LUNCH WITH LITNYS PODCAST

Writers & Books with
Alison Meyers

On Stepping Into New Roles, Supporting Workers, Championing Local Arts & More

Alison Meyers is a poet, fiction writer, and essayist, twice nominated for a Pushcart Prize. She is the Executive Director of Writers & Books, a literary arts center in Rochester, NY. She previously served as Cave Canem Foundation's Executive Director (Brooklyn, NY), 2006- 2016, and as Director of Poetry and Marketing & Communications at Hill-Stead Museum (Farmington, CT), 2000-2006. In this episode of Lunch with LitNYS, Girls Write Now mentee Christiane Calixte talks with Alison about the triumphs and challenges of running a literary arts organization.

WRITING CONTEST PROMPT

Prompt of the Week

Identify a cause you care deeply about. In 150 words, describe how you would solve this issue or imagine its outcome in a woman-run world. Your response can be practical, visionary, or even fantastical—grounded in reality or inspired by imagination.

OR

Give us one word you believe defines what it would mean to live in a world run by women. Think about the main emotion that comes to you.

What's your vision of the future? Submit your response to this prompt inspired by the forthcoming book from HarperCollins, IF WOMEN by Christina Hawatmeh. Your submission may be chosen for publication!

SPEAKING IN FIRST DRAFT PODCAST

Speaking on Coming Back Home

Featuring Poets & Staff Members
Sally Familia & Azia Armstead

We're so excited to be back for Season 3 of Speaking in First Draft! This season, we're continuing to spotlight works in progress or recently completed projects by our community members from staff, teaching artists, mentees, and everyone in between. Our first episode back features a lovely and profound conversation between our very poetic Community Coordinators Sally Familia (they/them) and Azia Armstead (she/her). Together they explore Sally's new chapbook "Leaving, Then Coming Back", which discusses themes of departure, return, transformation, and so much more.

COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT EVENTS

Community Studios
Start This Week

Supercharge Your Creativity with Community-Based Workshops

Whether you want to learn about pioneering African writers, unleash your voice through spoken word, try your hand at food writing, or just hang out with a bunch of cool writers, our Community Studios are for you. The best part? They're free, virtual, and open to anyone with a Girls Write Now Portal account.

COLLABORATORY WORKSHOP

Advocacy Journalism: Ethics & Best Practices

Tuesday, Mar. 11, 6-7 PM ET, Virtual

This workshop with NBC BLK's Michelle Garcia will cover Journalistic Ethics and Best Practices to lay the foundation for aspiring journalists, advocates, and community leaders. Michelle explains how she got started as a journalist, what makes for a good story, and the importance of representation in news—in front of and behind the camera. Then, put Michelle's expertise into practice by outlining the steps you would take to cover a story, and learning what content makes the cut. Leave with a deeper understanding of ethical journalism and practical skills to help you tell impactful, well-researched stories.

Open to members of the public, including all mentees, mentors & members.
Required for Advocacy Journalism Participants.

COMMUNITY STUDIO

Harness the Unbound: Taking Control of a Limitless Story

Thursday, Mar. 13, 8-9 PM ET, Virtual

What happens before a book is bound? What incredible possibilities exist? Through this studio, we will stretch our idea of what our fiction can be and learn to gain mastery over our unique crafts. This month, we will look at what it takes to write mystery and the elements/aspects that are generally used in it. Participants will engage in writing mystery through non mystery writing pieces/book excerpts and discover how the tone of a story can change.

Open to members of the public, including all mentees, mentors & members.

COMMUNITY STUDIO

iFeminism

Friday, Mar. 14, 5-6 PM ET, Virtual

iFeminism is a series of topics ranging from media, advocacy, and feminism. This month, we will analyze period poverty within the media. We will go through an activity using creative writing and/or graphic design (via Canva's free resources) to describe how we have been impacted individually and as a community.

Open to members of the public, including all mentees, mentors & members.

COMMUNITY STUDIO

Code & Quill: Weaving Stories Through Technology

Friday, Mar. 14, 7-8 PM ET, Virtual

Have you ever wondered how technology can transform storytelling? Join us for a series of three immersive studios exploring the intersection of tech and digital storytelling. No experience is required—you'll gain hands-on skills in coding, creativity, and learn how this fusion is reshaping industries and tackling community issues. Whether you're a writer, tech enthusiast, or just curious, this series will empower you to craft stories that make an impact!

Open to members of the public, including all mentees, mentors & members.

INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY

Penguin Random House

2025 Fall - 2026 Spring Internships

Penguin Random House offers an immersive 20-week paid, remote internship opportunity through the Fall 2025 and Spring 2026, available in their adult, children's, and corporate divisions. Applicants will have the opportunity to apply for internships across a wide array of departments including publicity, bookmaking, and marketing.

Due Date: March 17, 2025
Create your Portal account and click on "Opportunities" to apply!

SUBMISSIONS OPPORTUNITY

Boston Ujima Project

Pitches for Fortunately Magazine

Fortunately is a post-capitalist lifestyle magazine that explores the intersections of art, culture, and solidarity economies. They are currently seeking pitches for interviews, short stories, poems, or essays for Issue 2. This issue invites contributors and readers alike to rethink how we negotiate, share, barter, and sustain in a world craving equity, imagination, and indebtedness without the exploitative debt.

Create your Portal account and click on "Opportunities" to submit!

FELLOWSHIP OPPORTUNITY

City Lore

Urban Explorers Summer 2025

City Lore's Urban Explorers Program is a year-round paid after-school and summer media fellowship program for New York City high school students who have a professional interest in film, writing and performance (no prior experience necessary) and an interest in art for building community and advocating for people and places in New York City. 

Due Date: April 4, 2025, 11:59 PM ET
Create your Portal account and click on "Opportunities" to apply!