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  • Journalism: The Art of Profile Writing (Spring 2027)

Spring 2027

Journalism: The Art of Profile Writing

Every person has a story to tell, and profile writing offers a way to share those stories with the world. In this Journey, mentees and mentors will learn how to build trust with subjects, conduct respectful interviews, and maintain the writer’s role as observer rather than confidante. The Journey emphasizes a holistic approach that considers subject, writer, and reader. Mentees will develop a profile for Girls Write Now’s Life@, practicing interview techniques, conversation flow, and narrative nonfiction writing. Mentors will deepen their understanding of profile writing and interviewing while supporting emerging writers in developing clarity, empathy, and narrative skill.

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 (March 1 – May 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 Participants will submit a profile for the Life@GWN series. This profile will focus on an employee at one of GWN's partners, and it will consist of responses to at least 8-10 questions.

Journalism: The Art of Profile Writing Community Experiences

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

Spring Cycle Journey Meetings:

  • Saturday, March 6, 2027 | 1:00–3:00 PM ET
  • Saturday, April 10, 2027 | 1:00–3:00 PM ET
  • Saturday, May 8, 2027 | 1:00–3:00 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

Journalism: The Art of Profile Writing Courses

Journalism: The Art of Profile Writing
This course focuses on providing participants with strategies and tools to successfully conduct interviews and write compelling profiles. It covers topics such as interview structure, managing relationships with your subjects, and the nuts and bolts of writing a profile.

Writing

Journalism: The Art of Profile Writing 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.

Journey Teaching Artist

Christabel Nsiah-Buadi

Christabel Nsiah-Buadi is the CEO of My Lens Media and a visionary podcasting development strategist and coach who works at the intersection of media strategy and education. She is also the founder of AudioDiaspora, a coaching resource for audio creators committed to challenging old narratives about the Black Diaspora. Passionate about telling stories and creating spaces that empower historically under-recognized creators, Christabel was a driving force behind several programs aimed at diversifying podcasting for Spotify. She built the strategy for that company’s ‘Rising Creators’ content partnership program. Christabel also developed and ran the company’s groundbreaking podcast production fellowship, Sound Up: Behind the Mic, and its mentorship initiative, Narrative Shift. She also teaches podcast production and strategy. As part of Spotify’s NextGen podcast production curriculum, she developed and presented podcast production curricula for Howard University, Spelman College, and Penn State. She has talked about journalism ethics and practice at USC and Carleton University in Canada. Before podcasting, Christabel was an award-winning radio journalist and Executive Producer who led shows for NPR, American Public Media, and Public Media International. She has written about the intersection of parenting, podcasting, and politics, and her work has appeared in The Independent and British Vogue.

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Explore All Journeys

Explore All Journeys

Everything’s 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, the biologist who uncovered the hidden architecture of butterfly wings, this Journey invites you, mentor and mentee, to explore the natural world through the complementary lenses of scientific inquiry and creative expression. Through close observation, research, and reflection, you'll investigate the forms, patterns, and processes found in nature, then build an original project—writing, visual art, media, performance, music, or a form of your own choosing—that celebrates where these disciplines meet. Along the way, you'll sharpen your powers of observation, stretch your interdisciplinary thinking, and develop the ability to translate scientific understanding into meaningful art.

Civil Discourse: Connection & Persuasion (Fall 2026)

In this Journey, you—mentor and mentee—will build essential skills in public speaking, argumentation, and critical thinking. Through hands-on activities and lively discussion, you'll learn to craft persuasive speeches, construct well-reasoned arguments, and present your ideas with confidence. You'll explore what makes communication land, sharpen your thinking under pressure, and practice responding to perspectives unlike your own in a structured setting. By the end, you'll be able to make your case clearly, engage in dialogue that goes somewhere, and carry these skills into academic, professional, and civic life.

Civil Discourse Connection & Persuasion; two girls speaking with a mic

Dark Tales: A Horror Book Club (Fall 2026)

Step into the shadows of horror and discover what makes a story truly unsettling. Across three monthly book club meetings, you—mentor and mentee—will dig into close readings and lively discussion of selected works, examining how authors build suspense, conjure atmosphere, evoke fear, and use the genre to probe deeper social, psychological, and cultural questions. Together you'll unpack narrative technique, character development, and the many shapes the genre can take. By summer's end, you'll have a richer appreciation for horror, sharper critical instincts as readers, and a store of inspiration and craft to carry into your own writing. Required books this cycle: Dark Is When the Devil Comes by Daisy Pearce, The Body by Bethany C. Morrow, and I'll Watch Your Baby by Neena Viel.

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