Taking Root: The Girls Write Now 2022 Anthology by Girls Write Now

This book is a catalog of seeds and the garden they grow in, a network of young writers, mentors, leaders and dreamers who cultivate the shimmering new voices you are about to experience, page by page. As the shadow of the pandemic stretched into two long years, something was taking root at Girls Write Now. There was a hope, a blessing, a beauty, a communal bond—the fertile soil stories need to grow. Roots are journeys to our past, our future, to home, and away from home, enabling us to withstand the long nights and storms that invariably come our way. But a harsh climate can also produce writing of rare depth, complexity, nuance, and humor. The work in this anthology is a stunning expression with global relevance of all this generation has endured and transformed. For twenty-five years, Girls Write Now has been amplifying transformative stories that break down the barriers of gender, race, age and poverty. In addition to being the first writing and mentoring organization of its kind, Girls Write Now continually ranks among the top programs nationwide for driving social-emotional growth for youth. The nationally award-winning nonprofit mentors the next generation of female and gender expansive writers and leaders who are shaping culture, impacting businesses and creating change.

“Literature lives on as the most powerful form of expression. Girls Write Now empowers young women to declare their interpretations of the world and transcend generations to ignite minds.” ––ELAINE WELTEROTH, author of More Than Claiming Space for Who You Are (No Matter What They Say) “Girls Write Now inspired me to do more than think of myself as someone who writes, but as a writer. My years as a mentee gave me the foundation to be the author I’m proud to be today.” ––JOY L. SMITH, author of Turning and Girls Write Now Mentee Alum