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?

Fantastic idea. Marking place so I can read later

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.

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 .

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.)

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

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

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.

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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

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.

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.

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.

Could I register an interest? I would be up for contributing articles on STEM subjects with an emphasis on home experiments.

Love the idea for this magazine!

I was a total geek who hid copies of science magazines behind borrowed copies of just seventeen when I was at school. I couldn't write but I'd happily be interviewed about work. I'm a Science/Engineering professor. I could also link you up to lots of other women in exciting careers (journalism, arts lecturer, GP). No idea what PM-ing is though!

This is brill!! I would love to contribute if I can. Not sure on what though.....

I could write about policing as a job profile

I can also write about photography, music ....

Love the idea of being gender neutral. I feel it would be wrong to put across the idea that it was only to be read by girls only whoever the target audience was. It kind of makes the divide even bigger iyswim.

I am a mother of 4 girls (blimey, that's me totally outed by now!!) and my dd's are totally fascinated (between them) on Space/geology (!)/ Art/ History/ dinosaurs/ natural historyety. Mostly space. I mean obsessively!

Ooooh I also have a 13 year old dd who is sooooo into poetry. She is one of the cool kids who wouldn't be seen dead admitting she had been banned from FB doing something her mother wanted her to do, but her poetry brings tears to my eyes. Creative writing is a great idea to get the youngsters themselves invilved.

Can you tell I've been on the wine tonight

GeekLove
Would love to have your contribution, do please email me on mme lindor at saltandcaramel dot com

pretends to know what STEM is

Ziptoes
Got your email, thanks.

Effing
Would you email me so I can add you to the list. Thanks

STEM is science Technology Engineering and Maths. Or possibly Medicine. 'Twas SET in my day.

Effing
Definitely interested in kids writing.

Wonder if we could do a poetry competition once we get up and running. Would be great to promote poetry and literature.

I haven't had an email yet