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

[MmeLindor.]

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?

[LRDtheFeministDragon]

Lovely to see this thread again.

[LEMisdisappointed]

Whats wrong with horses?

[MmeLindor.]

LEM
We did a whole series of Stories from the Stables. They were really popular dammit

sassh
I really wanted to do a series of articles where we sent girls from the major religions of UK to each other's places of worship and homes to explore the differences, and the similarities. Including atheist. I haven't been able to do it yet, but if I can find girls (or boys) willing to take part, I will.

I am also in contact with Writers of Color on Twitter, in the hope that we can have more articles on diversity.

Ledkr
If you are interested, would you email me (or have you already? Haven't checked my emails yet)

[LEMisdisappointed]

I actually dont like the way they girlify horses. Its takes strength and guts to ride and be around horses. Its messy and hard work so it always irritates me woth the whole girly image.

[Takver]

A bit OT, but I love the fact that the stables where dd rides is a place full of strong athletic women & girls with a few young men as the minority.

The woman who owns & runs the stables is a great role model for any young woman - she organises driving weekends bringing people together from all over the country, is 'master' of the local hunt (not sure what she is actually called in practice but YKWIM), and runs a very successful business despite the vagaries of the tourist industry.

[MmeLindor.]

LEM/Takver
I have never been a horse rider, so wouldn't know that, but it makes perfect sense.

Don't worry about going OT, because whenever I have a conversation like this, I am storing it in the back of my mind as a future topic for a series of articles. Something on the reality of horse riding would be great.

Am hoping to do something on sport in the run up to the Commonwealth Games, perhaps a kind of a Games Diary, with entries from the athletes - if I can find a few who would be willing to submit articles.

[Me2Me2]

I'll contribute! I could write little pieces on places of interest (old and new) around the world.
Or the Middle East (my area of expertise)

And what about something creative? I'd love to create a feisty little girl feminist character, who challenges stereotypes and assumptions as she goes about her business. It could be really fun

[LEMisdisappointed]

A horse weighs about half a ton, is strong and a bit stupid, willful and often stubborn. Yet people get on their backs and work in harmony with the animal to perform in top level sports as well as a peaceful stroll around country lanes and the local gymknana. They are expensive, need caring for in all weathers. People are injured and killed in equestrian sports - it is listed in insurance policies as a high risk sport. There is nothing girly and princessy around it. What does get my gall is that, like many things, the proportion of male/female changes as you go higher up the ladder. Maybe that would be a good angle for an article? Why, when the majority of children and hobby riders are girls/women are the majority of people at the top of the sport men? I don't ride anymore, can't afford it (and am a wuss in my old age) but my DD does and it is mostly girls in her lessons. I think there is one lad in the entire stables. So it is clearly portrayed as a girly sport - my DP used to ride with me and he was unusual.

[MmeLindor.]

Me
An adventurous girl like Kit, you mean?

Kit is our Jump! Mag girl, and will be going on expeditions to the Amazon and Atlantis, jumping out of airplanes and doing all sorts of exciting stuff. She will also be featuring in weekly cartoon strips.

The teaching missions are accompanied by teaching guides for schools and homeschoolers, and activities for preteens to work through independently.

LEM
that is really interesting. My kids did a few months of horse riding, and when I think about it, there were very few boys but at the later competitions many more men. Do boys start later?

[Me2Me2]

Oh, right, ha ha. I'm a bit slow. Just seen the thread started some time ago. Kit sounds brill. I'd like to be a preteen girl with itchy feet again. Good work

[MmeLindor.]

Me
If you'd like to write an article, do get in touch. Middle East sound really interesting.

[wokeupwithasmile]

Marking place.
I could write about East Asia in general and Japanese female trailblazers in history in particular if that sounds good.
Perhaps (someone might have already mentioned this?) a section on travel would be good too, with photographs, links to interesting websites about foreign places, maybe foreign recipes?

[wokeupwithasmile]

Sorry, just realised it's an old thread. Silly me.

[MmeLindor.]

Wokeup
Sorry about the confusion. I'm looking for (paid) writers, so if you are interested in contributing, do get in touch.

[ShirakawaKaede]

Lynn, this is a wonderful idea! Would be good to have an article or two on the amazing things that girls around the world have done, such as these: therealsgm.blogspot.co.uk/2013/10/international-day-of-girl-we-need-to.html

Including some Science would be great, as sadly a lot of girls still see it as a boys' thing. I Fucking Love Science is good, easy to understand without a Sci. background (and run by a woman) so is a good jumping-off point.

I'd love to write a Science column!

[MmeLindor]

We will certainly have lots of science (it's me, but can't be bothered to namechange on phone and since I'm already 'known', I don't care)

Would love to do more art (and I love Louise's blog) if I can find someone to contribute on regular basis.

If you'd be interested in doing a science column, let me know. Editor @ jumpmag . co.uk

I'm away till Sunday so might not reply right away.