For 25 years, the nationally award-winning nonprofit Girls Write Now has broken down the barriers of gender, race, age & poverty, elevating the voices of writers who are too often not heard—or worse, silenced.
Writing & Mentoring That Engages & Inspires
At Girls Write Now, we use writing as a vehicle to build real relationships and offer holistic services for cis women, transgender men and women, non-binary, 2Spirit, genderqueer, and other gender expansive identities young adults from systemically disadvantaged backgrounds—mentoring them throughout high school, college, career and beyond.
We are a diverse, multi-generational community of writers, creatives, leaders, artists and activists with endless opportunities for friendship, networking, and professional development support.
Our mentees are passionate dreamers and innovative thinkers who have a story to tell. Our mentors are dedicated professionals who care deeply about communication—no matter the industry they work in. Mentors and mentees hail from all five boroughs of New York City, across the nation and originally from around the world.
Our writing and mentoring program includes:
- one-to-one mentoring relationships
- community workshops led by expert teaching artists that build a wide range of writing, communication and digital skills
- performance & publication opportunities
- wellness-minded programming
- college & career development
GIRLS WRITE NOW:
MAP YOUR STORYVERSE
Explore & Expand Your Creative Potential in the Girls Write Now Collaboratory
Each mentee and mentor pair will be enrolled in the Girls Write Now Collaboratory, giving them access to monthly genre-based Studios, networking events, editorial discussions, and more! Pairs can also select to participate in additional short-term, project-based initiatives throughout the program year.
Embark on Your Own Learning Journey
In addition to the events and resources offered to all pairs, short-term learning journeys will be available throughout the 2023-2024 program year for mentees and mentors who would like to participate in intensive, project-based experiences focused on activism & leadership, college, career, reading, print publication, audio production, performance, and teaching.
Empower Diverse Voices as an Agent of Change Corporate Partner
Inspired by a sense of urgency to elevate diverse talent across industries, Girls Write Now proudly aligns with academic, community-based and corporate institutions—our Agents of Change—to build customized holistic partnerships. Through employee engagement, talent referrals, in-house mentorships, speaker features and more, Girls Write Now creates meaningful experiences for employees and helps shift the cultural landscape of publishing, media, finance, beauty and beyond.
Mentees Lucia Kim and Kilhah St Fort share how Girls Write Now has inspired them to explore new creative mediums, build confidence and find the fun in writing.
In the Girls Write Now Community, You’ll Have Access to…
PUBLICATION & PERFORMANCE OPPORTUNITIES
Amplifying voices is the heart of our mission, so every community member has an Author Page on our site! Mentees will also have opportunities to show off their best work in our annual anthology and performance series.
Exciting events with STAR-POWERED SPEAKERS
We bring in expert storytellers and media makers as teaching artists and make space for mentees to chat with mega-mentors like Shonda Rhimes, Roxane Gay, Allison Davis and more celebrated champions of our mission.
Creative & College/Career RESOURCES
In our digital Community Hub, you’ll get access to a library of writing prompts, editing tips and more! We also share numerous scholarship, internship and job opportunities from our vast network across industries.