Spring 2025
Read: Memoir
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.
Learning Objectives
Apply to Join
Deadline: January 15, 2025
As a mentee or mentor in the Read: Memoir Journey, you’ll have access to a collection of online mini courses designed to support a close read of How to Say Babylon: A Memoir by Safiya Sinclair. You’ll be paired with a mentee or mentor for one full cycle, and you’ll meet with them at least twice each month. You’ll attend at least one community engagement experience a month – there are many to choose from to accommodate all of your interests and everyone’s schedules.
- Cycle(s) Spring 2025
- Time 3 hours per month
- Areas of Focus Memoir, publishing, reading
- Requirement Produce an original piece showcasing what home means to you
- Available Spots Per Cycle 20
Read: Memoir Course
In this course, participants will explore themes of identity, displacement, and the complexities of language and culture. Through engaging with Sinclair’s evocative storytelling, students will reflect on their own experiences of home, belonging, and the intersections of personal and collective histories. The course encourages participants to use writing as a tool for self-expression, helping them develop their unique voice while deepening their understanding of how stories shape both individual identities and broader societal movements.
Read: Memoir Mentoring
Mentees and mentors in the Read: Memoir Journey will be matched for one cycle. Pairs will meet for at least two hour-long sessions each month.
Read: Memoir Community Experiences
Community experiences in the Read: Memoir Journey include Peer Affinity Groups, course-specific workshops, Salons, and Book Club. Mentees and mentors in the Read: Memoir Journey must attend at the following journey meetings:
- March 15, 12-1 pm ET
- March 29, 12-1 pm ET
- April 12, 12-1 pm ET
- April 26, 12-1 pm ET
- May 24, 12-1 pm ET
Read 360 Adventure
Read: Historical Fiction belongs to the Read 360 Adventure.
Journeys in this Adventure focus on close readings of books and creative works in community with other writers. Think of it as a Girls Write Now book club!
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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.