Issue #2

Unity

Letter from the Editors

Welcome to the second issue of Lines & Breaks, a literary journal with creative writing from WriteGirl teens and alums.

As we approach a new kind of “normal,” this year continues to be a difficult time for young people to live, learn and thrive. Both at school and at home, abroad and in their own backyards, teens are facing challenges that many of us could never imagine. We’ve designed WriteGirl to be an outlet for creativity and self-expression for our mentees who live in a world where they are often denied both. We created an online literary journal to serve the voices of WriteGirl teens who need the opportunity to see their words come to life on the (digital!) page.

Lines & Breaks showcases the writing that can emerge from the minds of teens, if you create an inspiring and creative environment. In partnership with LA vs Hate, we have dedicated this issue, titled “Unity,” to feature pieces about how we can both combat hate and promote tolerance as well as celebrate the places and people we come from. Peer into the hearts and lives of WriteGirl teens as they share their stories and views on music, oceans, kimchi, community, stargazing, pico dulces, noodles and faeries who help people find new names. There is urgency, grief, introspection and a desire to be heard.

From poetry and prose to scenes and songs, WriteGirl teens explore a wide range of styles for their ideas about what it means to fight injustice while celebrating oneself. Their unique voices call to us and come alive, inspiring us all to also harness the power of the pen.

– Keren Taylor, Executive Director, and the editors of Lines & Breaks