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Spring 2026

The Power of Punchlines: Stand-Up Comedy for Change

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. 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.

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At a time when many feel stretched thin or disconnected, Girls Write Now helps professionals feel creatively energized, supported, and seen, all while elevating the communication and leadership skills that matter most in the workplace: clear and compelling storytelling, confident public speaking, and experience expressing ideas with clarity and authenticity across teams and generations.

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This Journey is Closed, but You Can Apply for a Fall 2026 Journey Now!

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Success Stories

Mentors & Mentees Learn New Things Together

“It was challenging—but rewarding!—for both my mentee and myself to try stand-up. It was intimidating at first, but Hollie Harper, the award-winning comedian and Girls Write Now teaching artist, made it very approachable. My mentee is pushing outside of her boundaries—it’s so impressive to watch her open up to the larger group and write her own jokes! She’s thriving with the new challenge of stand-up, and so am I!”
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Ellyn Mendenhall, Writer Mentor

Learning Objectives

Develop Comedy Writing & Performance

Learn to write and perform socially impactful material using six core joke structures, including absurdity, understatement, rule of three, double-down, misplaced sincerity, and observational humor.

Critique and Workshop Comedic Works

Engage in peer review and feedback sessions to refine comedic material, focusing on its effectiveness in conveying social messages.

Understand the Role of Comedy in Social Change

Study how comedians use comedy to critique social issues and develop your own comedic voice around the issues that matter to you.

Produce a Final Comedy Project with a Social Message

Create a final comedic piece (stand-up routine) that addresses a specific social issue, incorporating the techniques and insights learned throughout the journey.

Power of Punchlines Community Experiences

Participants are required to attend two Journey Live Meetings each month throughout the cycle. Additionally, you can schedule 1:1 office hours with the Journey Teaching Artist for individual assistance as needed.

Each cycle will conclude with a Stand-Up Comedy Show, where participants can perform their sets for a live audience. There will be one hybrid show per cycle.

Spring Cycle Journey Meetings:

  • March 14th & 28th, 1:00 – 2:30 PM ET
  • April 11th & 25th, 1:00 – 2:30 PM ET
  • May 9th & 30th, 1:00 – 2:30 PM ET

Spring Cycle Stand-Up Comedy Show:

  • June 6th, 4:30 – 6:00 PM ET
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Journey Circle: Community

Power of Punchlines Courses

Participants will be enrolled in two courses during the Power of Punchlines Journey, which spans two cycles: Fall 2025 and Spring 2026. The first course, “Intro to Stand-Up Comedy,” will take place in the Fall Cycle. The second course, “Stand-Up Comedy: Building a Stronger, Longer Set,” will follow in the Spring Cycle, building on the content from the first course. It includes an in-depth review of Course 1 fundamentals.

Courses:

  • Intro to Stand-Up Comedy (Fall)
    This course teaches the fundamentals of joke writing, comedic structure, and crafting punchlines.
  • Stand-Up Comedy: Building a Stronger, Longer Set (Spring)
    This course is designed to build on the foundational skills of stand-up by focusing on refining material and delivery.
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Power of Punchlines Mentoring

Mentees and mentors in the Power of Punchlines Journey will be paired for a minimum of two cycles. Each pair will meet for at least two hour-long sessions per month. Mentees will develop a stand-up comedy set, while mentors will provide support and guidance throughout the process. This journey is open to both mentor/mentee pairs and peer-to-peer pairs.

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Journey Teaching Artist

Hollie Harper

Hollie Harper is a South Jersey comedy nerd/writer/actress/content creator. In 2021 she created and co-exec-produced Hella Late! with Hollie Harper on BRIC TV for which she was nominated for best actress at the 2021 NYC Web Fest. She’s a board member of Standup Girls where she teaches standup and sketch comedy and also teaches both for Gold Comedy. She was also a recent semi-finalist in the NBC Standup Competition.

Hollie is a creative consultant for the Black Women in Comedy Laff Fest and The Lake Placid Film Festival and has been featured on NY1, Black Enterprise Magazine, Black SD Magazine, Thrive Global, Confessional Magazine and was profiled on the nationally recognized Motherly podcast.

This past summer she won Best Actress at the Act One, One Act Festival, and her live, sold-out comedy show F.D.K with Emily Flake was selected for this year’s New York Comedy Festival.

This summer marks Holly’s 5th cycle teaching with Girls Write Now, and she’s loving it!

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Hollie Harper

Lead 360

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 Lead 360 & Performance 360 Adventures.

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Everything Is 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.

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Wild Ideas: Nature, Science & Creativity (Fall 2026)

Created in honor of Helen Ghiradella’s pioneering work at the intersection of science and creativity, this Journey invites mentees and mentors to explore the natural world through the complementary lenses of scientific inquiry and artistic expression. Inspired by Ghiradella’s legacy, and through close observation, research, and reflection, they will investigate the forms, patterns, and processes found in nature while creating an original project—through writing, visual art, media, performance, music or another creative form—that celebrates the connections between nature, science, and creativity.

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Girls Write Now Girls Write Now .

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.

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