• Journey
  • Zine Makers: Crafting A Peer Poetry Zine (Summer 2026)

Summer 2026

Zine Makers: Crafting A Peer Poetry Zine

This Journey invites you to step into the role of editor and designer to transform poetry from the spring Poetry Rising Journey into a compelling, collaborative zine. You will move through the stages of publishing, beginning with a deep editorial dive to refine existing verses inspired by heritage and created by your peers. As you master visual composition and multimedia design, you will learn to pair these powerful voices with a cohesive aesthetic, ultimately gaining the technical skills and creative vision needed to produce and share a high-impact, independent publication.

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.

 

 

Apply Now
  • JOURNEY REQUIREMENTS
  • Cycle(s) One cycle (July 1 to September 30).
  • Time Commitment A minimum of three hours per month.
  • Journey Meetings Attend monthly Journey Meetings. See dates listed below.
  • Mentoring Have a minimum of two one-hour pair sessions per month.
  • Journey Project Create a collaborative zine.

Zine Makers: Crafting A Peer Poetry Zine Community Experiences

Mentees and mentors must attend one Journey Live Meetings each month. 

Summer Cycle Journey Meetings:

  • Saturday, July 11 , 2026, 4 – 6 PM ET
  • Saturday, August 8, 2026, 4 – 6 PM ET
  • Saturday, September 12, 2026, 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.

Journey Circle: Community

Zine Makers: Crafting A Peer Poetry Zine Course

Crafting A Zine
In this integrated coursework, you will deepen your understanding of the editorial and design process while building practical publishing skills you can apply beyond this Journey. Designed to directly support and extend your live Journey meetings, the coursework provides guided lessons, tools, and practice that strengthen the collaborative zine-making happening in real time.

Writing

Zine Makers: Crafting A Peer Poetry Zine Mentoring

Mentees and mentors in this Journey will be matched for a minimum of one cycle. Pairs will meet for at least two hour-long sessions each month. This Journey is open to both traditional pairs and peer-to-peer pairs.

Journey Teaching Artists

Kenna DeValor

(they/them) Mentor

Kenna DeValor (they/them) is a nonbinary + queer writer and current graduate student based in Northeast Pennsylvania. They hold a B.A. in English Literature with a minor in Creative Writing from Bloomsburg University. Currently, they attend Wilkes University's Maslow Family Creative Writing MA/MFA program for Fiction, and they are writing their MA Thesis: a debut YA dark academia novel while working under the incredible YA author Allison Saft as their mentor.

In DeValor's career, they have been published 70+ times in various art/literary journals and magazines around the US, UK, and Australia. They have been nominated twice in 2025 for Best of the Net (1x for visual art & 1x for short fiction) and once for Best Short Fictions 2026. They have their poetry collection DISCOFRUIT available at certain indie bookshops in Pennsylvania! (Friendly Alien Bookstores etc.) They also started their very own nonprofit (501c3) literary arts magazine in 2019 called FlowerMouth Press that uplifts diverse voices, which has amassed over 4,000 followers.

When DeValor is not writing, reading, making zines, drawing, analyzing banned books, or performing onstage, they are a journalist for a local newspaper, a professional tattoo artist in their hometown of Bethlehem, PA, and a professional typewriter poet contracted with the Poetry Society of New York. They also spend their time making music with their indie alt band ARACHNYX, supporting their local library as a programs coordinator, occasionally performing their writing live, and going on adventures with their fiancé, Drew.

Learn more about Kenna: www.kennadevalor.com Kenna's Main Instagram @teadragonz Kenna's Writer Instagram @kennadevalorwrites FlowerMouth Press

Visit Profile

Kayla Dudley

(she/her) Mentee

Kayla Dudley (she/her) is a poet, educator, and artivist dedicated to using storytelling as a tool for social change. A recent graduate from John Jay College with a B.A. in Political Science and a minor in Africana Studies, she explores the intersections of identity, justice, and healing through her work. She is the CEO/Founder of Healotry, a workshop series that invites participants to confront silence and reclaim their voices through creative expression. Her poetry often centers on love, resilience, and the lived experiences of Black women and queer communities. She aspires to continue blending art and advocacy as she pursues her graduates in creative writing and Africana Studies.

Visit Profile

Publish 360

Journeys in the Publish 360 Adventure focus on the process of producing and publishing creative work. It is perfect for mentees and mentors who want to learn more about the publishing world.

Zine Makers: Crafting A Peer Poetry Zine is a Journey in the Publish 360 Adventure.

See All Adventures

Explore All Journeys

Explore All Journeys

Screenwriting (Spring 2025)

The Screenwriting Journey is an immersive program designed for aspiring screenwriters eager to master the art and craft of storytelling for the screen. Whether one dreams of writing for Hollywood blockbusters, indie films, or television series, this program provides a comprehensive exploration of the essential elements and techniques of screenwriting. By the end of the Journey, participants will have developed a solid foundation in screenwriting, equipped with the tools and knowledge to start crafting their own compelling stories for film. Whether you're new to screenwriting or looking to enhance your existing skills, join us on this creative exploration and bring their cinematic visions to life.

Poetry (Spring 2025)

Join us for an immersive journey into the art and craft of poetry through the lens of the Furious Flower Poetry Center, renowned for its dedication to celebrating African American poetic traditions. The curriculum draws inspiration from the rich legacy of African American poetry, reflecting on themes of history, identity, social justice, and personal narrative. Mentees will have the chance to interact with guest poets, participate in workshops, and collaborate on creative projects that challenge and inspire their own poetic expression.

Perspectives on Publishing & Marketing (Spring 2025)

Learn about the different ways to publish creative work and the fundamentals of marketing yourself and your creations. This Journey will take mentees and mentors through the process of publishing from beginning to end.  This is a great opportunity to learn about the publishing industry from employees who work in in the field. Perfect for mentees who would like to be published or work in publishing. With the information gained in this Journey, you will be ready to enter the publishing industry as employees and writers. You will have the knowledge you need to create change in an industry that needs your fresh perspectives.

Perspectives on Publishing

Investigative Podcasts (Fall 2024-Spring 2025)

In this journey, you’ll collaborate as a production team to produce a podcast series about the Cop City project that includes research, pitching episodes, outlining episodes, hosting the podcast, and editing. We’ll try to understand why these cop cities are popping up, why people are resisting their construction, and different ideas around what makes a community “safe.” Great for mentees who are interested in social justice, journalism, and podcasting.

Investigative Podcasts Journey

The Power of Punchlines: Stand-Up Comedy for Change (Spring-Summer 2025)

In this 2-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. 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.

The-Power-of-Punchlines
1 5 6 7 8