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Immerse yourself in the powerful and inspiring stories within our latest publication. This book, created by Girls Write Now mentees and mentors, showcases a diverse range of voices and experiences, reflecting the heart and soul of our community.

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Girls Write Now On The Art Of The Craft: A Guidebook To Collaborative Storytelling

“I don’t think we can wait for inspiration to strike. I think that we are more powerful than that. We all have magic within us and it’s always there for us to tap into. I have so much love for GWN for creating a space where you feel empowered to chase whatever in the world you want to chase, because I truly believe and know that it’s yours.”

A writing companion, inspirational guide to the craft, and innovative anthology featuring interactive multi-genre work from the acclaimed organization Girls Write Now on its 25th anniversary.

We all have stories to tell, but not everyone gets the mentoring and training to become great storytellers. Founded a quarter century ago, Girls Write Now has empowered young women and gender-expansive young adults to harness their creative talents, gaining  confidence, skills, and a community to support them in sharing stories the world needs to hear.

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Introducing our newest anthology in celebration of our 25th anniversary

Girls Write Now On the Art of the Craft: A Guidebook to Collaborative Storytelling. This hands-on guide—conceived of, written, and edited by the young people of Girls Write Now—draws from the organization’s dynamic curriculum and the writers’ own personal experiences spanning decades. Structured around three magical themes—Creation, Combination, and Transformation—this book is alchemy for aspiring writers to develop their craft, including tips, insight, prompts, and advice on the writing and publishing process as well as critical thinking about the future of storytelling.rnWith this handbook, both uplifting and practical, readers everywhere can equip themselves to shape their life stories, and become the writers and leaders they dream of being. Art of the Craft will be released on April 23rd, 2024.

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In the words of its Authors

Advance Praise for Girls Write Now
On The Art of The Craft

“This organization and its mission of supporting young writers through workshops, mentorship, and community is near and dear to my heart. My hope is that the Alchemy Fund will provide resources for the program’s brilliant mentee writers, so that they can conjure their own versions of creative alchemy long into the future.”
Suleika Jaouad
“Girls Write Now reminds young women and gender-expansive creatives—especially those from underrepresented backgrounds—that their voices matter, their opinions count, and they are important. Over the years, my admiration for their mission has only deepened. It’s an organization that builds confidence, provides opportunities, and offers unwavering support. ”
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Jon Yaged Honoree
“I’m returning to Girls Write Now with an interesting perspective. I am a recruiter at Hearst Magazines, while also being a freelance writer outside of work hours. Before ending up on this career path, I didn’t have many connections to reach out to while forging the start of my career, but I knew Girls Write Now was a resource. While I was a mentee, I had imposter syndrome and felt like maybe I wasn’t cut out to be with other writers. But Girls Write Now gave me the confidence I needed to continue forward. When I graduated college, I was able to make a name for myself by forging connections. Overall, now I understand how to navigate a competitive landscape and network as best I can—while also holding the key to how to get a job in magazine publishing. Now that I am a mentor, I want to show my mentee that there is a place for them in this industry. My goal is to form a strong bond and use my industry knowledge, my network, and my listening skills to understand what they need most. If they are shy like me, I will help them break out of their shell, show them how to make connections in their industry of choice, so that once they make it there it’s much easier. Their own imposter syndrome may hinder them at first, but—as Girls Write Now has done for me—they’ll gain more confidence with time.”
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Julia Mercado Mentee Alum and Mentor
“I bring my most authentic self to any table or any room. This means that I bring my most human self to the workplace, trusting that if I have aligned myself with the right organization, I will not meet any resistance to be who I am. If there is resistance, I am not in alignment. This understanding is what led me to Girls Write Now and what informs what I do. As a Fellow, I have advocated for what I expect from this opportunity, and in turn my strengths are properly utilized and my weaknesses fortified.”
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Sally Familia Current or Former Staff/Intern
“When I came to Girls Write Now, I was hit with unlimited sources of inspiration, and learned not only what it means to mature in my writing, but as a person as well. Joining the Career Journey turned into another moment for me to grow. I learned how to collaborate and looked for ways to fully step into a more mature, self-assured person. I engaged in candid, vulnerable conversations with Girls Write Now staff about the heavy transition from school to the ‘real world’, gaining the support system I didn’t realize I needed through Girls Write Now. Prep through my Career Journey prepared me to step into a new role as Editorial Intern at Girls Write Now. I swear I feel like crying just trying to express my gratitude.”
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Dolores Haze Current or Former Staff/Intern and Mentee

This book was shaped over the last year by the Girls Write Now Editorial Advisory Committee.

The Girls Write Now Editorial Advisory Committee is made up of current mentees, program alumni, and publishing professionals lending their wisdom to this project. Together, the group decided the themes and structure for the book, supported the editorial process, and participated in a variety of forums reimagining how we view storytelling in today’s world. This book demonstrates a collaborative approach to the creative process, each voice building on the next to contribute to the whole.

Meet Our Author Community

Meet Our Author Community

Ana Homayoun

Ana Homayoun is a noted author, school consultant, speaker and educator. Over the past two decades, Ana has traveled the globe inspiring students and adults to design their own blueprint for success. In 2001, Ana founded San Francisco Bay Area-based Green Ivy Educational Consulting, an educational consulting firm that works with parents, educators and students on promoting executive functioning skills, including organization and time-management, and overall wellness. She is also the founder and executive director of Luminaria Learning Solutions,  a non-profit developing the Life Navigator Middle School Program to give students the needed skills for social and economic mobility as well as social and emotional wellness. 

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Ana Castillo

Ana Castillo, Ph.D. has penned more than two dozen titles to date in a range of genres. She is credited as a pioneer of Chicana/x, feminist works with a career that spans nearly half a century. Among her credits:Forthcoming works: Doña Cleanwell Leaves Home: Stories (HarperVia; May, 2023); Isabel 2121 (novel) Harpervia; May 2024. Most recent publication: MY BOOK OF THE DEAD (Poems); UNMP, Fall, 2021.Among her accolades: Coming up March 2022, Chicago Literary Hall of Fame, Fuller Award for Lifetime Achievement. Recipient of PEN Oakland Reginald Lockett Lifetime Achievement Award, honoring BLACK DOVE: Mamá, Mi’jo, and Me. 2018: MALCS (Mujeres Activistas en Letras y Cambios Social Institute)” Xicana Critical Thought Leader Award.” In 2020 Dr. Castillo was the recipient of the Northeastern Illinois University Distinguished Alumnus Award, the highest alumni honor the University bestows. It recognizes a particular achievement of note, a series of such achievements or a career of outstanding accomplishment. Twice Lambda award recipient in fiction and non-fiction.Among best seller titles: novels include So Far From God, The Guardians and Peel My Love like an Onion, among other poetry: I Ask the Impossible. Her novel, Sapogonia was a New York Times Notable Book of the Year. She has been profiled and interviewed on National Public Radio and the History Channel and was a radio-essayist with NPR in Chicago. Ana Castillo is editor of La Tolteca 2.0 on her blog, an arts and literary zine, which features creatives of all backgrounds, while focusing on the marginalized.Ana Castillo (June 15, 1953-) is a celebrated and distinguished poet, novelist, short story writer, essayist, editor, playwright, translator and independent scholar. Castillo was born and raised in Chicago. She has contributed to periodicals and on-line venues (Salon and Oxygen) and national magazines, including More and the Sunday New York Times. Castillo’s writings have been the subject of numerous scholarly investigations and publications.In 2014 Dr. Castillo has held the Lund-Gil Endowed Chair at Dominican University, River Forest, IL and served on the faculty with Bread Loaf Summer Program (Middlebury College) in 2015 and 2016. She also held the first Sor Juana Inés de la Cruz Endowed Chair at DePaul University 2001-06, The Martin Luther King, Jr Distinguished Visiting Scholar post at M.I.T. and was the Poet-in-Residence at Westminster College in Utah in 2012, among other teaching posts throughout her extensive career. Ana Castillo holds an M.A from the University of Chicago and a Ph.D., University of Bremen, Germany in American Studies and an honorary doctorate from Colby College. She received an American Book Award from the Before Columbus Foundation for her first novel, The Mixquiahuala Letters.

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