Girls Write Now Collaboratory

Journeys

Each Journey in the Girls Write Now Collaboratory is a package of Writing Course Content, Mentorship, and Community Experiences for mentors and mentees. Our team of teachers, artists, and content experts have thoughtfully curated each Journey to be a dynamic, multifaceted experience. Journeys can be light touch or intensive, short or long-term, asynchronous or in real time.

Summer Journey Applications Are Now Open

Apply by April 30 as a Mentor or Mentee

Journey Mentors & Mentees

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Journey Mentors

Girls Write Now mentors are professionals, typically ages 25 and up, from all fields and disciplines, and from around the nation. They work with curiosity and collaboration, learning and growing, while supporting their mentees’ writing and leadership needs and goals.
Journey Mentor

Journey Mentees

Girls Write Now mentees are writers and leaders, typically ages of 14-24, from around the nation. Through a lens of creativity and activism, mentees produce stories, podcasts, poems, films, and more with the support of a mentor and the Girls Write Now community.

Journey Cycles

A Journey cycle is a three-month time period. Every month for three months of the Journey, mentors and mentees spend three hours or more together in pair sessions and community experiences, bolstered by our dynamic curriculum. You can sign up for one, two, or three cycles to meet your schedule and goals.

  • Summer: July 1 – September 30
  • Fall: November 1 – January 31
  • Spring: March 1 – May 31
Cycles

Journeys Lead to Adventure

Each Journey is a part of an overarching Adventure for mentors and mentees. Think of Adventures like majors that over time provide a 360 degree exploration of a genre, topic, or focus area.

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Select the Journey you want to go on this cycle! You can refine your search using the filters on the lefthand sidebar. Once you're accepted, you'll be matched with a mentor or mentee who shares your interests.

Select the Journey you want to go on this cycle! You can refine your search using the filters on the lefthand sidebar. Once you're accepted, you'll be matched with a mentor or mentee who shares your interests.

Journalism: The Art of Profiles (Spring 2026)

Every person has a story to tell, and profile writing is an invitation to share those stories with the world. In this journey, mentors and mentees explore how to establish trust and rapport with their subjects, conduct interviews with mutual respect, and present a friendly, welcoming demeanor while maintaining the role as the writer—not a friend or confidante. Unlike traditional approaches that focus solely on extracting details for the reader, this course emphasizes a holistic perspective that honors the reader, the writer, and the subject. Participants will practice structuring interviews, managing the flow of conversation, knowing when to push back against the profile subject, and using their own experiences as a guide to create compelling, thoughtful profiles.

Poetry Rising: Voices from Latin America (Spring 2026)

Explore the voices representing Latin America in their poetry! Mentors and mentees will read poems that reflect on love, identity, and social change. Alongside reading, mentees will write their own poems inspired by these works, experimenting with rhythm, imagery, and voice. Through discussion and creative practice, you’ll discover how poetry can express both personal and collective experience!

Writing Our Way to Wellness: Podcast Production (Spring 2026)

This Journey invites mentors and mentees to explore the intersection of storytelling and wellness through the art of podcasting. Participants will engage in intergenerational, holistic conversations that honor both the craft of writing and the power of human connection. They will explore what wellness means to them personally and as a practice, and learn to structure episodes that educate, inspire, and resonate. Mentors and mentees will also build practical skills in shaping and producing a polished podcast episode. By the end of this two-cycle journey, each participant will have a published episode on the Writing Our Way to Wellness podcast streaming on all platforms!

The Power of Punchlines: Stand-Up Comedy for Change (Spring 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 learn how to write and perform material that blends humor with meaningful social critique. Through workshops and performance coaching, mentors and mentees will develop their 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.

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Teach GWN (Spring 2026)

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. Mentors and mentees can facilitate a community studio either solo (if they are 18 or older) or together as a pair.

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Collaboratory Access for Mentors, Mentees & Members

Enjoy a la carte or as part of a Journey

All mentors, mentees & members also have access to our Resources, including jobs, internships, scholarships, writing contests, enrichment opportunities, and more.

Writing

Writing

Build skills though courses that focus on any genre, media, leadership, activism, college, career, and more.

Mentoring

Connect one-to-one across generations and establish a supportive relationship that lasts a lifetime.

Community

Collaborate and share with other inspiring minds at countless engaging events and experiences.

Join Our Community

“I’ve been a mentor with Girls Write Now since 2023 and have really enjoyed supporting the mission and helping the next generation of writers, activists, researchers, thinkers, and creators. The joy I get from watching a mentee critically think through a problem, respond to a writing prompt, or present a lesson plan is so wonderful and continuously restores my faith in the power of mentorship and human connection. GWN is a great group with lots of fun events across all interests and professional staff that truly care about the mentees and the mentors. I’m grateful for the community fostered here.”
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Sarah E. Bode Mentor
“As a first-time mentor with GWN, participating in this program has provided a meaningful sense of community and connection. I particularly valued the opportunity to engage with my mentee. Over the course of the program, we established a strong relationship rooted in trust and a mutual commitment to personal development. Supporting a student’s growth and witnessing their increasing confidence has been a deeply fulfilling experience.”
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Ameena Rodriguez Mentor
“Joining GWN means joining a community of artists and writers, but most importantly joining a community of welcoming, supportive people who champion, encourage, and celebrate each other. Mentees and mentors alike benefit from enriching programs, exciting sessions, and plenty of opportunities for personal and professional growth. GWN can be a life-changing experience: I know it has changed mine.”
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Casey Cornelius Mentor
“After years of working with Girls Write Now, I can say without hesitation that mentorship through this program fills a gap in today’s workplace. Most organizations no longer have the time, structure, or training culture to truly teach people how to manage—how to listen, give feedback, navigate differences, build trust, and lead with clarity and empathy. Mentoring in the Journeys program develops exactly those skills. You learn how to work with people from different backgrounds, how to build confidence in others, and how to communicate with purpose. These are the foundations of strong management and effective leadership. It has been the single most important contributor to my own development across leadership roles, and I regularly encourage early-career professionals to become mentors for this reason. The value is immediate, practical, and lasting—for the mentor, the mentee, and the organizations they go on to lead.”
Anne Sanderson
Anne Sanderson, Executive Leader, Strategic Communications & Engagement Mentor
“Girls Write Now has provided an unparalleled platform with support, tools, resources, and open communication. It’s been a collaborative, inspiring, joyful ride, and I feel lucky to be part of something so special!”
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Stacie Rose, Award-Winning Writer, Editor, Producer & Director Mentor

Journey Mentorship

Make a commitment as a mentor or mentee for at least one Journey and get full access to our writing, mentoring, and community experiences and resources.

Membership

Be a part of our community without committing to a Journey, and receive select access to our writing, mentoring, and community experiences and resources.