Fall 2024 – Spring 2025
The Lead Incubator
The Lead Incubator is a crucial extension of the Lead Community Change journey, offering mentees the space, resources, and support needed to implement their project plans and drive meaningful change in their communities. It acts as a dynamic platform where they can turn their ideas into action. Mentees participating in the Lead Incubator focus on advancing their community-based social activism projects with the support of their mentors and Girls Write Now’s resources. They will take on leadership roles, facilitate a community studio, and develop an episode of the Lead Podcast, interviewing an expert relevant to their project’s cause.
Girls Write Now Collaboratory
This Journey Is Closed, but You Can Pre-Enroll in a Fall 2026 Journey Now!
Journey Led By
Learning Objectives
Apply Here
Deadline: January 15, 2025
Prerequisite: You are eligible for this journey if (either of the following)
You completed the Lead Community Change journey, previously called Lead360 in the 2023/24 programming or you already developed/are engaged in a community activism project, are partnering with an organization, and would like to advance your project with the support of GWN resources.
As a participant in the Lead Incubator Journey, you’ll have access to two courses: one to support the development of your community-based social activism project and another to assist you in facilitating a community studio. You will be paired for two full cycles and are expected to meet with your mentee/mentor for at least two pair sessions each month. Mentees will work on their community-based social activism projects, attend one journey meeting per month, and facilitate three community studios per cycle, with support from their mentors.
- Cycle(s) Fall 2024 – Spring 2025
- Time 4 hours per month
- Areas of Focus Activism, Civics, Environmentalism, Advocacy
- Available Spots Per Cycle 20
Lead Incubator Courses
The Lead Incubator Journey offers three courses designed to support you in developing your community-based social activism project plan.
Courses:
Lead: Maintaining a Social Activism Project
This course focuses on providing participants with strategies and tools to effectively sustain and manage their community-based social activism initiatives. It covers topics such as project planning, resource management, and strategies for long-term impact and growth.
Teach GWN: Facilitating Community Studios
This course provides training in the techniques and best practices for leading and managing community studio sessions. It focuses on creating engaging and productive environments that support learning and collaboration among participants.
Podcasting Fundamentals
An introductory course that covers the essential skills and tools needed to create and launch a podcast. Participants will learn about podcast planning, recording techniques, and editing, providing them with a solid foundation in podcasting.
Lead Incubator Mentoring
Mentees and mentors in the Lead Incubator will be paired for a minimum of two cycles, with each pair meeting for at least two hour-long sessions per month. Mentees will advance their community-based social activism projects, while mentors will offer support and guidance throughout the process. This journey is open to both mentor-mentee pairs and peer-to-peer pairs.
Lead Incubator Community Experiences
Mentees and mentors in the Lead Incubator Journey are required to attend monthly meetings, held on Saturdays from 1:00 to 2:00 PM. Additionally, mentees facilitate one monthly community studio (3 sessions/cycle), preferably with a focus on leadership. The weekday, time, and exact dates for your facilitated studio sessions will be determined based on your schedule before the journey begins.
Community Studio Weeks
Fall ’24 cycle:
- November studio: 11/12-11/25
- December studio: 12/9-12/20
- January studio: 1/13- 1/27
Spring ’25 cycle:
- March studio: 3/10-3/21
- April studio: 4/14-4/26
- May studio: 5/12- 5/23
Lead Incubator Orientation (Mentees & Mentors) :
- Lead Incubator Orientation: Wednesday, 10/9/2024, 6 pm
- Studio Facilitator Training: Tuesday, 10/15/2024, 7 pm ET
Lead Incubator Virtual Journey Meetings (Mentees only):
- November: Saturday, 11/16/2024, 1 pm ET
- December: Saturday, 12/14/2024, 1 pm ET
- January: Saturday, 1/18/2025, 1 pm ET
- March: Saturday, 3/15/2025, 1 pm ET
- April: Saturday, 4/19/2025, 1 pm ET
- May: Saturday, 5/17/2025, 1 pm ET
Lead 360 Adventure
The Lead Incubator is a Journey in the Lead 360 Adventure.
All journeys within this Adventure emphasize leadership, aiming to help mentees and mentors develop their leadership skills and work together to create a better future. Explore the other Adventures offered at Girls Write Now below to learn more.
Find Your Journey
Find Your Journey
Screenwriting: Crafting Short Film Stories (Spring 2027)
This two-cycle Journey guides participants from crafting a short film script to bringing it to life on screen. In the first cycle, mentors and mentees focus on developing compelling stories, dynamic characters, and engaging dialogue, learning the essentials of screenwriting for short films. In the second cycle, participants move from script to screen, exploring the practical aspects of video production, including planning, collaboration, and bringing their creative vision to life. By the end of the journey, mentees will have both a polished script and hands-on experience in producing their own short film.
Life Lines: Crafting Memoir (Part 1) (Spring 2027)
In this three-cycle Journey, writers will get the support and expert industry insight they need to write their memoir. In the first three-month cycle, participants will outline, structure their book, and begin their first drafts; in the second three-month cycle, participants will write and workshop their drafts; and in the third cycle, participants will finish their drafts and write their book proposals.
Hooked on Fiction: Story Structures for Plotters, Pantsers, & Plantsers
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.
Building Buzz: Publicity in the Publishing Industry (Fall 2026)
This Journey explores how social media—especially TikTok’s BookTok community—has transformed the publishing industry.
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, mentors and mentees will develop essential skills in public speaking, argumentation, and critical thinking. Through engaging activities and interactive discussions, participants will learn to craft persuasive speeches, construct well-reasoned arguments, and present their ideas with confidence.
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.
Fashion Forward: Exploring a Sustainable Future (Spring 2027)
This Journey invites participants to explore the intersection of fashion and sustainability, examining how style, ethics, and environmental responsibility can coexist.
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 explore what makes a story truly unsettling. Through three monthly book club meetings, participants will engage in close readings and lively discussions of selected horror works, examining how authors build suspense, create atmosphere, evoke fear, and use the genre to explore deeper social, psychological, and cultural themes. Together, we will analyze storytelling techniques, character development, and the many forms horror can take. By the end of the fall, you will have deepened your appreciation of the genre, sharpened your critical reading skills, and gathered inspiration and craft techniques to enrich your own writing.
