Community blog

[AniaR]

So, I've been thinking about this for a while but I refrained from doing it or bringing it up for fear of stepping on anyone's "fins". And before I go into my idea, I hope the mods will take it in the best way possible ;) hehe not a stepping on fins kinda way!

Anyway, I feel like, there's a lot of people who "represent" the community but aren't actively involved in it. It's something I get a chip in my shoulder about when I read things like the Oceanika statement that upset everyone. I've been thinking for a long time now about starting my own blog that did features similar to the art features I do on deviantART. Just featuring interesting threads going on here every month, interesting online news articles, interviews, art (DA has it's own html for embedding in blogs and still giving credit which is cool ) etc. But then I thought, well, why make it a Raina blog... why not make it a community blog?

What I'd like to do is start a blogger and get it all formatted and pretty like and then start a thread here asking for what people would like to see posted that month. We feature really interesting threads happening that month, perhaps introduce new mers (like a link to their FB page and a little blurb), we include interviews with members of the community (not just professionals mers but active members in the community at all levels!), and I'd like to have guest articles written by people on our forum on topics of interest. I really really want to see a "for the community by the community". I think the mermaid magazines that are coming out are great and really neat to get the word out there about the mermaid lifestyle, but I am also finding them just a "anything about mermaid" kinda thing where Id rather see topics of interest to the community. Like micro-magazine style.

Anyway, I was just gonna go ahead and start doing this... lol but then I realized with mer-politics and all I might step on someone's toes. so I wanted to bring my idea to you all and hear your thoughts on it and what sorta stuff you'd like to see in it. I think it would be another avenue to recruit people to the forum.

So for the first post I'd like to:
-Give a summary and link to mernetwork (if someone felt like drafting up something like that)
-Link to some of the tutorials for making tails
-4 or 5 hot topic threads of interest with brief summaries
-a small feature on a few mermaid/merman pages
-small art feature
-a few links to pop culture references including recent news articles, music, movies, books etc.
-Interview (s)

After reading our threads I'd really like to interview the men of the community on mer stuff and share that. I'd also like to interview some of the new tail makers.

The blog would read similar to how my website is set up with the main page being the "cover" and table of contents! Then each topic would link to it's own page with stuff on it. Like an online magazine or ezine.

Obviously we'd also be linked to mernetwork, carolyn's blog, and other website you think interesting (suggestions people)

I'm getting the ball rolling on it, but the point it I'd like it to be a community venture. I think in order for people to really grasp the vision I have I'd have to set up the first online "issue" by having people submit stuff to me to include and format, but then after people can see it I can set other admins to the blog (anyone with a google account works or blogger) and someone else can take the reins on the next "issue"

Thoughts? Comments? Opinions? Ideas?

[AniaR]

forgot to add: Id like to do a "mer of the month" feature where we nominate and vote on a mer to be featured monthly.

[HBMermaid_Angela]

Sounds fun! If you need any help (I am a teacher of Latin/Greek/Roman History and a surfer/mermaid) I would be happy to!

[Mermaid Sirena]

I think that is an amazing idea! I volunteer to do the design work of it! Fancy banner, spiffy buttons, all that jazz. I would love to see something like that and would be extreamly intersted in participaiting in it.

[New York Mermaid]

Believe it or not thats a great idea.

If you need any help I'd like to help as well- might i make a request, Can there be like a quote of the (day week or month) From the members, it could be about inspiration or advice or other :)

[taom]

I love this idea! I am majoring in English, so writing is really my thing. I'd be happy to donate my skills as well!

[AniaR]

Can there be like a quote of the (day week or month) From the members

Yes, let's do that! :)

Yes you can all help! It's meant to be for the community. My classes end this week so I was going to start drafting out a rough plan on friday. Til then, please post all your ideas here. If something doesn't get used right away we'll still keep our ideas on the thread/forum for future issues too so dont worry about suggesting too many things.

Sirena, I'll PM you once i get it going and give you access, it would totally be great to have banner etc.

[Aquatarian]

I think this is a seriously great idea.
I think it would be a lot more efficient to have a "community blog" like you said, where more people can be on the look out for points of mer interest rather than one blogger who might not hear every mer related bit of news. We can always leave a thread for submissions open in case some bit of news comes by.

I think integrating it with mernetwork would be a great idea if the mods are up for it. A link on the front page would be a great idea linking the blog with the mernetwork and vice versa.

[malinghi]

Sure. Not stepping on my toes. Actually the vbulletin software already has blog functionality built in. Its currently turned off, but if you guys want I could turn it on. If you want to use another blogging platform that's fine too. Either way, its cool.

[AniaR]

I am majoring in English, so writing is really my thing. I'd be happy to donate my skills as well!

Excellent!


Actually the vbulletin software already has blog functionality built in

The only reason I was thinking of blogger is cuz I know it inside and out and was thinking I can tweak it to read like an ezine. But if this is similar and I can achieve this vision I'd love to do it.

I think once I get the first one up and sorta set the level it'll make much more sense too and easier to build off from. It's hard to explain these things because I know what I'm doing in coding but no one taught me so it's not easy for me to actually explain step by step you know?

Malinghi would you be willing to create the summary of mernetwork? I think that's an important piece that needs to come from you or Iona.

[Mermaid Jewel]

It sounds like an amazing idea! I like that it's about the whole community, rather than just the big professional mers that normal articles only cover.

I'd love to help in any way I can as well. :)

[AniaR]

Jewel, I think it would be so cool to do an article about your dancing and how you incorporate that into your mermaid self and under water modelling. You are seriously graceful my dear.

[Spindrift]

I think it's a very ambitious and cool project. I don't see any way in which you might have stepped on fins :)

[happyguava]

Sounds fantastic! Count me in, happy to help any way I can :)

[Azurin Luna]

Cool idea!
I would like to help too, if people give me ideas for like a four panel comic I can make the drawings for that. Or just make a drawing of a mer according to peoples discriptions. All hand drawn and inked, but I rarely use colors so they would all be in grayscales.

[AniaR]

oooh a monthly comic would be fun to add in :D

[merpirate]

I love the idea, I can't do much my self for help, I write poorly and tend to spell words funny (Or type to fast to not move letters around and then don't catch my mistake.) I don't draw worth a damn, I write bad poetry, but who doesn't. I wish I could do something though. All in all though I like the idea.

[Mermaid Jewel]

I'd love to write it, Raina :)

[AniaR]

well Jewel, why dont you start up then? PM it to me, or email me at raina@rainamermaid.com and if you're able include some of your photos. Write however much and however long you'd like on how your dancer side influences your mer side and vice versa and anything else you think would go! :)

[Mermaid Saphira]

I could do a weekly collum like they do in a newspaper...

[Mermaid Shelly]

I think this is a great idea! Let me know if there is anything that I can do to help :)

[AniaR]

you know I'll be bugging you big time lady :P

[AniaR]

Just a heads up I'll be starting to work on this tomorrow afternoon/evening. Really excited to get the ball rolling :) so please be sure to post here things you wanna see included, and email raina@rainamermaid.com your article.

MEN OF MERNETWORK I want to know the following questions if you could please PM them to me:

1) What first attracted you to mermaids?

2) What do you think is different for men in the mer-community as compared to women?

3) How do you feel men are represented and observed in the mer-community?

4) What would you like the female community of mers to know about the male community?

5) Any other thoughts on being a merman?

[AniaR]

You can nominate someone for mer-of-the-month here: http://mernetwork.com/index/showthread.php?1040-Mermaid-of-the-Month&p=8438#post8438

[Mermaid Saphira]

I could do a weekly collum like they do in a newspaper...

[Mermaid Jewel]

I'll start on it as soon as possible :)

If you need photos of anything else, I have some too. I also have about 30lbs of natural seashells and sand dollars that could use some photographing so if you need seashell pictures for design or article purposes...xD

[Mermaid Jewel]

Okay I have this crazy idea that might work with this blog.

I studied broadcast journalism for a long time at my school (part of the broadcast team) and I had to quit this year because it took too much time. I've been wanting to still do some editing and I had this idea of making almost mini-documentaries about the mers in this community. If people are interested, then they could just film themselves answering interview questions or talking and send me the footage with some footage of them to match (like swimming in their tail, performing, making tails, whatever it's about) and I can edit it on my computer and release them. I didn't know what we could do with them other than post them here or use them to advertise MerNetwork but I think these would be neat to put on the blog, if you don't mind running videos on it, Raina. And I don't have to be the only person doing them, if other people with film editing experience want to do it too, that'd be great and we can get many done! And that way a lot of us can be featured in videos without all having to go to one spot and film them.

The major problem I see is the vids being run on the blog being too big or taking up too much space. I'm thinking only like 1 video but I know with some blogs, a video can jam it up. Also, i don't know if the site you use can support it.

Just an idea...what do you think?

[Merman_Ryan]

MEN OF MERNETWORK I want to know the following questions if you could please PM them to me:

1) What first attracted you to mermaids?

Being a hormonal teenager, I started to like mermaids purely because I was attracted to them I didn't know why at first it could have been the tails, the fantastical aspect of it, girls in water, or or it sparked my imagination. I think honestly it was a mixture of things as I got older it was the ability to build on a whole mythos on merfolk that had never been done before and just having mermaids but mermen as well.

2) What do you think is different for men in the mer-community as compared to women?

For me it's less about the Disney or Mermaid Melody version of mers and building on a epic stories similar to Lord of the Rings or Dungeons and Dragons so I take that approach with my role. I try to be the bad ass merman of the forum for some it is hard to except outside of the mer-community or geek culture some guys and even women can't comprehend the thought of a man putting on a tail. While I think it's becoming more common I think it's still hard for many mermen to escape the cuteness and princess stereotypes of mers. I'm also a male fan of the My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic series which that show has produced a new movement called "Bronies" I'm sure if My Little Pony can break the rules about girl shows the mer-community can make mermen more common.

3) How do you feel men are represented and observed in the mer-community?

I think us guys on the boards and forums are more then well respected on the forum. There is always drama but hey thats just life. LOL or least thats my experience.

4) What would you like the female community of mers to know about the male community?

I sincerely think that most of the guys on the forum are well respected, I can't speak for everyone though. I will say my keep my personal politics out of my merman cosplay. Yes my personal politics are radically different from most of the board (I'm a Libertarian) but I keep it out of my merman cosplay. This is because I escape in all my fandoms to get away from the real world, I just want to bring that escapism to others so that they can get away from politics, government and life for a day and just be what they want to be not just a mer but a anime, video game, superhero, or other cosplay.

5) Any other thoughts on being a merman?

If your a guy and nervous about getting a tail,,,,,don't be. If your friends respect you they will still be your friends. Your not gay, feminine, or a wuss (not saying these are bad things just examples of name calling) for putting on a tail. MY merman fandom has made me feel better about myself, helped my loose 25 pounds and allow me to truly live out and escape my only fault is that I wish I could be a merman more often.

[AniaR]

Jewel- we can simply host the video on a mernetwork youtube account :) My youtube account is also approved for videos over 15 minutes so I have no problem hosting it there and then just embedding them in the blog. We can send you clips maybe through something like dropbox (think: online usb)

Ryan- thanks for taking the time man!

[Merman_Ryan]

No problem!

[merpirate]

was I suppose to put it here. I sent it in a pm?

[AniaR]

PMs are fine. Thanks! <3

[AniaR]

HI EVERYONE AN UPDATE

I am starting to make the framework for this so please start sending me pieces if you haven't yet all ready as discussed. Send via PM or send to raina@rainamermaid.com

I AM ALSO TAKING SUGGESTIONS FOR THE COVER IMAGE so please leave your suggestions/permission here! IMAGES MUST BE USED ONLY WITH PERMISSION DO NOT SEND ME RANDOM WEB PICS

[AniaR]

also, I am looking for photos from the mermaid awards that people will give me permission to share in the issue so please email them to me

[MermanJesse]

What about "Mer of The Month"? Use a picture of a Mer from here each month as the cover image?

I nominate myself for December! (Birthday) LOL

[Joy&RaptorsUnrestrained!]

Do you guys still need the male perspective, or is Ryan's (which was great, by the way) enough?

[AniaR]

What about "Mer of The Month"? Use a picture of a Mer from here each month as the cover image?

I nominate myself for December! (Birthday) LOL

We already had the nominations for it open for a week, now the voting for the 3 who were nominated will be up until next Thursday. Whoever wins will get a big feature, a cover shot is a good idea too though.


Do you guys still need the male perspective, or is Ryan's (which was great, by the way) enough?

I actually got 4 submissions for that one, so I already did up the article :)

[Mermaid Sirena]

I really like the idea of a cover shot, makes it even more like a magazine! Whenever you are ready I'll happily start designing things for the website/magazine. If it helps I have experience with making magazines and creating covers :D

[Azurin Luna]

Are we still doing the comic? If so some lines to depict would be nice, so I could make sketches and show them and the most liked one gets worked out in more detail

[AniaR]

Whenever you are ready I'll happily start designing things for the website/magazine. If it helps I have experience with making magazines and creating covers

Yeah Im almost ready, I need a banner for the top and once an image gets picked for the cover I'll send it to you and the headliners! :)


Are we still doing the comic? If so some lines to depict would be nice, so I could make sketches and show them and the most liked one gets worked out in more detail

Totally up to you if you want to go ahead and do that just send it to me when you're done :)

[AniaR]

I am looking for someone to write some humerus mer-styled horoscopes for our first issue! please PM me or contact raina@rainamermaid.com

[Mermaid Sirena]

I just had a thought, what if instead of a blog. We made an actual magazine? I've found two site that are recommended to use.

issuu (http://issuu.com/explore) - which has a very nice magazine layout and allows for page flipping. Over all easy to navigate and ascetically pleasing.

or

magcloud (http://www.magcloud.com/) - not as beautiful or simple or visually appealing as issuu, however it allows for the magazine to be published and sold to all who wish to purchase either a PDF version or a physical copy.

Personally I would rather go with issuu.

[Mermaid Saphira]

^ That sounds like a fun idea!! :)

[AniaR]

it looks really cool but I've all ready done a bunch of things that will have to be completely re-formatted and copy/pasted over and it doesn't look like I can set several admins without having the paid version. I wont say no though, it's intended to be for the community so if people prefer that format to a blog I'll certainly attempt, it just may take a little longer than what Im working on now because of the learning curb :p

[AniaR]

also just from looking it through It I dont think I can insert links that are clickable, videos (youtube), or art inserts (clickable photos/images that take you to the link of the original artist)

[Mermaid Sirena]

That is a good point, hmmm.... Perhaps more research!

[AniaR]

I am testing it out though I dont think it's as simple as they make it look it took me forever to get one document to upload because it needed to be an older doc version :\

[AniaR]

K, I've been messing around with it, if people make everything in word documents, with their pictures already in, everything formatted including hyperlinks, and saved as a windows 93-97 doc version I can upload them into magazine style.

So, here's an example for what I did on blogger:
http://mercommunity.blogspot.com/

and the equivalent on this new site:
http://issuu.com/rainamermaid/docs/mernetwork_men3

They're both just MOCK UPS while I figure out the best way to use it. Obviously the second 1 is an eye sore haha because I havent quite figured out formatting for it. I also forgot a title for the second example and while there's an "edit" button it's only so you can put buttons in.

As far as I can tell it all has to be put together and uploaded at the same time I can't upload multiple documents and put them together. Because the zoom in still doesnt fill the page the article ended up taking up waaay too many pages and I had to have big font to see that it was viewable, and it also made it a page longer than the actual document.

I still think I can figure it out with enough fooling around and watching their tutorials.

So what do we think? Do we prefer the blogger method or the e-magazine?

[Mermaid Sirena]

I have InDesign on my computer and have created a magazine very similar to that style already, I don't think it would to difficult to place all of the elements into there then simply upload it. It would take a little experimenting. And or more research, but I personally much prefer the look of the magazine one to the blog.

[Mermaid Saphira]

Raina- Looking great! Maybe we could do both a blog and a magazine...
I prefer the magazine but Raina has done such a great job so far! :D

[Mermaid Sirena]

Oh yes both versions are excellent! I don't know how any of this would of ever become possible without her. Still vote you should be mer of the month :D

[AniaR]

:P I Prefer doing a magazine style too I think it comes off more professional, we just have to be super aware of citing and having permission for everything we post. I still havent figured out how to do double page spreads, so for now I'll keep collecting articles from everyone and Sirena and I can keep experimenting til we learn the ins and outs! :D

[Mermaid Sirena]

Sounds like a plan :D I'm sure we will be able to figure it so it wont be an issue. For giving credit one thing I found useful was to have the last couple pages listing all credits by page and type so they weren't bogging down the flow of the magazine, while keeping them all neat and organized and making it easy to find for everyone.

Though sense we can do links I'm sure that will help a great deal as my magazine was for print only.

[AniaR]

yeah you can do links if you hotlink them right in the document, but if you're adding them after the fact you have to insert them as an icon

[Mermaid Sirena]

We shall have to see what we can do then :) Oh did you get my e-mail?

[AniaR]

yes :) thanks.

[Mermaid Sirena]

Ok wasn't sure, just wanted to make sure I typed in it right :)

[RêveD'eau]

I would like to contribute but I am not sure how exactly to do that.... :/
I think the mer-humorous horoscopes sounds awesome. I will try to help with that, if no one else has claimed it. I'll work on it tomorrow and send a rough draft to you Raina.

[Mermaid Saphira]

What about fun mermaid style quizzes and crosswords or word searches? :)

[Joy&RaptorsUnrestrained!]

What about a brief column each blog section on different mermaid/merman sightings in history?

[AniaR]

I would like to contribute but I am not sure how exactly to do that.... :/
I think the mer-humorous horoscopes sounds awesome. I will try to help with that, if no one else has claimed it. I'll work on it tomorrow and send a rough draft to you Raina.
Yes please Cyd you go right ahead and do it, we just need to be sure if we use little icons for the horoscopes that we cite where they come from


What about fun mermaid style quizzes and crosswords or word searches?
I had thought about that too but I dont think it'll translate into this format if we use this magazine. Keep in mind it's a e magazine, not a print out, that may be something we put into another issue if we can find a suitable way to format it


What about a brief column each blog section on different mermaid/merman sightings in history?
You could write a whole article about it ;)


Here's what I have so far

Interview with the men of mernetwork-
I've already collected and formatted and gotten permission for photos so I think this article is done and waiting to simply be added into a larger document and formatted prettier

Interview with mermaid models-
I approached some mermaids in an email to see if they could similarly do a panel on modelling with a tail. I've been slowly collecting answers for that so it'll be arranged all pretty like the other one

Mer of the Month
we had nominations and the voting ends tomorrow. Whoever wins gets a feature

Book Review
A review of one of the lesser known mermaid inspired books (I was going to do this)

How to go Pro
A prettied up version of the thread on tips for being a pro mer

Story Feature
I've approached one of the mernetwork authors about an article featuring their mer-story, we have several authors so this could be an on-going thing

DeviantART Feature
feature of art and photos from DeviantART- Ive approached several artists specifically

Mermaid Classes and Camps
All the work for that one has already been done in a thread, so we'll turn that into an article, still need to approach the different people for photo permission use

Various Ads for up-and-coming Tail Makers
full page ads

About Section
One of the first pages will be an info page about the e-zine, including a little photo and blurb of every contributor for each issue

Mernetwork
I've asked Malghni to type up a little blurb about mernetwork, I'll also hyperlink in some interesting threads

Horoscope
Cyd has got this one!

Holiday Feature
a page with the images people are submitting to that thread, and possibly some of the mer secret santa images

World Mermaid Awards
I've asked someone if they could do up an article about the WMAs and give permissions for use of some of their photos. They havent gotten back to me, if they dont I'll ask someone else

Mermaid Shelly's Tail Making Article
Shelly did a really in depth article about Alex Plus and tail making that was intended for the mermaid and mythology magazine and it didn't get used, so we're going to use it, woot!

In the community
Just a two spread photo page of photos from the mernetwork community

AS YOU CAN SEE WE HAVE A LOT. We don't want to over do it, and we want to have material for the next one too. I've approached someone about a cover image too.

The main things right now is getting all these things In and Sirena and I figuring out the format

Once we see how all this stuff looks and fits if we think there's room for more we'll come ask :) but seeing that big list there I think we should cap it for now. This is intended to be for the community, by the community, so if you still have ideas leave them here and if we have room we'll for them we'll put them in if not start stock piling them for the next issue! :)

[Mermaid Sirena]

Looking at that list I'm so excited! I can't wait to get to work on the magazine layout and design and the images! Love love love love love love love love ^-^

[AniaR]

http://i942.photobucket.com/albums/ad266/thefineart/docs.jpg

these are the file types it'll allow us to upload, though when I tried to do .docs I had to go to an older version before it would upload.

[Mermaid Sirena]

PERFECT! It will upload PDFs that makes life about 20 times simpler.

[AniaR]

Then I can forward you the stuff and you can put it in that format? wicked.

[AniaR]

I forgot to add I also have an article coming from Linden! It may take a little bit because she's gotta hear from the photog, so if she doesn't in time we'll save the article for the next one. If it comes in time I may post pone one of the other articles for the next one :)

[Mermaid Saphira]

^ Yea! I love Linden :)

[Mermaid Sirena]

I can make it PDF no problem, half the documents I work with on a daily basis are PDF :D I can't wait to start working on it though There would be a few things to be worked out (just for the visual design aspect of it all).

P.S. Article by Linden = Epic

[AniaR]

yeah! I am still collecting all these things from people. My Christmas vacation starts next week so I am hoping I can spend a good chunk of time during the week getting it all done and down to you :) Im teaching right now so I usually only get to work at night (I just happened to be home sick today)

[Mermaid Saphira]

^ Awww feel better Raina! ^_^
'tis the season right? LOL

[Mermaid Sirena]

I understand until the end of this week I'm engrossed with finals. Being sick is no fun though :( get better! Especially before the holidays :D

[Princess Kae-Leah]

I'd love to contribute some how. Am I not a famous enough mer to be interviewed via email? I also am always eager to talk about my pride and joy, my FictionPress series, "Nerissa Sanderson, The Part-Time Mermaid of Sunshine Valley, CA"

[AniaR]

Ive already approached someone about their story for this issue KL but Id be glad to have you for the next, we have several budding authors on mernetwork now :)

[Azurin Luna]

I made the first sketch of the comic, I hope to be able to send it today.

[AniaR]

WHAT SHALL WE NAME OUR E-ZINE

Give me some suggestions and I'll make a poll, I've asked a certain mermaid from the community about a wicked image they have for the cover, once they get the OK for the photog we can start on that BUT GIVE ME E-ZINE NAME IDEAS

[Mermaid Shelly]

MerWorld maybe? Life Under the Sea perhaps? So excited to see this get launched Raina!! :D

[Azurin Luna]

I used MerZine in the comic for now, but I will change it to the correct name when it's known. And I can't scan it... Evil scanner

[Alveric]

'Flotsam: An Assortment of Finny Goodness'

[Mermaid Sirena]

Tail Flip?

[AniaR]

I love tail flip, cool idea. We'll have to have a vote :)

IN the meantime...

I made a mock magazine using Raina and my own information to give a better idea for how it would work. I am really liking it and think in addition to posting the mer-community one that people should start making their own too! Once we have the community one set up I can add favourites to my "book shelf" so whenever people visit the community one they'll also see the links to all the others!

Despite working my a$$ off on the word document version allllll freaking night, the formatting got completely destroyed when I uploaded: http://issuu.com/rainamermaid/docs/rainamagazine pictures are out of place, text all over the place. Ugh. So this was as a .doc (windows 93-97 version since regular .doc isn't compatible)

SO I converted it to a PDF and re-uploaded to see if that made a difference. http://issuu.com/rainamermaid/docs/rainamagazine2pdf THIS TIME IT WORKED.

So, PDF version is 100% the way to go. We can build it in word as long as we save it when it's all finished as .pdf There's only a few issues: It tiled some of my backgrounds while in the original it wasnt, and despite the font looking big enough in the word document it's still small. All the hyperlinks worked though. Yay!

[AniaR]

Just a little update, I am trying to get all the articles together and polished to send to Sirena for formatting! Dr Seaweed won the first mer of the month poll http://mernetwork.com/index/showthread.php?1073-Mer-of-the-month-pool so we'll be doing a feature on him (he doesnt know yet, LOL) it would really help if anyone who agreed to be part of an article and hasn't been in contact with me would do so please. (except for our story writer, I am working on questions to send you)

Im not confident with the holidays coming up so quickly that this will be out before January, but we're going to start 2012 with a bang. I think all the articles are so relevant to our community and lifestyle and really reflect us.

[Mermaid Shelly]

So excited about this Raina! 2012 is going to be a huge year, I can just feel it :)

[BlueMermaid]

Wow, this is so awesome....My son is a huge fan of this too. Now we watch it together. I have to tell him about Bronies, it will make him so happy to know he's not the only one!
[QUOTE=Merman_Ryan;8451] I'm also a male fan of the My Little Pony: Friendship is Magic series which that show has produced a new movement called "Bronies" I'm sure if My Little Pony can break the rules about girl shows the mer-community can make mermen more common.

[AniaR]

Update time!

Alveric (our story writer for this issue) has just been PMed his interview questions

Dr Seaweed won Mer of the Month, so he's just received his interview questions too!

Jewel, you have questions in your inbox too

Cydney had emailed me mer horoscopes you're all going to love!

We're turning the thread about being a professional mermaid into an article, we've got the men in the community article finished, I believe we've got the cover picked out just waiting for a final confirmation from the photographer who will also have an add.

Merman Jesse, and Shelly, if you and any other tail makers in the community present want to make your own one page add please feel free to do so and email it to me at raina@rainamermaid.com

I interviewed some mermaid models but so far I've only heard back from 1, I may shelf that article idea until we hear back from more or if I think we have enough time, I'll ask for more volunteers.

We're going to put the mermaid classes and camps into an article.

Sirena and I will write an ABOUT section once everything is done

One of our fearless admin will hopefully be sending me their mernetwork summary ;)

Also, we're turning one of Shell's blogposts into an article about tail making :)

THINGS WE STILL NEED IF YOU WANT TO HELP


- SOMEONE TO WRITE UP AN ARTICLE ABOUT THE WMAS
-PHOTOS YOU GIVE US PERMISSION TO POST FROM THE WMA
-COMMUNITY PHOTOS FOR A TWO PAGE SPREAD THAT WILL FEATURE INTERESTING THREADS AND MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY
-Would anyone like to do a feature on a specific charity or organization?
-Im going to do a book review of a lesser known mer book at some point :p
-IF THERE ARE GOING TO BE ANY BIG MER-MEETUPS I'D LIKE TO FEATURE THOSE TOO (so shell, Im looking at you! Haha if you'll let us do a page on your event in March

Also I want to make something clear while I've got the stage, we want this to be by everyone for everyone, but we simply can't fit EVERYTHING in the first issue. Some of you I contacted and you were interested but I havent heard back, or I feel we're not doing you justice so I'd rather save the article for the next issue when we can really give it all :) I dont want to cram everything into one thing so we're all ready collecting things for the next issue. Just email me or PM me or Sirena so we keep you in the files so to speak ;) I dont want anyone to be hurt or offended, this is for everyone and everyone will have equal chance to have a moment in the spotlight! Promise!

[Princess Kae-Leah]

Raina, I would LOVE, LOVE, LOVE to be featured author for the next issue(after Alveric has his turn!). I know I'm no Jane Austen or J.K. Rowling, but I'm very proud of what I've written, and whatever modest success it has had by FictionPress.com standards, what with more than 10,000 hits from 79 countries and territories.

[AniaR]

already the plan KL :) Let me get this one out, then I'll be emailing you!

[Alveric]

Answer one is on its way. Two will come this evening, the rest shortly after.

Alveric

[Alveric]

Finished the rest of the interview and sent it. Hope you like it. If you need more or have any follow up questions, feel free.

Alveric

[AniaR]

THIS TUESDAY IS THE CUT OFF DATE FOR SUBMISSIONS

If you owe us something as we dont receive it we're going to have to cap. We dont want to wait much longer before putting this out :)

[AniaR]

ITS UP http://issuu.com/t_obrecht/docs/tail_flip_issue_1