PUBLICATION HIGHLIGHT

Mentee Maya Collins Publishes First Chapbook

Buried Paper Airplanes—And You is Now Available from Bottlecap Press.

Maya Collins is a published author, professional artist, and mentee of the Girls Write Now Collaboratory. She is a rising sophomore at Wheaton College as a Studio Art and English Writing double major. Maya's first published chapbook, Buried Paper Airplanes —And You, is described as "a candid exploration of mental illness and womanhood."

SPEAKING IN FIRST DRAFT PODCAST

Speaking on Historical Flights of Fancy

Featuring Colette Holcomb and Nola Solomon

While our last episode left off in contemporary Harlem, this week's takes us to Paris during the French Revolution. Mentor Nola Solomon reads a chilling excerpt of her historical fiction novel, The Gentleman of Paris, and talks to Mentee Colette Holcomb about how a trip to a torture museum in Bruges, Belgium, inspired her latest project. Together, Nola and Colette discuss how to write fictional narratives about real people, and why the themes of the French Revolution are still relevant today.

Prompt of the Week

From Sepideh Moafi, Friday Night Salon Teaching Artist

Define home—what does it mean to you? Where is home? What does it look like? What does it feel like—Smell? Taste? Sound?

What was your relationship to home when you were 10 years old? What’s your relationship to home now?

Join Sepideh Moafi, star of HBO's The L Word: Generation Q and humanitarian, for an engaging salon to discover what home and belonging means to you.

MENTEE HIGHLIGHT

Tara Isabel Lago Speaks at Discussion with Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff

The New York Public Library Hosts Conversation on The Freedom to Read

The New York Public Library recently hosted Second Gentleman Douglas Emhoff and Matt Nosanchuk, Deputy Assistant Secretary in the Office for Civil Rights at the U.S. Department of Education, as they joined teenagers to discuss bans on books and the necessary protection of freedom to read. We're proud to announce that Girls Write Now mentee Tara Isabel Lago was invited into the conversation. Tara is published in Teen Vogue as the winner of the New York Public Library's Freedom to Read Writing Contest.

MENTEE-LED INITIATIVE

One Letter 4 All Workshop Series

Saturday, June 8, 1-3 PM ET, In-Person
Girls Write Now Headquarters, NYC

Conceived and produced by Lead 360 mentee Sophia One, the One Letter 4 All initiative focuses on providing loving messages to people dealing with loneliness and isolation. Join us at the series kickoff, an inspiring afternoon of social activism at the home of Girls Write Now, as we write compassionate letters to both Asian American elders, and detention center youth. In June, we will support two impactful organizations: Hearts of Dinner and Radical Reversal. Note: This event counts towards community service hours for high school students! 

Open to the public including all mentees, mentors & alum.

SALON SERIES

Black First: An Undiplomatic Juneteenth Celebration with Deesha Dyer

Thursday, June 14, 6-7:15 PM ET, Virtual

How many rooms have you shut yourself out of before you even got the chance to reach the door? Systemic inequality has taught us an image of who is right for what opportunities, but it is imperative to envision yourself achieving your dreams even when others can't. Join former White House Social Secretary and author of the memoir Undiplomatic: How My Attitude Created the Best Kind of Trouble, Deesha Dyer, for an exploration of self-awareness, overcoming adversity and how to embrace your authenticity at all costs, and the joy and freedom that awaits on the other side.

Open to the public including all mentees, mentors & alum.

SPECIAL EVENT

Summer Open Mic Series

*NEW DATE*
Thursday, June 20, 6-7:15 PM ET, In-Person
Girls Write Now Headquarters, NYC 

Mic check! Join us for the launch of our Summer Open Mic Series. Ten readers will perform their three-minute poems, songs, stories, and other original work in front of a live audience at Girls Write Now Headquarters. We begin with a generative creative writing exercise for all before featuring the main performances. Light snacks and refreshments will be served.

Open to the public including all mentees, mentors & alum.

PARTNER JOB OPPORTUNITY

Feminist Press

Senior Editor

The Feminist Press is seeking a full-time Senior Editor to work closely with the Executive Director and Publisher and other editorial staff to shape the list of this 54-year-old independent intersectional feminist book publisher and nonprofit. The ideal candidate is passionate and knowledgeable about feminist writing and independent publishing.

PUBLICATION OPPORTUNITY

new words journal

Accepting Submissions

{p} is a trans* and gender-expansive poetry press. They publish new words journal three times per year, along with selected chapbooks and specialty projects. Focusing on work from emerging and established trans* poets, they are seeking "polished work that makes us stop mid-poem to catch our breath and linger." Payment for journal acceptance is $15 + one copy.

FELLOWSHIP

Mid Atlantic Arts

New Jersey State Council on the Arts Individual Artist Fellowship

State Fellowships are awarded to practicing New Jersey artists through an anonymous, competitive application process to help them pursue their artistic goals. Mid Atlantic Arts administers the application submission, review, and post-award process on behalf of New Jersey State Council on the Arts through an ongoing partnership. Artists must be 18 years or older and permanent residents of the State of New Jersey at the time of application.