When we launch the site upgrade, we'll have a few new sections of the site that aren't here now.
One I'm really excited about, is a section called "In Your Own Words," where you users will be able to post your own first-person narratives and your own written pieces on your sexual realities, current affairs pertaining to sexuality and youth issues, the works. To me, this is really important because far more often what any of us read out and about on teen/YA sexuality is ABOUT teens and young adults, but not BY them. I think it's really vital that people be able to hear YOU, from your own lips, talking about your realities.
You'll be able to simply input them into the site, where they'll go into an approval queue for myself and some of our volunteers to read, edit if need be, and publish if they're up-to-par.
As we get closer to re-launch, I'll post some more specific information on this section, but in the meantime, I just wanted to make any of you budding writers or journalists aware of this so that if you're interested, you can start thinking about things you'd like to write on.
-------------------- Heather Corinna, Executive Director & Founder, Scarleteen About Me Get our book! Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Mead Posts: 63256 | From: An island near Seattle | Registered: May 2000
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posted
We're getting closer (around a month away at this point, maybe a little less) to finishing the site upgrade, so I wanted to bump this up again.
I KNOW there are some of you who are such skilled writers, who have such unique perspectives to share, so if you are interested in this, please talk to me about it. I'm looking very much forward to having more young adult first-person work on the main site, where you can get your voice out there.
-------------------- Heather Corinna, Executive Director & Founder, Scarleteen About Me Get our book! Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Mead Posts: 63256 | From: An island near Seattle | Registered: May 2000
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posted
Bumping this again: we'll be rolling out the new site in the next week, so this is becoming more pertinent!
Y'all talk a LOT about how you're not heard, so I'm really hoping you'll take the opportunity.
-------------------- Heather Corinna, Executive Director & Founder, Scarleteen About Me Get our book! Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Mead Posts: 63256 | From: An island near Seattle | Registered: May 2000
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posted
That actually sounds like a really cool idea. I've been wanting to find an outlet for my writings but it's been difficult (especially with my lack of computer knowledge). I'm thinking about this piece I wrote back when I was 15. I wrote it after reading "Hills Like White Elephants" so the style is a little similar to that. It's autobiographical too, so that hopefully makes it easier to relate to. Maybe this is just the push I need to finally start writing again.
-------------------- Listen, strange women lyin' in ponds distributin' swords is no basis for a system of government. Supreme executive power derives from a mandate from the masses, not from some farcical aquatic ceremony.--Monty Python and the Holy Grail Posts: 2726 | From: North America | Registered: Apr 2007
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I would absolutely write up something on being a young parent. What exactly do you want it to be? Like, about the pregnancy, birth, or just parenting? Obviously I only have 9.5 months of experience, but so far lots to say. Posts: 1180 | From: WA | Registered: Apr 2006
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posted
I'd like to write something about age disparate relationships if that's ok... Maybe an account from someone who's been (and is going) through the heartache and pitfalls can help others seriously (re)evaluate things?
-------------------- Vero Scarleteen Volunteer Help sustain sex ed and Scarleteen: donate! Posts: 1345 | From: Canada | Registered: Dec 2005
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Blysse, I personally think that would be freaking awesome. I think users considering the same would love to hear a first-hand account from a peer experiencing the same things who is willing to give a balanced view, not just doom-and-gloom. Posts: 4636 | From: USA/Northern Europe | Registered: Oct 2005
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posted
(And of course, Alice, didn't mean to leave you out! I think you being around the boards themselves is very beneficial, so having you write something up for the main site would be great! You're so counter to the teen-mama-falling-apart stereotype, and I really think that needs to be seen more often! )
Posts: 4636 | From: USA/Northern Europe | Registered: Oct 2005
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posted
No one needs to pick any one thing, just to be clear. This new section will be set up so that any user can submit a first-person piece at any time, so if you have more than one thing you want to write about, you get more than one shot!
So, for instance, Alice, you can write about any of those experiences, or on all of them, in time, if you like.
-------------------- Heather Corinna, Executive Director & Founder, Scarleteen About Me Get our book! Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Mead Posts: 63256 | From: An island near Seattle | Registered: May 2000
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Aww, Lauren.. maybe I just had a super long day but I take that as a really nice compliment. Someone thinks I haven't fallen apart! Thank you!
And thanks Heather, you'll hear from me with some sort of pregnancy/birth/parenting article. That'll be fun to write.
Posts: 1180 | From: WA | Registered: Apr 2006
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posted
(Pssssst, our first of these post-upgrade just got published, so if you're thinking about it -- dive in!)
-------------------- Heather Corinna, Executive Director & Founder, Scarleteen About Me Get our book! Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Mead Posts: 63256 | From: An island near Seattle | Registered: May 2000
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posted
Lauren this is really great: I'll be editing it today.
(On a topic you touched on, it's really crazy how much of the medical establishment either doesn't understand or doesn't present it that even if and when something is psychomatic, that doesn't mean the pain isn't REAL, or that the pain isn't happening. Mind/body connection is not minor, it's vital, and psychosomatic pain IS real pain and IS a real problem.)
-------------------- Heather Corinna, Executive Director & Founder, Scarleteen About Me Get our book! Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Mead Posts: 63256 | From: An island near Seattle | Registered: May 2000
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I love what you've done with it so far, along with the excellent book recommendations and your little note on the side. Thanks, and I can't wait to see it done!
And totally hear you on the psychosomatic pain bit. From what I've seen and heard, medical pros often attach the phrase to imagined pain, which is very different from it being psychosomatic.
(And can I add a shoutout to Joey? I LOVED the "Victim to Survivor" piece.)
Posts: 4636 | From: USA/Northern Europe | Registered: Oct 2005
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-------------------- Heather Corinna, Executive Director & Founder, Scarleteen About Me Get our book! Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Mead Posts: 63256 | From: An island near Seattle | Registered: May 2000
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posted
(Thanks, Lauren, and right back at ya: Your piece is great!)
-------------------- -joey Scarleteen Volunteer
"The question is not who will let me, but who is going to stop me." -Ayn Rand Posts: 8422 | From: Cologne, Germany | Registered: Sep 2005
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posted
Ok. Did it. I just got inspired at 2am, got up and hammered it out. I probably should have waited until morning to reread it and send, considering it's 3:30am now and my brain is oatmeal... but... this is how I roll.
Oh snap, I just thought of something I wanted to add. Hmm, guess I'll either edit or save it for the next one...
(eta: Can't figure out how to get back to the page to edit it! help! I did it before, musta lost it. Gah, forget it. Must go sleep now. I'm waking up to Nolan's shiney happy face in less than a mere 4 hours.)
posted
Alice: looked at this, I think it's great, and I can put it up tonight.
But if you wanted to edit it first, but can't get back to it, you can also just resubmit the version you prefer.
Thanks, gal.
-------------------- Heather Corinna, Executive Director & Founder, Scarleteen About Me Get our book! Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Mead Posts: 63256 | From: An island near Seattle | Registered: May 2000
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Nah, it's okay. The other thing I wanted to talk about would go on for too long, it doesn't really fit, now that I think about it. I'm fine with how it is, now. Besides whatever edits you want to make.
posted
Hey, thank you! I really like the piece a lot, and I love your candor in it. You're a gem, Miz Alice, and I hope you never forget it.
-------------------- Heather Corinna, Executive Director & Founder, Scarleteen About Me Get our book! Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Mead Posts: 63256 | From: An island near Seattle | Registered: May 2000
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-------------------- Heather Corinna, Executive Director & Founder, Scarleteen About Me Get our book! Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Mead Posts: 63256 | From: An island near Seattle | Registered: May 2000
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posted
Oh, poop. Must be a bug in there: I'll take a look today, Alice. So sorry!
-------------------- Heather Corinna, Executive Director & Founder, Scarleteen About Me Get our book! Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Mead Posts: 63256 | From: An island near Seattle | Registered: May 2000
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posted
I'm bumping this up, just because I keep noticing more and more adults talking about teen sexual issues.
Many of whom rarely even talk with teens, especially in a diverse array, but none of whom ARE teens. This has been bugging me mightily.
I know that some of you rely on adults to help (or to solely) fight a lot of these battles for you, or bring them to the forefront, some of you because you're without the agency to do so yourself. Some of you because you feel powerless: but you are not powerless.
ALL of you have places where you CAN speak for yourselves and be read and heard. We have 10K - 30K in readers here a DAY at the site. This is also one on THE lone spots on the web where people come to find out about teen sexuality. When someone puts "sex ed" into Google, this has long been the first or second result in the list. When we get new In Your Own Words segments up and edited, I almost always put them on the front page of the site: it is MAJOR visibility. In other words, I've given you a place to really speak and be heard, and I can't encourage you enough to use it. Until y'all really start making yourselves visible and really seen, things for you are not going to get better per policies and attitudes about your sexuality.
In other words, this is me, kicking your butts to get you heard, in your OWN words and voice. I'm down with speaking for you all the times I'm asked, but I'd so much rather you spoke more for yourselves, and I think it is far, far more powerful than anything I could say FOR you, okay?
-------------------- Heather Corinna, Executive Director & Founder, Scarleteen About Me Get our book! Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Mead Posts: 63256 | From: An island near Seattle | Registered: May 2000
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I was wondering something. If there is already a lot of stories already on the topic we would like to write about, does it matter ? Also, do we have to have great writing skills or satisfy certain criterias for our story to be accepted ?
And one last thing... how about anonymity ? Is stating only the user name suffisant for example ?
posted
Y'all can write with whatever name you prefer to use.
Pieces really should be of a quality that is on par with what gets professionally published, but like anywhere else, we can/will (or I should say *I* can and will) edit your piece to polish it up.
Usually, when we have a lot of pieces on a given topic, it's simply because that topic is very pertinent and an experience many people share. So, shared topics are not a big deal. Obviously, it'd be really great to have things rounded out in terms of what we have, but what I'm most interested in is just getting your voices out there on the issues that matter to you.
But to give you some ideas of some topics we really don't have young adult address on, should any of them be topics relevant to any of you we'd like to write about, here's a rough list:
emergency contraception: getting it, using it, being refused it, etc. birth control: negotiating use, getting access to it, affording it, being advised by doctors about it, etc. being sexually active: from the awful stuff to the good stuff, social conflicts, working it out with a partner, dealing with cultural ideals or norms, etc. transgender issues or other issues about gender roles body image: ow you feel or have felt about your body, how sex throws more issues into the mix (or didn't), dealing with body image and media, the beauty myth, male body image, male or female eating disorders, etc. love and like: just figuring it all out, challenges people who grew up in abuse may face in dealing with love, communication, self-worth and validation issues, etc. dealing with an unplanned pregnancy peer and social pressures about sex dealing with any kind of genital mutilation, including circumcision working out limits and boundaries
And talking about those things can be about you, about working those things out with friends, or more academic thoughts on those kinds of issues.
That's the short list: really, the sky's the limit.
And with that, I'm off to the NARAL youth leadership summit for the day. back later, but anyone should feel free to aks anything they like about this.
-------------------- Heather Corinna, Executive Director & Founder, Scarleteen About Me Get our book! Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Mead Posts: 63256 | From: An island near Seattle | Registered: May 2000
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Can it just be a bit like Joey's story, like about what happened to me ? I just find it might help just sharing and exposing those thoughts and feelings out.
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There are NEVER too many teen survivor stories, in my opinion. I'd love to see it. Posts: 4636 | From: USA/Northern Europe | Registered: Oct 2005
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It's awesome, cool! We'll doctor it up to look nice, do some minor proofreading, and publish it as soon as we can.
(Only one thing: we think it necessary to add a very brief warning at the beginning warning that it might be triggering. It's crucial that assaulted women speak freely, but it might be a bit much for another survivor. Are you all right with that?)
Posts: 4636 | From: USA/Northern Europe | Registered: Oct 2005
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posted
(Yeah I'm totally fine with that. And BTW, just take your time with editing it, there's no rush, I know you are all very busy. All I wanted is making sure you did receive it well. :) )
posted
hey guys, I'd like to write something about my experience of sexism and gender roles both back home in Sri Lanka and where i live now. How does that sound?
Posts: 1320 | Registered: Nov 2007
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posted
Sounds very interesting. You're more than welcome to write a piece. I look forward to reading it
-------------------- Vero Scarleteen Volunteer Help sustain sex ed and Scarleteen: donate! Posts: 1345 | From: Canada | Registered: Dec 2005
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posted
Hey eryn, I did take a look, and I'll try to get back to you this weekend about it.
Overall, I liked it, but it really was two different pieces/topics put in one place, so what I will suggest is picking one of those topics to make the piece about OR doing two pieces, if you get me.
-------------------- Heather Corinna, Executive Director & Founder, Scarleteen About Me Get our book! Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Mead Posts: 63256 | From: An island near Seattle | Registered: May 2000
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posted
I wrote a little something too. Sorry about the couple of spelling mistakes! I swear I did proof-read it before submitting! I know you already have 3 survivor stories up so it's totally ok if you don't use mine.
I noticed the list you made above, Heather. I have quite a long history of body image/eating disorder issues so if you'd like a piece on that, let me know and I'll be happy to write something up.
Posts: 31 | From: Australia | Registered: Jan 2008
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I'll get to looking at both of these with bigger eyes over the next few days and get back to both of you. Thanks again!
-------------------- Heather Corinna, Executive Director & Founder, Scarleteen About Me Get our book! Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Mead Posts: 63256 | From: An island near Seattle | Registered: May 2000
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I wrote about just one topic and resubmitted my piece. I know you guys are busy, so whenever youre ready..... Posts: 1320 | Registered: Nov 2007
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Is In Your Own Words still open for submissions? I have a piece I'd like to send in.
Posts: 7 | From: canada | Registered: Aug 2006
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Absolutely! We'd love to get some new pieces.
-------------------- -joey Scarleteen Volunteer
"The question is not who will let me, but who is going to stop me." -Ayn Rand Posts: 8422 | From: Cologne, Germany | Registered: Sep 2005
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posted
I just wrote and submitted an article/essay about my experience with polyamory, because I haven't seen an article about it on this site--only passing references. I hope it's an enjoyable read for y'all.
-------------------- Julia
The highest result of education is tolerance. -Helen Keller Posts: 50 | From: Halfway down the California coast | Registered: Jul 2009
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-------------------- Heather Corinna, Executive Director & Founder, Scarleteen About Me Get our book! Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing that ever has. - Margaret Mead Posts: 63256 | From: An island near Seattle | Registered: May 2000
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Do the article still get edited and chosen to be published? Is this process different from starting a new topic? I started a topic and it was a link as soon as I clicked ADD TOPIC.
-------------------- ~moonlight
I am ME and that is the only label I need. Posts: 817 | From: Ontario, Canada | Registered: Oct 2009
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