Plus, talking to author Amina AlTai about the "Ambition Trap"
July 14-20
Hope Lives In Our Words
Featured Media
Lessons in Pottery and Growing Up
By Min Hollweck
This piece was created to
honor my childhood spent with my grandmother.
For more incredible work from our most recent anthology, check out the
Here & Now Story Collection.
Mic Drop: Community Spotlight
LISTEN WITH US
Speaking on Shifting from Chasing to Living: The Ambition Trap
Featuring Amina AlTai & Vahni Kurra
In the podcast episode of Speaking In First Draft, Girls Write Now dives into how writing can help you step into your zone of genius, why we often self-sabotage to restore a sense of safety, and how your relationship with ambition shapes the life you are building. We're joined by Vahni Kurra, our Marketing and Communications Manager, and Amina AlTai, leadership coach, chronic illness advocate, and author of The Ambition Trap: How to Stop Chasing and Start Living. Together, they talk about the generational shift in ambition and why, even if a book has already been written, no one can share your story quite like you can!
READ WITH US
Swirl Girl: Coming of Race in the USA
By TaRessa Stovall,
Girls Write Now Mentor Alum
Swirl Girl: Coming of Race in the USA reveals how a hard-headed, Mixed-race, "Black Power Flower Child '' battles society—and sometimes her closest loved ones—to forge her identity on her own terms. As the USA undergoes its own racial growing pains, from the 1968 riots after Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.'s assassination, to the historic 2008 election of the nation's first Biracially Black president, Girls Write Now mentor alum TaRessa Stovall challenges popular stereotypes and fights nonstop pressures to contort, disguise, or deny her uncomfortable truths. TaRessa was recently featured on our podcast, Speaking in First Draft.
WRITE WITH US
Summer Sounds:
Prompt & Playlist
By Sally Familia,
Girls Write Now Community Coordinator
What if "We Are All Here For It" wasn’t a statement, but a question? What is the it we’ve all agreed to witness, and what happens if someone says no?
We've got the soundtrack for your most creative summer yet. Listen to this playlist and let your imagination run wild.
CELEBRATE WITH US!
Mentee Madison Mailutha Honored in Teen Writing Contest
Madison's Piece To Be Published in NYPL Teen Magazine
Mentee Madison Mailutha earned an honorable mention in the New York Public Library's James Baldwin Teen Creative Contest for her piece, "Fragments of Me." In addition to being published in a special edition of the NYPL Teen Magazine, "Fragments of Me" will also be included in Hope Lives In Our Words: Girls Write Now 2025 Anthology, which will be published this August by Dutton.
Happening Write Now
STUDIO EVENTS
July Community Studios
July 14-30, Various Times, Virtual
Dip into your creativity when you sign up for a July Community Studio! We have an incredible lineup of Studios led by mentors and mentees in the Girls Write Now community on everything from Roots & Rhythm: The African Oral Tradition in Spoken Word to Cultivating a Sense of Place in Fiction.
Create your Girls Write Now Portal account to sign up.
Open to all mentors, mentees, members, and the public
COLLABORATORY WORKSHOP
Beyond the Scroll: Building Brands Online
Tuesday, July 15, 6-7:30 PM ET, Virtual
Get creative with social media! This engaging workshop is designed to empower creatives with the knowledge and tools to confidently navigate the world of social media for marketing. Participants will delve into the core principles of online branding, learning how to articulate their unique voice and create compelling content that stands out in a crowded digital landscape. Attendees will discover how to transition from simply consuming content to actively creating and leveraging it to share their passions, ideas, and even future entrepreneurial ventures.
Open to all mentors, mentees, and members.
Required for Social Media & Marketing mentors and mentees.
SPECIAL EVENT
Open: A Play & Post-Show Panel
Wednesday, July 16, 7:30-9:30 PM ET, Virtual
A spellbinding story of love, loss, and the impossible—join the Girls Write Now community at a showing of Open, the critically acclaimed off-Broadway play by Girls Write Now teaching artist Crystal Skillman. We'd love to have you with us on July 16th for a post-show panel discussion featuring Girls Write Now staff member Vahni Kurra. The topic will be “Finding Joy in Resistance,” and and a portion of the proceeds from the night will go to The Center in the West Village.
Students can use the code OPENST for discounted tickets, and a select number of free tickets have been made available to Girls Write Now mentees.
Mentees, you can send a Slack message to Annaya Baynes if you would like to claim a free ticket!
Open to all mentors, mentees, members, and the public.
COLLABORATORY WORKSHOP
Personal Statement Workshop with NYU Professor Susanna Horng
Thursday, July 17, 3:30-6 PM ET, Virtual
Come join us for a fun, hands-on workshop all about the personal statement. Whether you’re applying to college, scholarships, or fellowships, this session will help you tell your story in a way that really stands out. Led by writer, Clinical Professor at NYU Liberal Studies, and seasoned Girls Write Now teaching artist Susanna Horng, the workshop will cover what makes the personal statement different from other essays, and show you a fresh way to creatively approach it. You’ll brainstorm opening lines to help find your topic, start drafting your statement, and get helpful feedback through active listening. We’ll also go over key do’s and don’ts, and look at real examples to see what works.
Open to all mentors, mentees, members, and the public
COMMUNITY CONVERSATION
Did June Fill You With Pride?
Wednesday, July 23, 7-8:30 PM ET, Virtual
Though Pride Month has passed, Girls Write Now remains committed to supporting and empowering our LGBTQIA+ community members year-round. In the face of repression and constant uncertainty, it’s important that we process all that is going through our minds. Join us for a rich conversation on where we are and what we can do to get to where we’re going.
Open to all mentors, mentees, staff, and members
Read on for even more incredible opportunities—
and thank you for your support!
Get the Gig
JOB OPPORTUNITY
Storyful
Editorial Partnerships Manager
Storyful Newswire is a subscription product that delivers verified, rights-cleared UGC and breaking news footage to newsrooms, broadcasters, and publishers. Trusted by editorial teams worldwide, their mission is to ensure that their clients stay ahead of the news cycle with real-time access to the most compelling content and in-depth context. They are looking for an Editorial Partnerships Manager who thrives at the intersection of journalism, strategy, and client partnership. You’ll work closely with editorial leaders and social/video teams at top media organizations to deeply understand their goals, pain points, and audience needs.
JOB OPPORTUNITY
National Geographic
Email & Content Coordinator
To support the opening of the Museum of Exploration and their new campus. the National Georgaphic is seeking an Email & Content Coordinator. Working under the direction of the Senior Manager, Marketing, this role assists with the setup and scheduling of email campaigns, helps maintain editorial calendars, supports content updates on digital platforms, and contributes to copy editing and campaign workflows.
INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY
GBH, Frontline
Frontline Editorial Internships Fall 2025
Since 1983, FRONTLINE has served as PBS's flagship public affairs program. FRONTLINE is seeking an intellectually curious and hardworking student eager to learn and assist with the process of making a documentary program. This internship is an opportunity to work with broadcast and journalism professionals to learn the intricacies of producing long-format investigative documentary television.
