In preparation for Girls Write Now’s CHAPTERS Reading Series and QWERTY Digital Media Exhibition, mentees must attend a performance tech workshop. Each mentee stands to deliver her piece, looking up at her listeners and back down at her paper, then awaits critique. I watch their faces and I see: uncontainably broad smiles that only widen as they receive thoughtful praise and feedback from peers, mentors, and program staff. Sharing their work doesn’t just thrill them, it sets them on fire, lighting them up from within.
So if you do one thing for us, do this: Free these words and see what happens. Let these stories ignite a flame in your mind. Know it makes us glow that this book is in your hands and you are turning the pages. Sharing our work is our greatest joy, and we welcome you into Generation F with open arms.
—ROSALIND BLACK, Anthology Committee Co-Chair
Molly MacDermot Editor
Rosalind Black
Meg Cassidy Anthology Committee Co-Chairs
Keciah Bailey
Nan Bauer-Maglin
Laura Buchwald
Alexis Cheung
Elena Coln
Megan Elmore
Hermione Hoby
Linda Kleinbub
Erica Moroz
Kate Mulley
Livia Nelson
Hannah Nesbat
Cynthia-Marie O’Brien
Carol Paik
Nikki Palumbo
Leslie Pariseau
Emily Present
Rachel Shope
Lenna Stites
Maryellen Tighe
Shara Zaval
Maria Campo, Director of Programs and Outreach
Naomi Solomon, Assistant Director of Programs
Sierra Ritz, Senior Program Coordinator
Marsha Bernstein, Muneesh Jain, Maggie Muldoon, Jessie Roth, Richelle Szypulski, Paolo Villanueva, Photographers
Maya Nussbaum, Founder and Executive Director
CONTENTS
Note from Anthology Co-Chair, ROSALIND BLACK
Introduction by SAMHITA MUKHOPADHYAY
POETRY ABRAHAM, JISELLE White and Blue / Outta Luck
MEMOIR ADOTE, CRYSTAL Dela’s Dream
FICTION AGUILAR-COLON, SOLEDAD Who Is Ozzie?
MEMOIR AKILOVA, NAZERKE A Gift from My Mom
FICTION ANDERST, LEAH Flash Non/Fiction/@FlashNarratives
POETRY ANDREWS, ASSATA Dear Black Women,
MEMOIR BARAN, ARIELLE GRANDmother
POETRY BAUER-MAGLIN, NAN Baby Walking
POETRY BRYANT, KATE Even though I know how very far
FICTION CABRERA, NATHALIE Mirror
MEMOIR CARLIN, SHANNON The Memories of My Mom, Hidden in Pierogi Dough
MEMOIR CARPENTER, JULIA A talk with my mother
POETRY CASEY-WHITEMAN, JOCELYN Ceremony
FICTION CASSIDY, MEG Spring Green
FICTION CASTILLO, SAONY Because He Liked It
MEMOIR CEDENO, REBECCA I Wanted to Be Cool
FICTION CHE, JORDAN Mirror Image