Fall 2025-Spring 2026
The Power of Punchlines:
Stand-Up Comedy for Change
In this two-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. 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.
Girls Write Now Collaboratory
This Journey Is Closed, but You Can Pre-Enroll in a Summer 2026 Journey Now!
Learning Objectives
The Power of Punchlines Community Experiences
Mentees in this Journey are required to attend two monthly 90-minute Journey meetings and participate in two Stand-Up Comedy Shows, as listed below. Mentors are strongly encouraged to attend with their mentees. Additionally, Mentees can schedule 1:1 office hours with the Journey TA for individual assistance as needed.
Fall Cycle Journey Meetings:
- Saturday, November 8th & 22nd, 2025, 1 pm ET
- Saturday, December 6th & 20th, 2025, 1 pm ET
- Saturday, January 10th & 24th, 2026, 1 pm ET
Stand-Up Comedy Show:
- Saturday, January 31st, 2026, 3-4:30 pm ET
Spring Cycle Journey Meetings:
- Saturday, March 14th & 28th, 2026, 1 pm ET
- Saturday, April 11th & 25th, 2026, 1 pm ET
- Saturday, May 9th & 30th, 2026, 1 pm ET
Stand-Up Comedy Show:
- Saturday June 6th, 2026, 3-4:30 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—strongly recommended options include Community Studios, Community Conversations, and Salon Experiences.
The Power of Punchlines Courses
During the Power of Punchlines Journey, participants will take one course each cycle, for a total of two courses.
Intro to Stand-Up Comedy (Fall 2025)
This course is designed to guide aspiring comedians through the art of writing and performing standup comedy. We will explore the various components that make up a successful set, including joke structure, timing, and stage presence. Each week, we will tackle a specific concept, allowing students to develop their material progressively and refine their unique comedic voice. Specific topics range from Finding Your Comedic Voice, Spot-On Observation & Absurdity, the Rule of 3, and more!
The Power of Punchlines Mentoring
Mentees and mentors in The Power of Punchlines Journey will be matched for two cycles. Each pair will meet two times per month and, as a pair, attend all of the community events listed above.
Journey Teaching Artist
All Journeys within the Lead 360 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.
The Power of Punchlines is a Journey in the Performance 360 and Lead 360 Adventures.
Explore All Journeys
Explore All Journeys
Teach GWN (Fall 2025)
In this Journey, Members of the GWN community will develop curriculum and facilitate a community studio for one or more cycles within GWN’s Collaboratory structure. Each cycle involves facilitating three community studios, one per month. Participants will gain valuable skills in leadership, teaching, and community building. Mentees and Mentors can facilitate a community studio either solo (if they are 18 or older) or together as a pair.
The Power of Punchlines: Stand-Up Comedy for Change (Fall 2025-Spring 2026)
In this two-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. 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.
The Lead Incubator (Fall 2025-Spring 2025)
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.
Explore Tour (Fall 2025)
Explore the creative and storytelling pathways Girls Write Now offers through a multimedia, multi-genre experience with mini courses, exploratory studios, and one-on-one pair sessions. Build new skills and deepen existing ones across fiction, journalism, publishing, and formats like video, podcasting, and visual storytelling. Ideal for mentees working across media or focused on specific projects, this Journey offers the flexibility to tailor your learning experience to your goals.
The Power of Punchlines: Stand-Up Comedy for Change (Summer 2026)
In this 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.
Explore Tour (Summer 2026)
Explore all of the creative and storytelling pathways Girls Write Now has to offer through a multimedia, multi-genre experience that includes mini courses, exploratory studios, and one-on-one pair sessions. Discover new skills and build on existing ones with offerings that range from fiction to journalism to publishing, and dive into formats like video, podcasting, visual storytelling, and more. Ideal for mentees who enjoy working across multiple genres and media or are focused on specific projects, this Journey offers the flexibility to tailor your learning experience to your individual needs.
Life Lines: Crafting Memoir and Nonfiction (Summer 2026)
This Journey invites you to explore personal truth through nonfiction and memoir writing. You’ll learn to shape real experiences into compelling narratives that resonate with readers. Through reflection, drafting, and feedback, you’ll develop your authentic voice and storytelling skills to share your unique story with confidence.
Visual Voices: Video Storytelling (Summer 2026)
Explore the art of storytelling through video by learning how to craft compelling narratives using visuals, sound, and editing techniques. This Journey offers hands-on experience with video production from concept to final cut, empowering you to share your unique stories on screen. Gain skills in filming, scripting, and post-production while expressing your creative vision through multimedia.
Nature Narratives: Zine Production (Summer 2026)
Dive into the world of zine-making with a focus on nature and the environment. This Journey guides you through crafting personal and creative expressions about the natural world using multimedia, writing, and visual art. Celebrate your unique perspective while learning to produce and share your own impactful zine.
Writing for TV: From Script to Screen (Summer 2026)
The Writing for TV Journey is designed to help develop the skills and understanding needed to work as a writer in today’s TV industry. This Journey provides insight into the work of a scriptwriter – a deep understanding of TV storytelling and professional scripts, drama vs comedy scripts, professional working practices, and employment strategies. Specific topics range from story structure and formatting scripts to actually seeing a script to fruition.
