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?

Also, is there a lower limit to the target audience?

SGM
Yes, that is good. I want to focus on the achievements of the children, not on unreachable sleb lifestyles.

Target audience? What would you say is a pre-teen? I was thinking of my daughter, who is almost 10yo but I think this could be good for ages 8 to 14yo. What do you think?

DD is 11. I would call that a pre-teen. I would say 8-12/13- we cannot be all things to all people so a definite target audience is a must.

hmm...I think the content/level for an 8 year old would/should be different than for a 14 year old?

maybe that band is too wide?

not sure...

ah...xposted with merrylegs

Have emailed. Fantastic idea.

Things like fashion etc don't necessarily need to be excluded - articles on the creative side, the design process, the techniques etc can be interesting and educational whilst avoiding the 'how to look like you're 10 years older than you are' crap. Same with music - articles on songwriting, different instruments etc rather than pop stars' favourite lipgloss or whatnot.

Ok, 8 - 12 then?

Yes, see your point that a 14 yo would not be interested in the same things.

Thanks, EduStudent - yes agree with that.

We can still do make up and fashion, but for pre-teens not mini-adults.

you could also look at different 'style tribes' - goth, crusty, punk - what makes that look in terms of hair/clothes/make up and why people choose to follow it. as a kid i was fascinated by people who cultivated really strong, out-there looks and thought full-on goth girls were the most beautiful creatures ever!

I think that aiming at 9-13/14 is about right. Articles about careers and a general ethos of educational aspiration will have particular resonance for girls who are thinking about GSCE choices in year 9 so it would be good to include young teens. And lots of girls of that age are not particularly interested in fashion, boys or celebs. I was a fat nerdy Georgette Heyer addict one of them!

A touch of the much-and-unfairly-despised Media Studies wouldn't go amiss either. Teaching our girls to deconstruct media messages and recognise marketing ploys can never start to early. Jokey articles about "celebrity" culture would be good. Discussions about why doctors and ambulance drivers who save lives every day are not called "celebs" but the girlfriends of footballers are. And why do they all have to dye their skin and hair, and have fake nails and boobs? That sort of thing!

Haven't read the whole thread - sorry - but has anyone mentioned Aquila magazine? My 11yo ds loves it and seems to tick all the boxes suggested on p1. I think lots of the better magazines for the target audience are subscription based and not easily available in the supermarket.

What a brilliant idea. My writing sucks, but if you want someone to contribute some illustrations to go along with other people's articles and fiction then I would love to join in. Will email now...

Fashion through the ages and how women have suffered to look 'good'- corsets and crinolines - that kind of thing always interested me

Like the media studies idea - I have a contributor in that field who has some ideas.

I am looking to set the website up in the coming days. We should have a few initial articles ready for when we go live, so that people keep clicking.

ILLUSTRATORS AND PHOTOGRAPHERS NEEDED

it needs to be quite a visual medium, so that it doesn't look dry and boring. All posts should have a photo or illustration. This fits well to the theme I have chosen.

We will have FB and buttons, which I know are controversial on here but will be good for target audience. Not sure about twitter - feels like an adult medium - maybe just to promote to the parents.

I think this is an absolutely fantastic idea, and I wish someone had thought of it when I was a kid.

I find it quite sad though that you felt you had to cut out horses/horse riding from your idea as it the only sport (as far as I'm aware) that men and women can compete in, at all levels, on an equal basis i.e. in the same classes and against each other. Even in local shows/competitions. If you're aiming to create a fairer society that values men and women as equals, you're not going to get a better starting point than the equestrian world.

Oh great idea Lapsed!

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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?

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 :)