Inside the Writers Studio with Girls Write Now

Here at Girls Write Now, we write as a community. It’s a group exercise of talent and passion — and our mentors and mentees aren’t afraid to bring you into that process. Our portfolios are bursting with fresh writing, sometimes raw and unedited, sometimes finely polished. Step inside a workshop with us and browse some new portfolio entries from mentors and mentees.
Carmin Wong, The Train & Hadia Sheerazi, The Train
Carmin and Hadia are both in their first year with Girls Write Now. Their pieces, both titled The Train, came from conversations in their pair sessions musing about New York City and their respective subway experiences.

• World Trade Center Bound. “Please
  Stand clear of the closing doors.” DING.
  Packed. People. Students. Sutphin,
  “Transfer to the LIRR.” Mothers. Fathers.
  Angry New Yorkers. People sleeping.
  People with headphones. People reading
  books. Kindles…
  Carmin Wong, The Train

• 75th Street. I wait. Suddenly big yellow eyes loom in the dark
  Like a snake, slowly sliding forward. The train is here
  Late as usual. Yellow and orange seats. Suspicious stains
  Sticky black floor. Smudged windows. Kids’ fingerprints
  On the windows
  They peer outside
  Flashes of light
  People waiting
  We speed by. Express stops only. Jackson Heights…
  Hadia Sheerazi, The Train

Angelica Rozza, The Silent Room
Angelica read The Silent Room at our April CHAPTERS reading. An excerpt of a novel titled Ernest Rising, Angelica paints a gripping portrait of a man who can’t leave his house, but knows he should.

• For eight months and twenty-two days, I haven’t left my house. I have a full supply of facemasks, disinfectant sprays, hand sanitizers, and latex gloves. I use specific dinnerware, which only I can eat off of. My food is not allowed to touch. I wipe down every chair before I sit. I don’t touch knobs on cabinets or doors. I never drink tap water. Angelica Rozza, The Silent Room

Najaya Royal, Travel Writing, March 2013
Najaya wrote this excerpt during our journalism workshop on travel writing in March 2013. She was responding to a prompt about writing a strong lede, and chose to visit Fifth Avenue’s Hollister store in her travels.

• You can hear and feel the beat of the tunes blasting from Hollister. You know, the store where the workers dress like it’s forever summertime, and the lighting is as dark as the beach at midnight. Najaya Royal, Travel Writing March 2013