Mentee Wagiha Mariam reimagines Hemingway—a Mental Health Awareness issue on healing through storytelling
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May 25 - May 31
Hope Lives In Our Words
Featured Media:
Find Your Next Obsession
Hills Like White Infirmaries
By Wagiha Mariam
The cobblestone ground and tall street lights of uptown Manhattan remained luxurious for an eleven-year-old. On this side of town there wasn't any heavy marijuana scent, nor were the sidewalks littered with fast food and plastic bags. Close to the 6 train station, office workers began to pour from buildings. My mom, who was silent the entire train ride, squeezed my hand and said that we had to enter through the back door. I asked her if Dad would pick us up, and she said he refused. I thought to myself that the building looked to be the same size as my middle school, around two floors tall and quite wide. I saw the figure of a woman storming at us, angrily shouting at my mother.
Mic Drop:
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MENTAL HEALTH AWARENESS
Famesick. Writing Cures. Join Our Initiative with Lena Dunham
Your Gift of Words & Funds Changes Lives
Girls Write Now has teamed up with Lena Dunham and Random House to launch the Famesick Writing Contest—celebrating storytelling as a path to wellness in honor of Famesick and Mental Health Awareness Month. This contest invites emerging writers to put language to their experiences, find their voice, and reflect through the power of storytelling. Lena said it best—
Reading, writing, and being encouraged to do both is what made being a young woman tolerable for me. This organization means so much to me, both personally and creatively. Girls Write Now is doing the essential, joyful work of nurturing the next generation of writers—and giving them not just the tools, but the permission, to tell the truth about their lives. —Lena Dunham, author of the #1 New York Times bestseller Famesick
More young people than ever are reckoning publicly with mental health and the cost of being seen. When a writer puts down what they can't say out loud, something shifts—for the writer, for their readers, and for the culture that hears them. —Maya Nussbaum, Founder & Executive Director of Girls Write Now
The Lena Dunham Writing Contest invites women and gender-expansive writers ages 14–24 to share a piece, in any genre, about a moment they stopped performing or found relief in writing down what they couldn't say out loud. Deadline to submit is June 1, 2026
If you're not already a mentee or member of Girls Write Now, sign up for a Mentor on Demand session for support ideating, structuring, and/or editing your piece.
The Lena Dunham Fund for Girls Write Now is a tribute and lifeline—investing in the next generation of creative minds learning the craft of telling the truth about their lives. Your gift catalyzes that change—at scale, and across years.
WRITING PROMPT
Reflecting on Emotional Healing
By Ruby Nicholson & Raquel Lesser, Community Studio Facilitators
In what ways can art support emotional healing and self-understanding? How has it helped you, or how do you imagine it might help someone process difficult emotions?
Emotional healing can be a long road. Having fellow creatives to walk it with you can mean the difference between breaking down and breaking through—and at Girls Write Now, young writers always travel together.
LIFE@LITNYS
Mentorship in Action: LitNYS + Girls Write Now
In Conversation with LitNYS Mentor-Mentee Pair Ira & Carina
We, who are natives of the state, have seen global capitalism make it hard for small arts organizations to hire people at competitive salaries, find affordable office space, and more. Those who figure it out are some of the strongest, mission-driven leaders one will ever encounter. —Ira Silverberg on native pride of the literary arts community
I'm continually inspired by all my peers at The Drift, and the New York little magazine community at large. —Carina Imbornone
That is a sneak peek from LitNYS mentor-mentee pair Ira Silverberg & Carina Imbornone. Ira is an agent, editor, educator, and writer; Carina is a business manager. Over the past year, they worked closely in LitNYS's intensive mentoring program, which provides peer support and capacity building for leaders in the network. Stay tuned for their feature on the LinkedIn blog Life@litNYS.
LitNYS is the nation’s largest ecosystem of literary arts organizations, building literary capacity, community, and culture for 25 years. Girls Write Now plays a key leadership role spearheading initiatives that support the writing, mentoring, and community experience of the LitNYS network.
Happening Write Now:
Mark Your Calendar
CAREER CHAT
Finesse Your Finances: A Career Chat with Raymond James
Tuesday, May 26, 4:15–5:30 PM ET, Virtual
Everybody has money on their mind right now, and for good reason. Our partners at Raymond James join us to demystify and de-stigmatize all things financial—from managing personal finances to building pathways into the industry. Make sure your money is working for you.
Open to all mentors, mentees, members & the public.
FRIDAY NIGHT SALON
Own Your Health Story: Why Your Voice Is a Vital Sign—and How to Use It
With Author Meghan Rabbitt: May 29, 6–7:15 PM ET, Virtual
Women have often been taught to minimize their symptoms and second-guess their instincts—neglecting their needs and silencing their voices in the process. Longtime Girls Write Now mentor and supporter Meghan Rabbitt, author of The New Rules of Women’s Health, guides us through finding the right language to transform how we are heard and the care we receive. We’ll investigate our lived experiences and practice expressing our needs with confidence. This Salon offers space and support to practice one of the most powerful tools we have for protecting our health—our voices.
Open to all mentors, mentees, members & the public.
COLLABORATORY SHOWCASE
Experience Our Community's Best Original Work
Saturday, May 30, 2–4 PM ET, Virtual
Discover the bold, self-directed work that emerged from the Independent Study journey.
Saturday, May 30, 4:30–6 PM ET, Virtual
Explore Tour gives mentees and mentors the best of all worlds—come take a look at what this wealth of literary goodness has inspired.
Saturday, June 6, 3–4:30 PM ET, Virtual
Get ready for some knee-slapping, gut-busting gold as mentees give you a taste of the Power of Punchlines journey.
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!
FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITY
National Book Critics Circle
Emerging Critics Fellowship
The Emerging Critics Fellowship is open to critics of all experience levels who seek to review and write about books for print and digital outlets. Applicants may or may not have previously published book reviews. The NBCC seeks a broad range of diverse applicants, especially those who have demonstrated a genuine interest in and commitment to engaging in critical conversation about books. Applicants must be 21 or older.
Deadline: June 6, 2026
Create a portal account to apply for this opportunity.
JOB OPPORTUNITY
Tenement Museum
Educator
Are you an enthusiastic, engaging storyteller inspired by the connections between history, migration, and related contemporary issues? Are you looking for permanent part-time work? This role could be for you. As an Educator, you will lead on-site, walking, and virtual tours for public and school-based visitors of all ages, backgrounds, and abilities at 97 and 103 Orchard Street—the Museum's historic tenement buildings—as well as nearby satellite locations and neighborhood walking tours. Tours focus on narrative history, storytelling, and visitor engagement.
Deadline: June 12, 2026
Create a portal account to apply for this opportunity.
WRITING CONTEST
Collaborature
Collaborature Contest
This monthly poetry contest is open to everyone, except the guest judge of the month, journal editors, and previous winners of the monthly contest within the rolling calendar year. For instance, January's winner(s) will be eligible again in January of the following year.
Deadline: June 17, 2026
Create a portal account to apply for this opportunity.
If you don't already have a Girls Write Now account, create one today!
