Speaking in First Draft

In collaboration with Born This Way Foundation’s Channel Kindness youth storytelling platform, Speaking in First Draft is excited to feature two powerful and emotive writers, Lisa Laman and Parker Ramey. Lisa reads her own work, while Parker's piece finds its voice through the loving presence of their partner, reminding us that some stories are not only told, they are carried. Get ready to hear th...

Our Pride Month celebrations continue! This week, we are extremely excited to welcome photographer and activist Lola Flash, storyteller and writer Laura Hemingway, writer and tennis player Emilia Monell, and poet and mentee Zai Rivera. In conversation with GWN mentee Kama Barry, our guests leave no stone unturned when it comes to discussing the intersection of race, sexuality, and gender. You won’...

Let’s welcome novelist, screenwriter, and playwright Georgia Clark! Georgia is a romance writer whose stories widely and deeply capture audiences with the humanness of her queer characters. She is joined by Girls Write Now Teacher-In-Residence Kayla Dudley to discuss technicality and vulnerability in her newest novel, Play It Again. From her ensemble casts to writing across timelines, listen in to...

As we come to a close on Mental Health Awareness Month this May, we figured it's time to acknowledge the elephant in the room - burnout. Unfortunately, it's something way too many of us creatives are all too familiar with, especially these days. To lead this much-needed conversation, mentee Ruby Nicholson speaks with fellow mentee Kayla Hunt and licensed Clinical Psychologist Dr. Kristie Norwood o...

This week, we’re diving into the intersections of journalism, climate change, and the realities of war. Heavy? We know. In the face of the many tumultuous circumstances we are all navigating across the globe, we at Speaking in First Draft hope to foster the hard conversations that are often few and far between. Prepare to hear from astute journalists Christabel Nsiah-Buadi and Jordan Gass-Poore, w...

Today’s conversation moves through creativity, time, and what it means to claim your voice no matter your age or where you begin. Let us welcome mentee Jayla Hall Cabrera, who published a book in their senior year of high school, proving that there are no rules, no boundaries, and no “right time” to put something out into the world. In conversation with mentee Sanjana Rajesh, they reflect on theme...

Have you ever wanted your words to create positive change? Let’s welcome educator, writer, and creator of the TV show Smarter in Seconds , Blair Imani Ali! In conversation with Girls Write Now mentee Deb Coffy, they discuss their lively experiences as activists and organizers for reproductive justice, and its deep intersections across race and racism, and sociopolitical issues. From the importance...

It's April Fool's Day, and we're bringing you a special, silly episode with some very 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 w...

It’s Women's History Month, and we’re celebrating the vital impact of women in media and journalism. Let us welcome esteemed journalists Versha Sharma (Editor-in-Chief of Teen Vogue), Koa Beck (Former Editor-in-Chief of Jezebel and the co-host of “The #MeToo Memos” on WNYC’s The Takeaway), and Marina Fang (Former Senior Culture reporter at HuffPost). In conversation with Keitanya Klien, writer and...

We’re starting off season four of Speaking in First Draft with our own little writers’ room. We'll hear a short excerpt from mentee Genesis Juarez’s new dystopian project, which explores all things monsters and siblings. She is joined by GWN mentors Marya Cohn and Liza Wyles, who have worked in the film/TV industry for several years, writing, directing, and producing. You’ll be sure to enjoy this...

Speaking in First Draft is dedicated to elevating a range of creative voices and experiences, especially from those whose stories are suppressed. In light of nationwide xenophobic attacks targeting immigrants, we’re handing our GWN community members the mic. We received so many wonderful stories for this originally planned two-part episode that we’re extending it to give you a third and final part...

Speaking in First Draft is dedicated to elevating a range of creative voices and experiences, especially those whose stories are suppressed. In light of nationwide xenophobic attacks targeting immigrants, we’re handing our GWN community members the mic. Get ready to hear captivating stories from Singapore, Bangladesh, and beyond. These community voices are invaluable and must be protected; we are...

Speaking in First Draft is dedicated to elevating a range of creative voices and experiences, especially those whose stories are suppressed. In light of nationwide xenophobic attacks targeting immigrants, we’re handing our Girls Write Now community members the mic. Get ready to hear captivating stories from Nigeria, Ukraine, the Dominican Republic, and other parts of the world. These community voi...

Back with another riveting episode for this bonus season, let’s welcome first-time author Diandra Ford-Wing! In conversation with Girls Write Now’s Creative Marketing Director, Chelle Carter-Willson, they discuss Diandra’s debut novel - “Red Bird”. In this story, Diandra details the tremendous pain she underwent after losing two of the most important women in her life. From nature, spirituality, t...

We’re obsessulated with our next bonus season guest, Winnie Holzman, writer and co-creator of Wicked the musical and films . Together, Winnie and host Kathryn get real about process, influences, and legacy when it comes to creating a cultural sensation. Prepare to hear some behind-the-scenes stories of the development and “betterizing” of Wicked, and what we can continue to learn from it in our ev...

Let us welcome Howard University’s esteemed professor and scholar of African-American literature Dana A. Williams! She is joined by Community Coordinator Annaya Baynes to discuss her newest book, Toni at Random: The Iconic Writer’s Legendary Editorship . In this biography of the brilliant novelist and activist Toni Morrison, Dana recounts Morrison’s legacy, close mentorship, and tenure as an edito...

Today, we are thrilled to welcome the talented chef and author, Food Network Star Kardea Brown Smith. Host Kathryn, had the privilege of speaking with Chef Kardea about her new cookbook Make Do with What You Have . Set to launch later this year, Kardea shares 100 delicious new and accessible recipes rooted in the legacy of her family and hometown of the Gullah Geechee Sea Islands off South Carolin...

Speaking in First Draft returns for a special bonus season celebrating some of our newest additions to the Girls Write Now community. We are thrilled to highlight some of the remarkable voices we’ll honor at our Girls Write Now Awards this fall, so make sure ot stay tuned! This season, we’ll talk about a diversity of topics through creative writing and artistic lenses, from sharing culture through...

For our final episode of season 3, we're joined by GWN mentee alum Romaissaa Benzizoune and our Community Coordinator Kenna McCaferty to dive into the world of advocacy journalism. Romaissaa, a passionate writer, editor, and aficionado of culture and opinion writing, gives an honest and personal insight into the current state of digital and print media. Things aren't like they used to be and it is...

In this episode, we’re diving 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 Ch...

Race and identity lie at the bedrock of the US. In this rich conversation, former mentor TaRessa Stovall and Girls Write Now mentee and intern Kayla Dudley discuss TaRessa's memoir Swirl Girl: Coming of Race in the USA. Together, they dive into common misconceptions about mixed-race people and media representation while also creating a powerful space for learning and growing as writers of all ages...

In this episode, we're taking a poetic trip to the roller rink with Arriel Vinson, a Girls Write Now mentor alum and debut author of Under the Neon Lights. In her discussion with mentee Maryam Oguntola, Arriel explores the connection between Black liberation and roller skating, and how it inspired her novel-in-verse. From talking about Midwestern hometowns to revolutionary protest, first crushes t...

The path to a writing career isn't always straight, as you'll learn in this episode. Girls Write Now pair Summer Boxer and Hanna Neier chat about Hanna's start in law, what brought them to GWN, and writing historical fiction. Summer and Hanna give advice for writers who are just beginning. Start the episode for thoughts on writing historical fiction and stay for the positive energy of this amazing...

Have you ever felt like the less an artist gives, the more powerful their message becomes? This week, we're diving into the world of music journalism with Mentor Ana Yglesias and Mentor Sidney Madden, a music journalist who knows what it means to protect the sacredness of the craft. Together, they unpack what makes a great story pitch, how editors shape the writing process, and why artists like Be...

For our third and final part in our series on writing as activism, host Kathryn Destin speaks with GWN Teaching Artist Anna Lapera, Mentor alum Amira Pierce, and current mentee Maya about campus activism. With rising student movements and Gen-Z activism in response to repression from the institutions that are supposed to protect them, our episode guests share their experiences and perspectives on...