Girls Write Now’s superpower is the diversity of people who make up the rich fabric of our community. This collection is dedicated to the amazing mentees and mentors of color within the Collaboratory who have shared their experiences and creativity.

Want to create and publish stories with Girls Write Now just like these? Join the Collaboratory!

Finding Your Inner Rage by Seema Khan

We women have so much anger that is bottled up inside us that has been restricted. It’s time to not let society dictate whether or not anger can be a part of our lives.

I Was Made to Be Big Before I Was Allowed to Be Small by Veony Marie Artis

An essay by Veony Marie Artis, an honorable mention in the 2025 Writing for Life Contest in the age 16-19 category.

Empowering HER Story: Bridging the Gap in Female Representation and Empowering Future Generations by Chloe Lee

Every young girl should be able to grow up with a diverse set of role models, empowering them to understand that they can do anything.

Here and There by Alyssa Yun

As an immigrant, you automatically have two homes, or maybe one home and a house. Either way, the question “where do I find my place and comfort within these homes” seems to never end.

Self-Defining a Strong Black Woman by Madison Aniyah Lawson

In this essay, I discuss my personal journey with the Strong Black Woman schema and how basing my self-worth on what I could accomplish was detrimental to my personal development.

El Océano, Mi Amor by Jamilah Araf

Every young girl should be able to grow up with a diverse set of role models, empowering them to understand that they can do anything.

Mi Dos Casitas by Jacqueline Bernabe

Highlighting the beauty of my two colorful homes.

Papi by Yesmil Polanco

I forgive you

Dios Te Bendiga by Izabell Mendez

This piece started as many little stories about my grandmother’s cooking and evolved into a story about my grandmother herself and the moments when we drink hot chocolate together.

Everlasting Color by Shenny Shantay

This piece was written to shed light on creatives. Artists often perceive the world in a unique way that many people don’t understand, so I wanted to do my best to describe that.

Inspired by these creative pieces by our Girls Write Now community, and want to get involved? Apply by April 30 to join a Summer Journey as a mentor or a mentee.

Journalist and civil rights activist Ida B. Wells once declared that the way to right wrongs was to shine the light of truth upon them. In our December collection "Shine the Light of Truth," our GWN journalists do just that. Their timely and evocative stories cover emerging trends and intimate moments. Read these compelling works to illuminate the world you think you know.

Respite? More like Respite! by Mehak Butt

Have you ever chosen to sacrifice sleep to binge-watch something on Netflix? You might be experiencing “revenge bedtime procrastination.”

Diet Woes: Will Polar Bears Make It? by Alyssa Olmeda and Carina Storrs

No other animal seems more threatened by climate change than polar bears. Will these icons of the Arctic be able to adapt their diets to survive in their rapidly transforming environment?

Not so Fast, Fashion by Wei Ni Zhang

Fast fashion has become a staple of the fashion industry, but at a closer glance, the eye-catching, low costs seem to bear a greater price.

COVID Rewind: Thoughts & Reflections by Abby S and Grace Wang

A look into 2020 through the diverse eyes of interviewees from New York City. These interviewees describe their thoughts and experiences living through the pandemic.

What Does It Mean that TikTok Users are Getting Their News from the Platform by Shreya Pandit and Lane Florsheim

Social media is revolutionizing the way we receive information, from beauty hacks to geopolitical conflict. Why misinformation can spread this way—and how to minimize consuming it in your own reading.

High School Students Across the Country Start Projects During Quarantine by Ama Anwar

The article centers on five high school students in the US who are pursuing their hobbies to create projects that are bringing people around the world together during the pandemic.

Listen to the Kids: Sex-Ed is More Important than You Think (An Excerpt) by Michelle Seucan

An excerpt of an article I wrote where I interviewed eight students from across the city, country and world on their sex-education experiences.

November is National Novel Writing Month. For thirty days, writers worldwide commit to writing a 50,000-word novel. This month's collection features the first chapter of longer works written by our GWN authors. We hope you find inspiration in these tales of budding teen romance, magical journeys to distant worlds, spooky encounters with the unknown, and perseverance in the face of tragedy.

Little Fellows (Chapter 1) by Jessica Jiang

This is the first chapter of a coming-of-age novel that I am currently writing.

Molasses to Drown In by Basmala Zyada

This is an excerpt from a novel I’ve been working on called To The Grave. It follows Isolde, a woman haunted by the ghost of the boy she killed, and Helena, the silent observer.

Excerpt of Fantasy of Novel by Claire Giannosa

This novel sprouted on a summer night; my fingers soon grew tired from typing furiously on the keyboard. Charlotte’s story is rooted in friendship—the friendship she shares with Raia—and this excerpt showcases their first meeting.

Those Who Came Before by Nora Knoepflmacher

This short story is inspired by Mohsin Hamid’s novel Exit West. For Lana, the protagonist, taking her place in history means being the person who studies and gives a voice to the stories of those silenced.

Into the Underworld, Chapter 1 by Dominique de Castro

This is the first chapter of a novel I’ve been developing for about six months. It is set in a future where humanity is divided by pollution, class, and race and the world order is on the brink of total upheaval by two very spunky girls and a suction tube.

Day One by Ana Prieto

Katerina was alone, but it hadn’t always been like this.

Cliche Teen Crisis by Emily Rinaldi

Excuse me?” She looks up from her phone, a deer in headlights. “I think you dropped this…” 

To close out our celebration of National Arts and Humanties Month, we've curated a collection of experimental audio pieces. Our writers have channeled their creativity into intimate diary entries, hypnotic GarageBand beats, Old English and more. These boundary-crossing works make a compelling case for a return to the original audience of the story --- the ear, not the eye.

Audio Diaries: April 7, 2020 - November 7, 2020 by Sylvi Stein and Nan Bauer-Maglin

Since we could no longer meet face-to-face due to the New York Covid-19 lockdown, we decided to communicate by audio diary.

The Happenings at the Estate by Jaya Rao-Herel and Amanda Ekery

This is an interactive reading/listening experience. Listen to the accompanying audio with headphones and read at your pace.

Ye Old Voicemaille by Alex Berman and Jennifer L. Brown

Have you ever wondered what would happen if medieval serfs had answering machines?

Iron Bas by Maisha Nabila

This song is a tribute to Gorillaz’s nonsensical ingenuity.

October is National Arts and Humanities Month. At Girls Write Now, we've chosen to celebrate the diversity of our talent with two capsule collections. The first collection, "Ways of Seeing," celebrates the talented vocalists of GWN. We invite you to explore the richness of their original compositions, lyrics, and vocals and the unique ways they interpret the world through song.

Worst Days by Mahdia Tully Carr

Worst Days is a song about love and struggling in its absence.

Movie Type of Way by Tatyanna Wills

Maybe I’ll bump into a girl that I don’t know in the hallway of school today…

Dear Friend by Mahjazee Ruiz

Who are you trying to be behind the mask you see?

Sunrise by Jaya Rao-Herel

In the newest iteration of “Sunrise,” I explore an acoustic arrangement featuring myself on keyboard and vocals.

See the Sun by Grace Yu

“See the Sun” is an original song about friendship, and how the people who love you can lift you up out of the darkness.

Better by Havi Pham

You deserve so much better than your fears.

For many of us, the word "summer" conjures memories of when we were most free. In our "Summer Daze" collection, GWN writers relive those heady days of summer through fiction, poetry, and essay.

Tangerine Sun by Jada McGhee

My goal for the summer of 2022 was to ride a bike in Manhattan’s Midtown/Lower East Side. While writing other pieces, I was inspired to replenish a childhood dream I did not continue.

Summer by Alice Rosenberg

A short story I wrote about one of my favorite memories from summer that blurred into my favorite dreams.

Paris: City of Love! by Amihan del Rosario-Tapan

We have this funny little idea that romance completes things. I had this idea while studying abroad in Paris this summer. And when romance didn’t magically appear I decided to look for it.

Summer Camp Love Letter by Sylvi Stein

Summer camp carries a particular kind of magic in your life. I wanted to capture the whimsical romance of teenage relationships in this prose poem.

A Wise Woman Once Told Me by Michelle Seucan

This is a personal essay about the unexpected whirlwind of bonding with strangers, inspired by a conversation that I had with my professor when I was studying abroad in Italy a few summers ago.

Cerulean Summer by Kailee Ortiz

If you’ve delved into the addiction of nostalgia these days, you can relate to this recurring poem and its story of two children spending their last summer together.

Night Swimming at Summer Camp in New Hampshire by Lilian Greyf

The girls swim in the lake at summer camp. It is the only place around them that is cool.

From Under a Tree & The August Sun by Caitlin Levy

I spent a lot of summer 2020 sitting underneath trees and trying to find the words to articulate what exactly I was feeling and not really being able to find the words. There’s usually a real feeling of restlessness that accompanies summer for me and I think it was amplified by the pandemic.

Every great writer is a great reader. At Girls Write Now, we're celebrating Independent Booksellers Month with a collection about the power of the bookstore and the transformational possibilities of the written word.

Through fiction, video essays, and book reviews, our writers tackle what it means to write your own future and to see yourself reflected in someone else's story.

Moving Up by Emmy Cai

As Elery adapts to her new job at the publishing firm, she looks back on her previous job at the local bookstore. The skills she gained stacking books may be more useful than she thought.

The Historical Construction of Colonialism and Race in Aimé Césaire’s Notebook of a Return to the Native Land (Excerpts) by Lulua Sha

This paper was originally written for my First-Year Writing Seminar: Writings of Exile. It discusses Césaire’s writing on colonial violence and the internalization of exile, rather than it being simply a phenomenon of physical displacement.

Books & Baked Goods by Victory Ogunnaya and Kaley Roberts

Podcast hosts Victory and Kaley discuss the themes in Toni Morrison’s Beloved and sample some treats from Brooklyn Sweet Spot.

Between the World and Me & James Baldwin by Amoya Evans

This piece was inspired by one of my favorite books, Between the World and Me. Everyone should read this book and these writers.

Becoming by Sandy Tan

In our modern world, where technology has transformed the way we do everything, stories are no longer only found in books. In the visual novel “Becoming,” the audience follows the story of a high school junior named Sonia Young. Sonia discovers a book that lets her revisit her past and gain the confidence to write her next chapter. This interactive story gives the user a little insight, and perhaps control, over the chaotic world of a teenage girl.

Fragments: The Need for Attention by Ugonna Agwu

My stop-motion poem is inviting, and it gives good advice on how to live your life: try to be more open and express how you feel to others, so that you are not bottling up your problems and keeping them to yourself. The found poem was inspired by words that stood out to me in a few used books, and as I highlighted many words, it became easier to pinpoint the topic of the poem.

In the Books by Kathy Rivera

“In the Books” is a short clip about trying to find myself and who I want to be. This video is worth watching for those who do not know who they want to be and want some type of inspiration. This is coming from a girl who does not know what she wants to do in her career path, but at least knows where she wants to start. This work made me feel vulnerable and can help others understand that there are other women to look up to.

Why Obsessions Matter by Altagracia Diamond Abreu

I chose to write about how my obsession with comics books, which seemed the opposite of my personality, has allowed me to grow into who I am, both as a writer and as a person.

A book, scholar Rudine Sims Bishop said, can be window, a mirror, or a sliding glass door. So can a relationship. In this collection, “Windows and Mirrors”, Girls Write Now mentees and mentors create bridges across lines of difference.  As they peek into each other’s worlds, see themselves reflected in their counterpart, and step into each other’s reality, they forge bonds that last far beyond the school year.  

Want to create and publish stories with Girls Write Now? Join the Collaboratory!

Cross-Pollination by Nayeon Park and Tingting Wei

Cross Pollination is a podcast featuring Mentor Tingting Wei and Mentee Nayeon Park, as they explore their respective identities as Chinese and Korean Americans and how those identities have shaped their childhoods in America.

One Moment, Two Perspectives by Arpitha Sistla and Sarah Zobel

For our submission, we chose to take a picture everyday (6:30 PM EST and 5:30 PM CST) of whatever was around us at the time. One moment, two perspectives.

three generations of women: side by side by Sophia Torres and Kara Freewind

We wanted to present our generational stories to look for connections across various women’s experiences throughout time. We compared the expectations our society imposed on women in our families, including traditions, female stereotypes, and norms.

Where We’re From by Alice Rosenberg and Kendyl Kearly

New York skyscrapers are far from the sky-scraping Smoky Mountains, and in combining our stories, we shared our fierce pride for our homes and the inherent poetry there is in growing up in these places.

Writing My World: Window Into Our Lives by Megumi Jindo and Madeline Wallace

We used a website to showcase our ever-changing writing styles and emphasize the connection between what we read and what we write from childhood till now!

Two Generations by Tilda Bartlett and Brandi Broxson

Our project highlights life through the view of two very different generations.

you, me, and the borough by Lena Singh and Courtney Lindwall

Lena and Courtney are both New Yorkers—but they live in different boroughs: Brooklyn and Staten Island. After a year spent on Zoom, they gave one another tours of their respective corners of the city.

In our Pride 2023 Collection "Queer as Fiction: Kiss and Tales", our writers explore the heady first days of love. These tales of connection embrace queerness as equally deserving of joy and acceptance.

The Devouring by Annaya Thomas

Faced with systemic oppression, two lovers choose a ritual called The Devouring and a world made from love.

Resigned Lockheart by Shannoya Wallace

“What?! What do you mean I’m of royalty?”

There was me, in a tank top and jeans being accused of having some type of royalty blood in, I would not even fit being of royalty.

Subway Scenarios and Sweet Surprises by Olivia Wronski

A love story that begins in an impossible subway scenario that ends with a sweet surprise.

Waking Up to You by Carmen Tan

Some people would run ten miles instead of confessing to their crush. Some people would never let that ridiculous thought enter their brain at all. If I don’t ask, I’ll never know the answer.

Chapter One of Untitled YA Novel by Isioma Okoh

This is the beginning of a book I am planning to write, based on a true story of my realizing that I liked a girl for the first time.

Movie Type of Way by Tayanna Wills

Maybe I’ll bump into a girl that I don’t know in the hallway of school today…

The Sun Will Guide Us (An Excerpt) by Kilhah St. Fort & Amber Loveless

This is an excerpt from our Cinderella-inspired YA fantasy novel. In this scene, the two protagonists meet for the first time but they each have different motivations for their meeting. 

As Queer as a Nine Bob Note by Anaís Fernández & Kayla Thurber

The inner dialogue of two people who want the same thing.

What and how we eat can be often be a source of pride (or shame), depending on who eats alongside us. In our AAPI Collection, "Hotpot* Epiphanies," our GWN memoirists explore the connection between food and belonging. Are they and their taste buds American? Asian? Both? Neither? And when does it matter?

(*Hotpot is a communal Chinese pot of soup stock accompanied by many small plates of raw meats and ingredients. Diners add what they like to stock to make a customized bowl of soup.)

Chinese Braised Beef Soup by Kathy Anne Wang

This is what the process of making hong shao niu rou tang, or chinese braised beef soup, means to me.

Lost in Translation by Emmy Cai

As a Chinese American, growing up in a predominately white environment was challenging towards my identity—especially at school. As I get older, I am able to appreciate the beauty of my culture.

Making American Holidays Our Own by Dorothy Chan and Marina Fang

Two essays about experiencing American holidays through the lens of immigrant families. Each of us has different stories of trying to figure out American holiday traditions, but we’ve also tried to build our own.

Letter of Recommendation: Rice Cookers by Sandra Cheah and Natalie Daher

There is no kitchen appliance more magical than a rice cooker. Compact, electric and brimming with tasty grains, it holds a special place in our hearts. Here, we pay tribute to the rice cooker.

Noodles and Pasta: Different Yet the Same by Kathryn Gioiosa

I wrote this piece to reflect on my favorite tradition every year– my family’s Christmas Eve dinners, which demonstrates my multi-cultural background through the food that we eat.

Epiphany of Hotpot by Chelsea Lin

Moving from city to city at a young age, away from my family and relatives, shaped my passions and how I view the world. These two chants connect blurry fragments of my childhood to my hopes for the future.

In honor of Earth Day 2023, Girls Write Now presents "Tales from Planet B". This eclectic mix of poetry, screenwriting, speculative fiction, and interactive storytelling proposes vastly different Earths, each one born of different, but pivotal human choices. While there is no Planet B for us, there will always be one for those creative enough to imagine it.

Sword-Lily by Sheridan Cole and Meghan McDonough

A college freshman arrives on campus with her loyal guide dog. Whispers from the trees lead her to question her purpose: will she be an advocate or a bystander?

Babygirls by Jade Lozada

Mommy doesn’t tell her she’s seeded first in a dying race.

To Go or Stay by Victoria Gao

“To Go or Stay” uses drawings and images to describe an apocalyptic world suffering from climate change. The people in that society have to choose to stay on or leave Earth as disasters affect different parts of the US. This choice will affect how they can contribute to society and improve the environment.

The Unwilling Jailer by Kilhaha St Fort

Holder of euphoria and life
I enshroud the senses

The Extra Eye by Nancy Xu

The current environmental issues will be exacerbated in the near future if nothing is done today. This is my form of rising to speak on an issue that threatens the world.

Underground by Erika Alfaro

The narrator’s family is chosen by lottery to relocate underground for 15 years once the earth becomes overpopulated. This story recounts her first trip to the surface.

We can rewrite the narrative of a crisis. The young are victims of climate inaction until we portray ourselves differently, and climate change will destroy our way of life until we paint it as an opportunity to reform society.

In many ways, the narrative is all a youth activist has. I am not yet a voter, nor a decision maker in the institutions from which I demand transition. However, I can shape my message to my listener. Stories inspire radical change by finding what resonates within each bystander.

–JADE LOZADA, MENTEE

dying unnoticed by Fatima Asif

This is a poem about environmental justice that adopts the voice of the Earth or Mother Nature and aims to bring awareness to how our actions can have a negative impact on our climate.

Greed by Emily Kaplan

This poem exemplifies how human greed destroys the planet, and the beings that have nothing to do with humans’ actions are the ones who suffer.

Mother Nature by Anglea Scire

A mother should never suffer at the hands of her child, so what are we doing to our mother?

Blackout by Paromita Talukder

This poem is a climate-change activism piece that follows mother nature’s crystalized tears as they pelt down on Earth, causing a blackout in a hospital where a guilt-ridden man awaits death.

Stolen Thunder by Carolyn Zheng

We see these grand beasts working so hard trying to survive and provide for their families, but with one bullet, hunters and poachers can kill them and all of their life’s efforts.

Forgotten Ignorance by Gabrielle Galchen

History is not just the past, but also the present and the future. However, it is our decisions as a collective that majorly decide how history runs its course. This poem, titled “Forgotten Ignorance,” describes how climate change should be affecting everyone equally, yet people of color are getting more hard-hit because of the racism and socioeconomic inequality in our society. As such, advocating for a clean climate is inherently linked to advocating for racial equality.

The Book of Extinct Creatures (An Excerpt) by Isabella Soddu and Brooke Mazurek

The Book of Extinct Creatures is a collection of mixed-media work for children. Through animals past and present, young readers will learn about important topics such as climate change and evolution.

Protesting for Change by Kathryn Gioiosa and Carol Hymowitz

How have protests and movements evolved and stayed the same over decades? We discuss our experiences at a women’s march and climate strike and how generations are connected in fighting for social justice.

Diet Woes: Will Polar Bears Make It? by Alyssa Olmeda and Carina Storrs

No other animal seems more threatened by climate change than polar bears. Will these icons of the Arctic be able to adapt their diets to survive in their rapidly transforming environment?

Not so Fast, Fashion by Wei Ni Zhang

Fast fashion has become a staple of the fashion industry, but at a closer glance, the eye-catching, low costs seem to bear a greater price.

Babygirls by Jade Lozada

Mommy doesn’t tell her she’s seeded first in a dying race.

To Go or Stay by Victoria Gao

“To Go or Stay” uses drawings and images to describe an apocalyptic world suffering from climate change. The people in that society have to choose to stay on or leave Earth as disasters affect different parts of the US. This choice will affect how they can contribute to society and improve the environment.

Poems in Blue and Green by Sylvi Stein

The ocean has inspired generations of artists and writers. My work is collected in a digital anthology as a continuation of mankind’s love letter to the sea.

The Climate Crisis Needs a Story by Jade Lozada

I first joined the New York City Climate Strike Coalition in July 2019. In the company of such impassioned, optimistic youth activists, I quickly realized that the climate crisis is not about numbers. It is a human story, with a human solution.

Fresh Kills Transformation by Siara Greco

What was once the largest landfill in the world before closing in 2001 happens to be within my hometown and community of Staten Island. Since then, the landscape has been engineered to become the largest park in New York City. This landfill has greatly affected the health of those in my community. By conducting research to better understand the effects of the landfill on the climate and public health, I realized how my interests can merge and benefit public knowledge of this space. To have my voice heard beyond what can be accomplished in a social media post, I decided to write a script and assemble audio to create a podcast. Through this podcast, others can learn about benefits and concerns relating to the parks.

The Unwilling Jailer by Kilhah St Fort

Holder of euphoria and life
I enshroud the senses

The artists in our comedy spotlight collection, "Good for a Laugh" find the humor in the everyday----and in the surreal. Through video, visual art, and performance, they expose the gap between how the world works and how it could.

The Cat Supermarket by Alice Kresberg and Amelia Possanza

A cute and funny short film where there is a supermarket for cats when they are shaped like different types of foods! Don’t worry though, they aren’t actually for eating—just for decoration!

How to Not Do the Most: Celebrity Sighting by Jaida Dent & Jalisa Wright

Have you ever done the most when seeing a celebrity? Well, we have just tips for you to help your composure together!

Miss Manners Guide to Preventing Tragedy by Kimberly Dominguez

I have always loved learning about different historical figures and trying to relate their experiences to my life, often with little success as I am not at a point in my life where I am a founding father or queen of any country; this piece is the fruit of that.

The Tree Comedian by Adriana Cisneros

My name is Oakley. I am a tree comedian. I do comedy for trees.

Meat Eater’s Dilemma by Kayla McCarthy

The skit illustrates the way people try to change themselves in order to fit in with their peers or romantic interests by using a unique and humorous situation. As a person who likes both a burger and a cute guy, this piece was really reflective of that dilemma.

The Inner Turmoil of Young Mail Men and Women in Training by Mennen Gordon

During a brainstorming session, my mentor and I discussed how school for mailmen would be so fun. Turns out, it would not be fun.

Crushes Can Drive You Crazy by Andreina Avalos and Heather Graham

There’s no age limit on crushes.

Cute Teachers by Cherish and Vani

Everybody loves a cute teacher, even if they’re a bad one….

Our Unofficial Correspondences collection features letters written by Girls Write Now mentees and mentors to each other, their former selves, and the world at large. As you read and watch these intimate works, consider the fateful letters you have received and written in your life. To whom would you write your next letter?

Dear You by Julia Mercado

You are the one who never washed your hair, wore the same sweater every day and smiled wide with blue braces. You are the one that bad days are based on. I feel we need to talk and now’s the chance.

Letters to Our Mothers by Rachel Young & Elizabeth Koster

We have spoken so much about our relationships with our mothers that it only seemed natural we would both write letters to them that express our fond memories and wishes.

Letters to a Young Poetess by Gabrielle Calabia and Kiki Tom

Inspired by Rilke’s Letters To A Young Poet, Letters To A Young Poetess is the feminized and updated homage by Kiki Tom and Gabriella Calabia. Beginning a written correspondence upon being paired as mentor and mentee, the two delve into sharing thoughts, questions and feelings about writing and what it takes to share one’s voice.

Pandemic Letters: The Wind or a Leaf Stuck to the Sidewalk by Emma Kushnirsky & Robin Messing

After reading the poetic correspondence between Natalie Diaz and Ada Limón entitled “Envelopes of Air,” we decided to write poetic letters to one another, which naturally interrogated our feelings and thoughts during a pandemic.

Dear Friend by Lizbeth Fuentes Ascencio

This piece is dedicated to my younger self who deserves the recognition for keeping her head high through all the downfalls presented throughout her life. With all my faults and mistakes, yesterday’s me is still me.

Dear Struggling Writers by Jennifer Puac

If you are someone who struggles to write and are in need of motivation, take a few minutes to read my letter dedicated to you. Yes, you!

Dear Mr. President by Alicia Galan

I know you hold yourself up on a pedestal, but nothing you say is ever so profound.

Dear Mr. White Privilege by Jaela Vaughn

My teacher told my classmates and I that white privilege doesn’t exist. This is my open letter to him.

Dear Kanye by Danni Green

“I'm not in a tough situation, Kanye. But if I don’t get out of the house on Wyckoff Street I will be, but it’ll be My Life. It’ll be a husband I don’t love, an affair to make me feel alive, a checking account with a zero balance, a job that’ll brand me Good Enough and children whose faces ask, What’s for dinner?”

In this Women’s History Month collection, Girls Write Now writers explore the pivotal moments and experiences that awakened them to their own power.

We approach this month as a time to honor, explore and support the experiences and survival of all women through an intersectional lens. By the teachings of Audre Lorde, when fighting for gender liberation, our differences serve as tools to bring us closer together, just as our similarities do. It is in this spirit that Girls Write Now amplifies the multitudinous voices of young women and gender-expansive youth, adding to a legacy of gender equity and inclusivity efforts through transformational storytelling.

—LEI FAGAN, MENTEE ALUM

A Room of My Own by Meril Mousoom

Join me on this four-year journey to become the Meril I am now.

The Journey by Siara Greco

My piece is about my journey traveling across the world to build my confidence in the science world. I was taught to make history in breaking the stereotypes of women in STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math).

The Climate Crisis Needs a Story by Jade Lozada

I first joined the New York City Climate Strike Coalition in July 2019. In the company of such impassioned, optimistic youth activists, I quickly realized that the climate crisis is not about numbers. It is a human story, with a human solution.

A Tribute to Myself by Ria Parker

This piece was inspired by the Natalie Douglas tributes workshop, along with 2020 being a new decade filled with emotions. Additionally, since I am graduating this year, this decade will be filled with me taking my place in history.

Tale of an Unsung Writer by Nyasia Bailey

I decided the best way to approach this year’s broad theme centered around history was to show how I can change the trajectory of my own story by being honest about my passions.

Fear is My Superpower by Lorena De La Rosa

This piece reflects on my bravery on how no matter how scared I was to do something, I always went for it. Fear has become my superpower and has helped me grow and see how strong I am.

The Infamous Catcall by Rosemary Alfonseca

This piece is a revolution. Living it and writing it changed me as a woman, and hopefully once you read it, you will be inspired to start your own revolution with me.

The Feminist in Me by Tuhfa Begum

I was a feminist long before I knew what the word meant.

Rising by Emily del Carmen Ramirez

“Uno, dos, y tres…” My father jumps off of the cliff into El Yaque del Norte, with me holding tightly onto his back.

This bittersweet Valentine’s Day collection chronicles the evolution of a romance from its earliest sparks to its eventual demise. Consider each piece as a track in a heart-centered playlist and savor how our writers use poetry, fiction, memoir, and multimedia to capture the intangible nature of young love.

Conversations by Amy Zhang

I am shy. I don’t seem like the shy type with my friends because I’m the loud one. But when I talk to someone who doesn’t know how I tick, I act like I’m listening while I am melting inside.

Subway Scenarios and Sweet Surprises by Olivia Wronski

A love story that begins in an impossible subway scenario that ends with a sweet surprise.

Feelings Change by Aaliyana Garcia

”I know you say you love me; I don't really feel it sometimes.”

Summer Camp Love Letter by Sylvi Stein

Summer camp carries a particular kind of magic in your life. I wanted to capture the whimsical romance of teenage relationships in this prose poem.

Salty, with a Hint of Bitterness by Hermei Herman

This piece is about the two sides of love that many people shall experience in their life. Because no matter where you are, or who you may be, you'll be able to relate to the emotions displayed in the story.

First Chance at Love by Lucia Kim

The poem “First Chance at Love” exposes a young girl’s thoughts and feelings as she encounters her first crush.

Lover by Claire Yu

This poem depicts a dysfunctional relationship in which the protagonist feels constricted by the person they love, but nevertheless wants to be with them. The color schemes and backgrounds used heighten the emotional complexity as well as the aesthetic of the piece. This poem was inspired by many books I have read in which the characters have an unusual romantic relationship, and I wanted to show the intricacy of the emotions the characters feel.

The Day I Fell in Love by Lyla Malcomson

This is dedicated to my boyfriend, who helped me overcome something I didn’t know I could get over: my insecurities. It’s also dedicated to myself, as I am slowly learning to love myself more and more every day.

For You by Jo Rosado

The following are lyrics to a song I wrote for someone I will forever love dearly and hold close.

I Wish Love was Simple by Margareta Stern

These poems are inspired by my experiences with love. Through writing these pieces I was able to express myself and get closure from the past, which has made me the person that I am today.

In the Black History Month collection "Black-nificence: Stories of Black Resistance", our writers seek a sense of self through art, community, emotion, and independence.

These poets and memoirists eschew stereotypes as they carve out their own sense of what it means to be Black and resilient in America.

Full Body (Laughter) by Kaya Fraser

Look me in the eyes when I laugh. Look at our Black bodies that aren’t just bodies and our Black laughter that will never know death, even when we do. Even if we do.

I Don’t Listen to BTS by Christiane Calixte

This personal essay is a core memory of Summer 2019.

An Ode to Pan-Africanism by Gyana Guity

This poem is dedicated to culture, lost identities, and the truth that it’s never too late to connect back to your roots that were taken away from you.

Black Girls by Alyssa Fowler

A poem that tackles surface-layer Black characters and urges Black humanity.

Broken Masterpiece by Liana Komeng

A poetic piece revolving around the misconstrued perceptions of what it truly means to be an African American living in modern day society.

Angry Black Women by Mariama Diallo

I made this presentation because within American society, black women are at the bottom of the totem pole. Whenever we speak up to defend ourselves, we are seen as aggressive, overbearing, and too much to handle. This common approach to our struggles reinforces the denials of our pain and further pushes preconceived notions from those we’ve yet to meet. I don’t want black women to humble themselves in order to not be seen as a stereotype.

Blackbird by Onyeka Agwyu

Like blackbirds we lived in a constant state of struggle trying to survive. Every time we tried to fly there were others pecking away at our wings. Like that bird, fueled by our need to survive, we learned to soar.

In our 2023 New Year’s poetry collection, Girls Write Now mentees and alumni reflect on the passage of time—how far they’ve come and where they’d like to go next. We invite you to travel alongside them. Where will the New Year take you?

Enroute to Myself by Brittany Barker

This departure calls for no baggage.

Freedom by Waeza Jagirdar

This piece is inspired by the concept of the American Dream and finding who you are. I wrote it while thinking of my generation and what we are going through right now.

Letter to Younger Me by Muhua Li and Alanna Schubach

Hello! How’s your life in China? I hope you don’t throw this letter away once you see it’s in English…

Senjuti Gayen Is by Senjuti Gayen

It is a bold thing to acknowledge who you are. I emulated the poem “Ishle Yi Park Is—” by Ishle Yi Park. Her openness inspired me to write honestly about my identity.

My Random Autobiography by Diamond Lewis

I never write about myself, so with this piece I wanted to try that. It’s an introduction to who I am and explores who I am becoming.

Time by Ayanna Bailey

This poem not only shows my growth as a person but also as a writer. As a young adult I have gotten to understand how precious time is and why I should progress as time goes on.

Butterfly Wings by Jane Liu

I’ve always been fascinated with butterflies: their ephemeral incandescence and natural metamorphosis astounded me. Across cultures and regions, butterflies were symbols of hope and change. In NYC, there are few butterflies of the sort captured by glossy magazines, but the many revolutions emblazoned across monochromatic newsprint serve in their stead.

Every day seems to usher in a new cause for women to march to with their bright posters with even louder messages. As people in Iran flood the streets following the death of Jina Mahsa Amin, ten writers at Girls Write Now share their own stories of harassment, identity, and stigma. Each piece captures the vulnerable realities of women. Each writer bravely shares her story, knowing countless women will relate to her words. Each work is a protest, a subversion to the silence expected from women in Iran and Texas and elsewhere. News, media, and even the stories here depict a scary world, but they affirm that you have a voice. A voice to make choices about your body

—FARAH MERCHANT, MENTEE

My Persecution by Natalie Henry

This poem explores the interpersonal and intrapersonal dialogue of someone being harassed on the street.

Disney Princess by L. Olivia

Mia, a sixteen year old girl, struggles with body dysmorphia when her friends ask her to be a Disney Princess for Halloween.

I’m Not Hungry by Adelle Xiao

This piece was based on an experience I had a few years ago with a boy who constantly commented on my body and weight, and my journey in separating how he defined me with how I saw myself. There were a lot of things I had to say about this relationship, and I had to experiment a lot with the flow and format of the story.

i’m worried about her by Anaís Fernández

An ode to hers everywhere.

The First Naturalista by Emmanuella Agyemang

In this piece, I stumble across the wonders of natural hair and after, try to convince my mother to let me go natural.

I Am Just a Girl by Srihitha Pallapothula

This is a poem about Monica Lewinsky. I wrote this piece to reshape the narrative. Some parts in style after Eleanor Wikstrom.

pretty vain by Grace Cuddihy

About loving your pretty.

Beauty by Heart by Tiara Liz Soto

There are many stigmas surrounding body image and beauty standards to the point where it has become underestimated. This poem is written through the lens of a girl who experiences it but finds strength to overcome it.

The Pink Hijab with Sparkles….I Wore Only Once by Aminata Kargbo

During the last days of summer vacation, I was watching the television show Teen Wolf when my mother said to me…

Angry by Mariama Loucoumbar

You label me angry because of my nappy hair and oppressed because I choose to cover it…