Plus, this is the final week to apply as a summer mentor or mentee!
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May 11 - May 17
Hope Lives In Our Words
Featured Media:
Find Your Next Obsession
The Seeds She Sows
By Chiamaka Okafor
Before I ever dreamed aloud, the women before me dreamed through action; creating a legacy that lives on
through me.
It lives in me.
Independence; the seeds of the udara tree. Now in a new soil, forever nourished by the roots of a distant homeland.
Plant your own seeds this summer in the Girls Write Now Collaboratory—the Explore Tour Journey lets you sow across genres, media, and creative approaches, and design the experience that nourishes you.
Join the Collaboratory this Summer!
Deadline this Friday, May 15
Find Your Passion & People as a Mentor or Mentee
Make this a summer to remember by applying to the Girls Write Now Collaboratory as a mentor or mentee. No matter your age, location, or level of experience, you'll find a Journey that is just right for you—including courses in podcasting, teaching, comedy, romance, and more, plus preparation for college and a diverse range of careers. Stretch your creativity and critical thinking in one-to-one intergenerational mentorships and community experiences as you work toward your personal and professional goals. This is an opportunity you don't want to miss!
Mic Drop:
You Have to Hear This
PARTNER SPOTLIGHT
Lena Dunham Writing Contest & Philanthropic Fund for Girls Write Now
Submit & Support This Mental Health Awareness Month
Girls Write Now is proud to join forces with Random House and #1 New York Times-bestselling author Lena Dunham to mark her new book Famesick—and to support the next generation of writers as they navigate the twists and turns of their journeys toward wellness. The contest is open to all women and gender expansive individuals age 14-24 from anywhere in the U.S. The philanthropy, which directly funds the Girls Write Now Collaboratory, is a tribute and lifeline to these creative minds. In a moment when more young people than ever are reckoning publicly with mental health, performance, and the cost of being seen, this initiative is an opportunity to shift culture and catalyze change.
Deadline to submit is June 1, 2026.
In 800 words or less, submit a piece in any genre about a moment you stopped performing, named something you’d been told to keep quiet, or found relief in writing down what you couldn’t say out loud.
MENTEES SEEKING MENTORS
Hundreds of Mentees Applied. Hear From Six. Mentor One.
Young Writers Across the U.S. Tell Their Future Mentors Who They Are & What They Need
Learn how your mentorship can shape the next generation.
And, as a mentor, you won't just give—you'll get: creative renewal; cross-generational connection; sharper storytelling and communication skills; a community of impressive peers; and the opportunity to meet your own creative goals.
Whatever you do, you write. A mentee needs you.
Deadline to apply is May 15, 2026.
PROMPT OF THE WEEK
Breaking Your Silence
By Cayla Summer & Beth Gebresilasie, Community Studio Facilitators
In "The Transformation of Silence into Language and Action" a speech by Audre Lorde, she states, "We can learn to work and speak when we are afraid in the same way we have learned to work and speak when we are tired. For we have been socialized to respect fear more than our own needs for language and definition, and while we wait in silence for that final luxury of fearlessness, the weight of that silence will choke us. The fact that we are here and that I speak these words is an attempt to break that silence and bridge some of those differences between us, for it is not difference which immobilizes us, but silence. And there are so many silences to be broken."
What is a silence you'd like to break? Write a poem to fill that silence. Be sure to address at least one thing you feel is currently weighing on you.
Silence broken is a voice found. Your donation helps Girls Write Now mentor the writers transforming fear into language—and words into action that changes everything.
Thank you for your support!
Happening Write Now:
Mark Your Calendar
COMMUNITY STUDIO
Mentor Think Tank & Social Hour
Monday, May 11, 7-8 PM ET, Virtual
This mentor-only studio is a meet and greet to discuss our experiences, share ideas, ask questions, or just stop in to say hello!
Open to all mentors.
COLLEGE CHAT
On the Record: A Journalism Career Chat
Tuesday, May 12, 4:45-6 PM ET, Virtual
Journalism is
alive and well as long as Girls Write Now has something to say about it! Sharpen your pencils and stretch those typing fingers—it’s time to hear about how you can enter the journalism world from people who already made it there. This Career Chat gives you the inside scoop on what to expect as an emerging journalist and how the industry has changed. Speakers include Jesse Sposato, Executive Editor at Narratively; Emi Nietfeld, author and independent journalist; Ilana Kaplan, Music Editor at PEOPLE; and more! Thank you to the Economic Hardship Reporting Project for partnering with us to support this event.
Open to all mentors, mentees, members & the public.
COMMUNITY STUDIO
Voice, Values & Leadership: College Prep Demystified
Tuesday May 12, 9-10 PT ET , Virtual
This studio invites you to explore college preparation through the lens of leadership, self-reflection, and storytelling. You'll examine your values, experiences, and emerging identities as a foundation for self-advocacy. Together, we’ll practice using writing to claim voice, confidence, and direction for the future, while gaining access to invaluable tools and resources.
Open to all mentors, mentees, members & the public.
Get the Gig:
Curated Opportunities Just for You
Need help applying for these opportunities—and more?
Meet with a Mentor On Demand today!
INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY
Elite Media Summer Advertising Internship 2026
For College-Aged Girls Write Now Mentees & Alum
Join Elite Media this summer for an eight week experience learning the ins and outs of advertising. Interns will work on real projects across Elite's anchor client, American Family Insurance, elevating skills across Account Management, Strategy, Creative, and Production, and presenting a final project on media strategy for Elite Media's socials.
Deadline: May 17th, 2026
Create a portal account to apply for this opportunity.
WRITING CONTEST
The Ryan Hudak LGBTQ+ Dramatic Writing Award
Digital Fundraising & Engagement Coordinator
The Ryan Hudak LGBTQ+ Dramatic Writing Award is an $8,000 cash grant to be awarded to one New York State-based playwright or screenwriter who self-identifies as LGBTQ+. The Award honors the life and work of Ryan Hudak. Ryan was a gay playwright, filmmaker, and valued member of NYFA’s staff who served on the executive and development teams. The Award is open to playwrights and screenwriters who live in New York State, including those who within the five boroughs of New York City.
Deadline: June 16th, 2026.
Create a portal account to apply for this opportunity.
ENRICHMENT
Summer Youth Podcast Academy
Try Your Hand at All Things Podcasting!
This summer, The Bell is hosting a three-week workshop offering immersive, hands-on training for students to create original podcast episodes. Participants will also receive mentorship from professional storytellers, editors, and producers. The program will run for three weeks, from July 27-August 14. Shifts will be on weekdays 10 AM-3PM in person at The Bell's offices in lower Manhattan.
Deadline: May 16th, 2026
Create a portal account to apply for this opportunity.
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