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Original poster

Anyone interested in writing for an online magazine for pre-teen girls that does not feature makeup, boys, horses, cute animals, pink or glitter?

266 replies

MmeLindor. · 04/03/2012 22:27

Before anyone reports me to MNHQ, this is a voluntary, non-profit making blog that I am thinking about creating.

I am sick fed up of looking for interesting magazines for my 9 year old daughter that does not feature the above. Most of the comics/magazines are so boring that she flicks through them then discards.

Who decided that all pre-teen girls are only interested in stuff like that? I think that they might be persuaded to read a bi-weekly online magazine with other topics.

My daughter loves art, for example. I could see her loving a magazine that featured stories of artists, or history of art. Maybe your dd likes to read about astronomy, science, geography, or maybe you work in that field and would like to write an article explaining what you do.

We could have articles about technology, about politics (in a general way, explaining about the upcoming US election, and how they vote), about countries, people and how they live.

I would set up the blog and anyone could submit articles for publication. I would be looking to have two articles a week on set days.

Anyone interested?

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Original poster
MmeLindor. · 08/03/2012 10:45

Will PM you.

Happy International Women's Day everyone.

If you have registered interest and haven't had an email, please give me a kick. I am going back through my emails to check I haven't missed anyone.

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PosiePumblechook · 07/03/2012 09:59

Yes, I'd be interested. Perhaps we could have 'a day in the life of....' girls/women throughout the world. Good role models, diverse experience.

Original poster
MmeLindor. · 07/03/2012 09:16

Wordfactory
That sounds great - would love interviews with teen writers. I will PM you.

I know that content is key, and I think this is why the pre-teen print magazines are so terrible, because they rely on the same old regurgitated content. With our strong team of writers, we can offer vibrant and varied content.

If anyone has a blog, then I will have a badge for you to put on your blog to link to Jump! and we will of course link to your blog/fb/website. Or if we interview you, then we will link to your website if you have one. When you ask to interview people, you can make them aware of the publicity that we will hopefully generate for them.

I thought about small business owners - there is a woman in out town who opened a cafe to fund her husband's time at Uni. I know a lot of women who would like to be their own boss but lack the confidence to just do it. Perhaps we could do an interview with women who started their own businesses when still quite young.

Pre-teens are not going to want to read about "mumpreneurs" but they might find a young dynamic businesswoman inspiring.

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wordfactory · 07/03/2012 08:31

Hi there lindor.
This sounds like a great project.
I have to much going on with my own writing at the mo to commit to anything permenant but would be happy to contribute from time to time. I'm a writer btw. I also know lots of children and teen fiction writers who I could interview for you (especially when they have a new book coming out) or get to do guesties.

I run a few blogs myself (some for profit some for the LOLs as my girl says) and if I can be any help pm me. The main thing you need to consider is content. Blogs it eat up! Traffic stops if there aint loads of new stuff day after day. So it is relentless. I don't want to put you off, just perpare you Grin

Original poster
MmeLindor. · 07/03/2012 00:07

I have written adapted some guidelines that I stole from CamelsHump blog for the contributors. I will send them out to everyone who has offered to contribute. They basically set out the terms - particularly that you retain the ownership of your writing, and that you are free to re-publish elsewhere. The also deal with the matter of payment for contribution - or rather non payment.

I have no idea where this is going, maybe a few people will read it, maybe a few more people. I will not be putting ads on the website, and will not be making money from it. In fact, I have invested a small amount to pay for the domain name etc.

It would be great to think that we could generate enough money to pay for a properly designed website (and to pay for the work that we put into the website) but I think that will be tricky, since the only way to do that is to put ads on it, and I am not sure I want to go down that road. Or to charge users for access and I definitely don't want to go there.

I do want to be totally honest with you all though. If there is a way of making it profitable, then I would do it. If it ever makes money then we will of course then be able to pay for contributions.

Do have a look at the guidelines, and if there is anything that you want clarifying, let me know.

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CovertTwinkle · 06/03/2012 23:13

I haven't read the whole thread - but i am 21 and it wasn't very long ago that i ran my school newspaper and after that was self employed running a magazine for teenagers in the area which covered film, theatre, music and the arts locally. so if there's anything artsy that you would like to feature I may be of use. Smile

Original poster
MmeLindor. · 06/03/2012 23:10

Alice
thanks, that tweaked version is better. Yes, it would be for adults.

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Original poster
MmeLindor. · 06/03/2012 23:07

Actually, Crazygracie put it well.

That is what I am meaning - taking care of your appearance doesn't have to mean looking like a mini 18yo.

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Original poster
MmeLindor. · 06/03/2012 23:05

Alice
I was trying to make it sound not too boring and worthy. And I have a 9 year old DD who is starting to experiment with make up so I know that many girls actually want that.

When I say experiment, I mean that she likes to put nail varnish on and would like to wear make up. She isn't allowed to wear it normally, but I don't forbid her to mess around with it.

When I asked her today to have a look at the GoGirl magazine, this is what she wrote:

Nail It: I think that is quite good cos you can decorate nails.

Heavenly Hair: I think this is quite good cos they give you tips about hairstyles

Super Style Tips: I don't think its very interesting cos first thing, I like to chose my own outfits, if my mum choses something I don't mind, but I don't really like it when comics and things like that tell us what we should wear

Get The Look: I think this is not very interesting cos all they do is tell you what you should wear.

.. what I am trying to say is that it is difficult to get the mixture right. I don't want to say I will never ever do anything about fashion, but it does not have to be pink and glittery, just eg. how to put an outfit together, or how to find your own style. Maybe suggestions for places to buy shops, like markets or second hand shops, or tutorials on how to make stuff, so that you don't have to buy everything from the same stores as the rest of your class.

And you know what, sometimes I like pink and glittery stuff. Just because I don't like the overload of fluff, doesn't mean to say that I want to ban anything girly.

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crazygracieuk · 06/03/2012 21:49

I think that 7-11 (ie. junior school) would be a good age range. (I'd imagine secondary school children to have different interests.)

My 9 year old dd does like pink, cute animals and glitter but we feel that there is no magazine that caters for her. She is very interested in other subjects like world records and gross facts(which seem to only feature in boys mags) and things like funny youtube videos.

I'd prefer the beauty tips to be about hairstyles and the importance of taking care of themselves (brushing teeth, washing grazes etc)rather than makeup. I would be ok with age appropriate fashion tips(eg it will be time to buy summer footwear and costumes soon)

My children enjoy reading the reader submissions pages of magazines and looking at the lego models/art work... submitted.

alicethehorse · 06/03/2012 21:27

Please reassure me you're not really going to do make up / beauty advice for pre-teens? If so I'm going to stop supporting this project, as I think it's totally inappropriate, sorry Sad

LeBOF · 06/03/2012 21:21

It is a great idea. I do agree though, that you should steer clear of pink sparkly stuff in the blurb.

alicethehorse · 06/03/2012 21:19

I've put the fun bit upfront by the way as it was beginning to sound a bit "worthy" (i.e. possibly boring for 8-12 year old!)

It's a nice idea to talk to them about interesting careers, but it's got to be fun and engaging first and foremost (which I'm sure it will be, but that doesn't really come across in the first version of the description IMO.)

PeanutButterChocolate · 06/03/2012 21:18

I haven't read the whole thread so not sure if anyone has mentioned this...my daughter gets a subscription to New Moon Girls which sounds exactly like what you're describing. DD loves it and I'm sure there'd be a huge market for more of this sort of thing.

Totally agree; the newsstand offerings for girls in this age bracket are usually appalling Sad.

alicethehorse · 06/03/2012 21:16

Here's a tweaked version. However this is aimed at adults, surely? Will there be another version for the girls?

Jump Magazine is an online magazine for girls.

Founder and editor, xx started the magazine after becoming frustrated with the available print media in this sector, much of which is a mere advertising vehicle for reality TV celebrities and US teen sit-coms, interspersed with "reviews" of latest console games.

She wanted to provide varied and informative content, and assembled a team of writers with experience in science and technology, history and art, literature and media.

The magazine will encourage and support girls, and send a message that there is more to life that the newest pink and sparkly lip gloss. It will feature fun articles and creative craft ideas, personal and school/career advice, insights into careers that they may not have considered, articles about children around the world and interactive content, some of it written by their peers. We shall feature female role models - not celebrities, but sportswomen, archaeologists, engineers, counsellors and councillors.

NubblesStryverFlintwinch · 06/03/2012 21:10

Fantastic idea. Marking place so I can read later

alicethehorse · 06/03/2012 21:09

If I sound like I'm being critical, it's because i have a little experience in publishing and I want you to succeed!

My criticism is meant wholeheartedly as constructive :)

alicethehorse · 06/03/2012 21:08

Your last line seems to go against the whole premise of the magazine.

I would not be encouraging my DD to read something which said "We know that there is however always time for that pink and sparkly lip gloss, so will also feature fun articles, creative craft ideas and make up and beauty tips, in an age-appropriate way."

Pink and sparkly?!!!

Make up and beauty tips?! Please! There's enough of that crap out there already!

I thought this magazine was supposed to be different! This makes me think it's exactly the opposite of what you said you were going to do in your premise. I would argue there is no such thing as age appropriate beauty advice for pre-teens!

Who is the description aimed at, parents or children by the way?

Original poster
MmeLindor. · 06/03/2012 19:34

Jamais
Thanks, I keep meaning to have a look at that. It is a similar kind of thing, but having Jump! online will make it very different. We can do a lot with different media forms such as video, and we can link to websites.

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jamaisjedors · 06/03/2012 18:44

sounds great (don't have a dd and secretly relieved not to have to deal with the onslaught of PINK!).

Just wanted to point out that a print version of this does kind of exist, here : www.aquila.co.uk/ although I still think an online magazine would be great and reach a wider audience with lower costs.

Original poster
MmeLindor. · 06/03/2012 18:18

Am doing a bit of a blurb/description - any thoughts on this

Jump Magazine is an online magazine for pre-teen girls.

Founder and editor, xx started the magazine after becoming frustrated with the available print media in this sector, much of which is a mere advertising vehicle for reality TV celebrities and US teen sit-coms, interspersed with "reviews" of latest console games.

She wanted to provide varied and informative content, and assembled a team of writers with experience in science and technology, history and art, literature and media.

The magazine will encourage and support young girls, and send a message that there is more to life that the newest pink and sparkly lip gloss. It and will include personal and school/career advice, insights into careers that they may not have considered, articles about children around the world and interactive content, some of it written by their peers. We shall feature female role models - not celebrities, but sportswomen, archaeologists, engineers, counsellors and councillors.

We know that there is however always time for that pink and sparkly lip gloss, so will also feature fun articles, creative craft ideas and make up and beauty tips, in an age-appropriate way.

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Original poster
MmeLindor. · 06/03/2012 17:13

I would try not to write exact ages.

Queen
Nothing against well-written factual article about horses, or a short story about horses. I like horses, and I think that some pre-teens do too. What I dislike are the pseudo horse interest comics that are basically there to sell cheap plastic crap to our kids.

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BenderBendingRodriguez · 06/03/2012 16:45

for years i thought you actually had to be 17 to read Just 17 Blush

MmeL, love the 'fashion through the ages' thing. could also look at changing fashions for men, e.g. manly dandies wearing make up and wigs.

alicethehorse · 06/03/2012 16:07

I would be careful about actually saying it's for 8-12 though.

Remember "Just 17"?

That was aimed at early teens, not 17 year oilds. My friends and I read it in our early teens, particulerly 13 / 14 / 15. No self respecting 17 year old would be seen with it!

Perhaps if your genuine target group is 8-12 you might still want to advertise it as 8-14? Or simply not mention age.

Just a thought.

PineCones · 06/03/2012 15:55

Oh great idea Lapsed!