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.
Spring 2026 Enrollment Is Now Open!
Spring 2026 enrollment is currently open!
You may also sign up for Mentorship on Demand and/or membership at any time.
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
Teleplays: Writing for TV (Summer 2025)
The Teleplays: 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.
Teach GWN (Summer 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.
On-Demand Mentoring Sessions
On-Demand Mentoring sessions are available for young writers who would like support or advice on a specific topic. These sessions are offered for Career Development, College Preparation, Creative Writing, or Wellness.
Independent Study (Summer 2025)
Create your own experience with our Independent Study Journey. Meet as a pair, attend events of interest, and use coursework to help you plan creative projects and meet your goals.
Community Togetherness (Summer 2025)
Come together in this wellness-focused Journey based in collaborative writing prompts and support for one another.
Explore Tour (Summer 2025)
Explore all of the topics that Girls Write Now has to offer with mini courses, exploratory studios, and one-on-one pair sessions. Discover new skills and build on existing ones with courses and experiences that touch on a range of topics from horror writing to journalism to publishing and much more!
Civil Discourse: Connection & Persuasion (Summer 2025)
Our words can change minds and the world. Discover what you can do with yours… Mentees will learn how to persuade audiences on issues that matter to them. By the end of the journey, they will not only gain confidence in self-expression and analytical thinking but also develop and deliver a final speech that showcases their growth in civil discourse and persuasive communication.
Aloud: Songwriting & Spoken Word (Summer 2025)
Mic check! Enhance the power of your words by speaking or singing them aloud. In this journey, we’ll examine a variety of ways to share creative work using our voices and audio techniques with open mic events, podcasts, and songwriting.
Multimedia Tour (Summer 2025)
Explore all of the topics that Girls Write Now has to offer with mini courses, exploratory studios, and one-on-one pair sessions. Discover new skills and build on existing ones with courses and experiences that touch on a range of topics from horror writing to journalism to publishing and much more! Ideal for mentees who enjoy working across multiple genres or are focused on specific projects, this journey offers the flexibility to tailor your learning experience to your individual needs. With a focus on adaptability, this program allows you to balance exploration with dedicated time for your independent projects, providing a comprehensive yet customizable Journey. Great for mentees who are not committed to one medium or who enjoy working in multiple mediums at once.
Lead Community Change (Fall 2024-Spring 2025)
Lead Community Change is a dynamic two-cycle journey that harnesses the transformative power of storytelling to drive social impact. Mentees in this initiative will unleash their creativity to develop innovative projects that make a meaningful difference in their local communities, all while being supported by Girls Write Now’s rich storytelling resources. This journey is designed for aspiring young leaders and activists who are eager to create and implement impactful community-based social activism projects. With a personalized approach, we tailor our support to meet the unique needs of each initiative, empowering participants to bring their visions to life and inspire change in their communities.
