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    • Feb 25: A Life in the Theater with Elizabeth Van Dyke
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Home / Programs / Salon Series / Defiant Dialogue: Writing Conflict with Raquel Almazan

Defiant Dialogue: Writing Conflict with Raquel Almazan

On Friday, November 6, we had an empowering installment in our Friday Night Salon Series, Defiant Dialogue: Writing Conflict with Raquel Almazan.

This was my first time joining a Girls Write Now session. And I am so in love. Thank you for this very engaging, enlightening and beautiful moment. — Bernice A., Salon Attendee

Prompt #1: Speaking Truth to Power

Write a monologue or poem to an adversary with whom you have an unresolved relationship. Think: a family member, ex-partner, friend, politician, past historical figure, etc.The text could reflect what you were always too fearful to state or did not have the access to state. Imagine your words are creating theatrical action and momentum.

Prompt #2: DEFENDING YOUR ADVERSARY

Write in the voice of your adversary responding to your first monologue or poem. Think about full-dimensional characterization and maintain urgency and purpose in their response.

Prompt #3: LISTENING IN THE STRUGGLE

Deconstruct your monologues to create a dialogue. Select one line from each piece to be read in a call and response format. Imagine what theatrical “space” this dialogue can be set in. It doesn’t need to be in a realistic setting.

Raquel Almazan is an interdisciplinary artist, facilitator and activist. (M.F.A. Playwriting, Columbia University). Her eclectic career spans original multi-media solo performances, playwriting, devising and dramaturgy. Almazan’s work has been featured in New York City including Off-Broadway, throughout the United States and internationally in Greece, Italy, Slovenia, Colombia, Chile, Guatemala and Sweden; including several of her plays within the Latin is America play cycle. She has been awarded Professional Development residencies with Bric Arts, The Eugene O’Neill Center Playwrights Conference and The Playwrights’ Center. Recipient of the National Association of Latino Arts and Culture Grant, Kennedy Center’s Latinidad Award, Kate Neal Kinley Playwriting Fellowship and the Arch and Bruce Brown Foundation Playwriting Prize. Almazan currently teaches playwriting at Marymount Manhattan College. Raquel is also the Artistic Director of La Lucha Arts which collaborates with organizations, social movements and impacted individuals towards providing a platform for marginalized and abandoned narratives and people. (Community Partner Collaboration selections: Pen America, Close Rikers Campaign, Steps to End Family Violence, Brooklyn DA’s Re-entry task force and The United Nations).

Our Friday Night Salons are a space for our community to learn from and write with incredible authors, poets, journalists and novelists. This event is free and open to the public because of generous viewers like you who power Girls Write Now’s cutting-edge programs. If you are able to pay, your tax-deductible donation will help make more events like this possible. Thank you!

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Celebrate Black History Month!

Each week throughout February, we’ll be sharing stories, resources and events from our community and our partners that honor Black art, writing, culture and history!

Life Resources and Events

At Girls Write Now, we work to challenge and change the systemic racism and inequality by breaking down the barriers of race and poverty to elevate the voices of girls and gender nonconforming youth who are too often not heard—or worse, silenced. From mental and emotional wellness to advocating for racial justice, we are here to support you individually and as a community through our robust programming. Check out our calendar to see our current offerings or visit our Life Resources page to support you during this time.

Friday Night Salon with Megan Reid & Wendi Gu

Join us on Friday, February 26, 6-7:30 PM ET for Picture Books 101: Writing for Kids When You Aren’t One with Megan Reid and Wendi Gu!

We’re Hiring!

Looking for more purpose-driven work in the new year? Check out available roles to join the team! 

GIVE. WRITE. NOW. And Thank you!!

Girls Write Now’s services are more essential than ever before—serving the hardest hit communities—and many of our young women and gender nonconforming youth have themselves become essential workers to help their families. They carry an enormous burden and face devastating loss, slipping further into poverty. To meet the need, we have enriched and extended our programs, leading the historical transition to virtual learning.

Get Involved!

Are you a licensed mental health professional who’d love to work with our community of writers and creatives? We’re seeking volunteer Wellness Advisors. Get more info & apply here!

Relive the Girls (Re)Write Now Awards

If you missed the awards, you can still watch it! Relive this revolutionary night of mini–master classes with honorees on empathy, art, activism & humor and Girls Write Now mentees on writing with purpose, climate justice & self-care. 

Writing from our Future Leaders

Taking Our Place in History: the Girls Write Now 2020 Anthology was published with support from Dutton and Amazon Literary Partnership, available for purchase from McNally Jackson Books and anywhere ebooks are sold!

Girls Write Now in the News

Girls Write Now’s work has recently been featured by the National Endowment for the Arts, Time Out New York, NYXT and more!

Girls Write Now

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