Spring 2027
Speak Your Truth:
Spoken Word Poetry
Explore the power of spoken word poetry as a form of storytelling, self-expression, and social commentary. Mentees and mentors will read, listen to, and discuss powerful spoken word performances that explore identity, culture, community, belonging, injustice, resilience, and personal experience. Through writing and performance exercises, participants will experiment with voice, rhythm, repetition, imagery, wordplay, and other poetic techniques while developing their own original spoken word pieces. They will consider how performance can transform the written word and how poets use their voices to connect with audiences, challenge ideas, and create change. Through discussion, creative practice, and performance, mentees and mentors will build confidence in their unique voices, strengthen their poetry and public speaking skills, and discover spoken word as a powerful tool for connection, storytelling, and social expression. The Journey will culminate in a live performance showcase, where participants will have the opportunity to share their original spoken word pieces and celebrate their creative voices with the community.
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!
- 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 develop their own original spoken word piece which will be performed during the final showcase happening in June 2027.
Learning Objectives
Speak Your Truth: Spoken Word Poetry Community Experiences
Mentees and mentors are required to attend all Journey Live Meetings listed below.
Spring Cycle Journey Meetings
Journey Meeting #1: Saturday, March 6th, 1-3pm ET
Journey Meeting #2: Saturday, April 3rd, 1-3pm ET
Journey Meeting #3: Saturday May 1st, 1-3pm ET
Journey Showcase: Saturday, June 5 from 4-6 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.
Speak Your Truth: Spoken Word Poetry Course
Speak Your Truth: Spoken Word Poetry
In this course, mentees and mentors will explore spoken word poetry as a form of storytelling, self-expression, and social commentary. Through poetry, writing exercises, and performance, participants will develop original pieces, experiment with poetic techniques, and explore themes of identity, culture, community, and social change. They will build confidence in their unique voices while strengthening their creative writing, poetry, and public speaking skills.
Speak Your Truth: Spoken Word Poetry 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
Multigenre 360
All Journeys within this Adventure focus on writing in a particular genre. Learn more about the other Adventures offered at Girls Write Now below.
Speak Your Truth: Spoken Word Poetry is a Journey in the Multigenre 360 Adventure.
Explore All Journeys
Explore All Journeys
From Manuscript to Published Book with Gatekeeper Press (Spring 2027)
In this Journey, mentees and mentors will take the next step in their publishing experience by helping transform the creative nonfiction writing developed in the Fall 2026 Everything Is a Story: Nonfiction That Reads Like Fiction Journey into a professionally published anthology through our partnership with Gatekeeper Press.
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.
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In this Journey, we’ll tackle one of the most daunting parts of novel writing: the opening chapter. Participants will explore how to hook readers while establishing character, setting, and stakes—asking big questions like where to begin and how to share key details without overload.
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In this Journey, mentors and mentees explore how books are marketed, discovered, and reach bestseller lists in the digital age.
The Power of Punchlines: Stand-Up Comedy for Change (Fall 2026)
In this Journey, mentors and mentees 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, participants will learn how to write and perform material that blends humor with meaningful social critique.
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.
Independent Study (Fall 2026)
Create your own experience with our Independent Study Journey. Mentors and mentees meet as a pair, attend events of interest, and use coursework to help plan creative projects and meet your goals.
Lead Community Change (Fall 2026)
Lead Community Change is a dynamic two-cycle Journey that harnesses the transformative power of storytelling to drive social impact. Aspiring young leaders and activists will unleash their creativity to develop and implement innovative community-based social activism projects, supported by Girls Write Now’s rich storytelling resources.
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.
