Spring 2025)

In this journey, you’ll collaborate as a production team to produce a podcast series about the Cop City project that includes research, pitching episodes, outlining episodes, hosting the podcast, and editing. We’ll try to understand why these cop cities are popping up, why people are resisting their construction, and different ideas around what makes a community “safe.” Great for mentees who are interested in social justice, journalism, and podcasting.

Investigative Podcasts Journey
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Girls Write Now Girls Write Now .
Girls Write Now Girls Write Now .

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.

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Girls Write Now Girls Write Now .
Girls Write Now Girls Write Now .

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!

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