Girlstory Magazine

29/07/2024

New blog post about teenagers and "the lost art of" writing . . .

Would love to hear your thoughts!

The most recent year I can find comprehensive writing statistics related to teenagers is 2019. That’s half a decade ago. Today, a simple online search

22/02/2024

Girls.
Writers.
Parents.

Think critically.

05/02/2024

If you're local to Charlotte, this half-day workshop is open to ages 16+.

Great if you want to draft a book manuscript but don't know where to start or if you want to hone your first, crucial pages.

02/10/2023

Monday motivation for everyone!
Keep writing, using all those dots, girls.

🥰🥰🥰

27/09/2023

The first volume in the long-running girl detective series, "The Secret of the Old Clock," was published 93 years ago under the pseudonym Carolyn Keene. In a tribute to the iconic sleuth, author Theodore Jefferson writes, “Agency. It is that which forms the foundation for any hero’s ability to save the day. In America, agency for teenage girls in literature made its debut in 1930 in the person of Nancy Drew.” This original Mighty Girl character paved the way for many more heroic female characters and inspired generations of real-life girls and women.

Ghostwritten by Mildred Wirt Benson and later revised by Harriet Stratemeyer Adams, the first volume of Nancy Drew had a huge influence on young readers. Jefferson writes, Nancy Drew provided them with “stories of someone like themselves who had a positive effect on the world instead of passively sitting at home… She is a character with that magical ‘what if’ question woven into her identity, and one that effortlessly captures the imaginations of readers by allowing them to participate in a world where the answers to that question are just as entertaining as the stories themselves.”

At the time, some viewed Nancy Drew as a poor role model, “contradicting adults while she squared off with the villains… she is mechanically inclined and at the same time doesn’t act like most people in the 1930s would have expected a teenage girl to act.” In fact, many libraries and bookstores refused to carry the Nancy Drew stories. Despite -- or because of -- that disapproval, kids collected the books voraciously, and in the midst of the Depression, used copies were shared and traded like trading cards are today. As a result, “any kid, even those who couldn’t afford new books, would very likely get to read every adventure starring their favorite character.”

The tremendous influence of Nancy Drew continues to this day asserts Jefferson: “It is difficult to overstate how powerful Nancy Drew’s presence remains in literature and in other media. She has influenced film, comics, video games and animation for [90] years, and will continue to do so as long as teenage girls take the lead as our heroes in the imaginative worlds of adventure."

To share your love of the Nancy Drew series with a new generation, we recommend the beautiful box set of the first four classic Nancy Drew books at https://www.amightygirl.com/nancy-drew-mystery-stories

For long-time Nancy Drew fans who dreamed of cracking the case, there's a fantastic new immersive game, "Nancy Drew: Mystery at Magnolia Gardens," for teens and adults, 13 and up, at https://www.amightygirl.com/mystery-at-magnolia-gardens

There is also a 90th Anniversary 10-Book Collection of the Nancy Drew Diaries for ages 8 and up at https://www.amightygirl.com/nancy-drew-diaries-90th-anniversary-collection

For younger children, there is a box set of five Nancy Drew Clue Books, "Nancy Drew and the Clue Crew Collection" for ages 6 to 9 at https://www.amightygirl.com/nancy-drew-clue-crew-collection

For more girl-empowering books starring mystery-solving Mighty Girls for all ages, check out our blog post, “Elementary, My Dear Mighty Girl: 50 Books Starring Mighty Girl Detectives” at https://www.amightygirl.com/blog?p=12393

To read Jefferson's entire essay on The Mary Sue, visit http://bit.ly/1bk0r1o

27/08/2023

Here’s to an amazing back to school season!

30/06/2023

Just a friendly reminder that we all have choices, girls. Here's to a great weekend!

10/05/2023

Girls! Does your mom like to read?

Then ... ssshhh ... Don't tell MOM, but here's a great Mother's Day gift idea. It's not too late to order (on Amazon!).

05/05/2023

Hey, girlfriends!
Check this out! We have been following Tricia Robinson for years. She's phenomenal. A breath of joy, color, and confidence! Highly recommend this club!

An online community where all ages can be inspired to live life with wonky and freedom!

22/04/2023

Dropping in here to post something near and dear to our hearts that is affecting this generation of girls.

Please watch.

CW/TW: Sensitive content. This film features real stories about body appearance that may be upsetting to some viewers.New research by the Dove Self-Esteem Pr...

11/01/2023

Registration is open early!

The first 12 teen writers (ages 12–16) will become co-authors of a published anthology of short stories in this creative writing and publishing course.

Details and registration link at www.yourvocem.com!

04/01/2023

Registration begins January 15th for this six-month writing and publishing course for ages 12–16. See details on vocem, LLC's website!

Open to only 12 participants.

https://www.yourvocem.com/general-7-1

In 2023, we're offering a 6-month course for teen writers 12-16 years old. The course will focus on creative writing (short stories) and publishing. The end goal is to learn how to draft, finalize, and publish a book—in this case, a teen anthology of short stories held together around one theme. C...

21/12/2022

Not okay.

Pray for these young women and girls. And don’t take your opportunity for formal education, to grow and learn in whatever setting you want, for granted.

On Tuesday, the Taliban announced the women could no longer attend university. One educator in Afghanistan called it "gender apartheid." The highest grade girls will be able to attain now is grade 6.

21/11/2022

Girls and their families,

Though GirlStory is not publishing a magazine right now, we'd love to have you head over to vocem, LLC and like/follow their page.

WHY??? Glad you asked!

In 2023, vocem LLC (a writing services business owned by GirlStory co-founder Cortney Donelson) will be offering a six-month "course" focused on short-story writing and publishing for teens (12-16 years old). Registration will be capped at 12 writers, and at the end of the "course," teens will become co-authors of a published short-story anthology!

What's included? What's the cost? Great questions!

Stay tuned for more details (on vocem's page) coming in December.

07/10/2022

Good advice for this Friday . . .

✨ Sharing again because I know someone needs a reminder today to shine. ✨

08/06/2022

Jumping in to let you know that one of our GirlStory writers has a book coming out next week, published with Morgan James Publishing! Congrats, Allison!

Murderer’s Blade: A Novel

02/06/2022

It's already summertime for many of you. We saw this post and couldn't wait to share it. Let's continue to encourage our children (and girls, encourage each other PLEASE!) to become avid readers and writers who have a passion to do so. Not because you "have to," but because you "GET TO!" 🙌

If you're seeking a writing coach for your teen, check out yourvocem.com!

A million times, YES!

12/05/2022

🤎🤎

🌀 David Wolfe

22/04/2022

Author Christine Virgin writes for tween/early teen girls and is releasing debut middle school novel about defining beauty.

Check out the virtual book club!

14/04/2022

Popping in to say this book is INCREDIBLE. Great for a summer group shindig (or sleepover) with tweens (even includes the discussion questions)!

Teachers
Parents
Girls

You'll love it...

The Beautiful List engages tweens with candid trials about bathing suits, boys, mean girls, body image, sibling jealousy, friendship drama, family dynamics, pressure to perform, and even tragedy. It's a needed conversation starter for middle grade girls who desperately need to know they are beautifu...

30/03/2022

Hey ... April is YOUR month! Drop your favorite line from your favorite poem (and provide the author's name of course!)

02/02/2022

Right!

17/01/2022

Worthy of the share

I want to help my kids understand who is a bad friend and who is a good friend so I have them focus on the way the girl behaves. That makes it easier to spot a real friend from someone who is not really their friend. I encourage my kids to cut ties with anybody who always treats them badly or is mea...

15/01/2022

New Option for Young Writers!

This is for the writers-at-heart who either want to:

1. improve their creating writing skills
2. want a writing partner/coach who can provide encouraging yet constructive feedback, OR
3. have the goal of completing a creative/persuasive essay for publication, novella, poetry book, or novel at some point

Benefits:
FUN, flexible, customized, one-on-one coaching for each individual writer's needs

Scheduling:
30-minutes sessions (a la carte or monthly packages)
Pricing found at www.yourvocem.com

*This is not a tutoring service or a service to assist with school-based writing assignments.

13/01/2022

While we're not publishing magazines right now, we still want to celebrate, support, and encourage young writers. Check out GirlStory writer, Israel, and her new YouTube Channel about writing!

Way to go! 👏👏👏

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SUrnvWpSE8U

In this video, I explain three more story structures you can use to improve you story.My source for this week is:Jenkins, J. (2021, October 27). 7 common sto...