SPEAKING IN FIRST DRAFT PODCAST

Speaking on Standup Comedy

Finding the Funny in our Failures

We're bringing you a special, silly episode with some hilarious guests in our lineup! Featuring standup comedians Hollie Harper and Lai Lai Liu, and cartoonist Emily Flake, this episode is all about navigating the many shapes and forms of comedy. This conversation is led by Girls Write Now Mentee Zabe Renee, a participant in our Power of Punchlines learning Journey who is currently developing their own stand-up set! So, tune in to get your week's dosage of laughter and advice from the folks who've made it their job to help you smile just a bit more.

PRINT PUBLICATIONS

Hope Still Lives in Our Words

A Look Back at Last Year's Book as We Plan for This Year's Transformation 

As we collect this year's anthology submissions, we're reflecting on the hope we cultivated last year with the book party at McNally Jackson for our 2025 Anthology, Hope Lives in Our Words.

All mentees at Girls Write Now are eligible to submit a piece for publication in the 2026 anthology by April 9th. Learn how to submit here!

WRITING WARM-UP

Write With Us: Prompt of the Week

By Keila Cruz & Kayla Greene, Community Studio Facilitators

After having explored the many ways in which creatives experiment with various art mediums during times of uncertainty, it’s your turn to find out just what you’re capable of creating! Create a piece (written, painted, musical…) inspired by:
1.  A time when you’ve felt lost, tired, or depleted but managed to find a glimmer of light.
2. A person, place, or thing that helped you through a testing time in your life.

Want to learn how to activate your creativity during times of uncertainty? Join the next Creating Through Uncertainty Community Studio on April 15, 8 PM ET, to harness the uplifting power of creation when dealing with life’s challenges. This Community Studio will focus on how scriptwriting can be used to introduce theatre life.

SPECIAL EVENT

STARS Youth-Led Town Hall: Safety First

Wednesday, April 8, 11 AM-1 PM ET, In-Person
695 Park Ave, New York, NY

At the STARS Town Hall, young people lead the conversation. Students will have the opportunity to share their perspectives, connect with other youth leaders across the city, and help shape solutions that city leaders need to hear. This year’s conversation centers on one big question: What does it actually mean for young people to feel safe in New York City in 2026? Safe spaces don’t just happen—they’re built through listening, collaboration, and action. Your voice matters and we hope you'll join us.

Open to all girls and gender-expansive young people ages 13–24.

COLLEGE CHAT

Pathways Into the Publishing Industry

Tuesday, April 14, 4:45-6:00 PM ET, Virtual

Curious about a career in publishing? Join us for a College Chat with representatives from Pace University and The City College of New York to explore undergraduate, graduate, and certificate programs designed for aspiring publishing professionals. Whether you’re considering the field yourself or mentoring a young writer who is, this conversation will offer valuable insight on the paths into publishing.

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

Career Chat

Is There A Doctor in the House? A Wellness Career Chat

Tuesday, April 21, 4:45 PM-6 PM ET, Virtual

Has The Pitt inspired you to get involved with healthcare, but you’re not sure what path is right for you? Come to this Career Chat to hear from a range of professionals in the wellness space. Speakers include Dr. Bisi Alli, a dual board-certified physician in Internal and Lifestyle Medicine; Sabia Wade, reproductive justice advocate, entrepreneur, and thought leader; and Yori Ayeola-Scott, psychotherapist. Learn about the many career paths that are possible if you want to work in wellness.

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

INTERNSHIP OPPORTUNITY

BBH

BARN Summer Internship

BLACK SHEEP WANTED for BARN, a 10-week summer internship program at BBH. During BARN, you will collaborate with a group of Creative, Strategy, Account, and Program Management to learn all the ins and outs of the advertising industry. You’ll have the opportunity to make real work for real clients and gain mentorship from our ad vets (we’re biased, but our Black Sheep are some of the best in the industry). You won’t do a single coffee run ever.

This is for GWN mentees and mentee alum only who are rising seniors and recent graduates. 
Please note - the deadline has been extended to April 6 for Girls Write Now.

JOB OPPORTUNITY

Penguin Random House

Publicity Assistant, Riverhead

The Riverhead publicity team seeks a Publicity Assistant to support two senior level publicists—an associate Director and Publicity Manager. The Assistant position requires excellent time management and prioritization skills and strong attention to detail.  Successful candidates will skillfully perform regular administrative duties while also demonstrating the ability to take initiative and exercise independent and creative thinking where needed. This is a fantastic opportunity to work with distinguished authors such as Emma Straub, Chang-rae Lee, Hernan Diaz, Sigrid Nunez, Jon Ronson and Mohsin Hamid, and be involved in campaigns on a wide scale variety of hardcover and paperback titles. 

PUBLICATION OPPORTUNITY

Future Poem

Open Reading Period

Each year, we invite a rotating panel of distinguished guest editors to read and select two new books for publication. Our 2026 Guest Editors are Cole Swensen, Brandon Brown, and Cristina Pérez Diaz. Futurepoem welcomes unpublished, full-length manuscripts of poetry, prose, and multi-genre work that challenge and expand on the potential for poetic form, language, and process. Work by underrepresented and emerging writers is especially welcome. 

Deadline: April 10, 2026
Create a portal account to apply for this opportunity.