Muse‘s editor, Elizabeth Preston, sends this notice:
Attention MuseBloggers: Muse needs YOU! The Muserology column is experiencing a critical shortage of submissions. We know a lot of you out there are great writers with interesting stories to tell. Check out www.musemagkids.com/muserology to get ideas, read the guidelines, and submit your own story. What better way is there to spend the end of your summer vacation than writing something that will be published and read by tens of thousands of people? Submit by Friday, August 28 to be considered for the November/December 2009 issue, or anytime after that for 2010 issues.
…And if anyone has any questions, I’ll be here, hanging around the blog!
I would, but I submitted one a few months ago and am fresh out of ideas.
Humm….. I might do one about Scuba Diving…
I have quite a few ideas-I’m an actress who did an acting intensive up in NYC, I did the Annie auditions last year, I could do one about roleplaying online, or the Orlando Fringe Festival (which I was in)!
Anyone have an idea to motivate me into writing, pwease? Because I’m attempting to write a two-page-on-MW-in-size-10-font-RP-entry but can’t motivate myself to get off my lazy but and do it…
Mine was in the January Muse. I don’t really want to do multiple, it would feel like I’m hogging the Muse-space…
I don’t have much to write about because I am lazy and put academics as a priority over after-school activities. The only really interesting thing that I do is orchestra, but I want to wait until we actually win the state competition to write about it.
Cat’s Eye: Yeah, you’re off the hook. But I loved your piece!
AvalonGirl: Those all sound like good ideas! Why do your role-playing, um…games?…require you to write so much?? Two pages in size 10 font is quite a lot.
Enceladus: I, for one, would love to read about scuba diving. I think sea creatures are so cool, but I am way too afraid of holding my breath underwater to ever do it myself.
Sunrunner: What was the subject of the one you sent?
Incidentally, I claim no responsibility for this purple diamond-shaped dude showing up next to my comments.
I had a slightly constipated looking roundish red square.
I could do one about the Adventuress, I guess.
What’s that?
8.1- It’s a schooner in the Puget Sound. I went on a five-day trip earlier this month.
(Although if you want tall ship stories, talk to Midnight Fiddler.)
I could do one about hurricane Katrina… but really I kinda have a boring story. Or maybe about my crazy family?
I could write about band, the day camp I’m going to, trips to Holland, art camp, but I don’t think I could write enough to fill up two pages.
Do you think the stories have to be fiction or Non-Fiction….or maybe either……..(confused face)
Muserology is a nonfiction story about yourself. Do you subscribe to Muse? You can see all the Muserology columns we’ve published so far if you go to http://www.musemagkids.com/muserology. There’s also a page called “Muserology Guidelines” that will help.
Alice: That sounds like a lovely trip!
nolagirl7: Is there such thing as a boring Hurricane Katrina story? I guess if it’s “boring,” that means your house didn’t flood or anything, which is obviously good. But you must have seen some incredible things in the area. As for crazy family stories…have you read any Gerald Durrell? He wrote books about his goofy family (My Family and Other Animals is the first of a trilogy) that I just loved when I was about 14.
SilverLeopard: We can also do a one-page column; it’s just that everyone so far has written something long. A one-page Muserology could be as short as 400 words.
7-…It doesn’t. But I reallyreallyreally want to win the flatsale I’m working on it for, and all my motivation has moved to MuseBlog!
5-Which one was it? Which story, I mean? I can’t find a single one of my Muses, so don’t hold me responsible for that.
Elizabeth, which of the topics do you think I should work on for a Muserology? I’ve been thinking about the Annie auditions, but…I’ll wait until I finish those to write about them, even though I went last year. So I’ll work on that, but otherwise, what topic should I work on?
I could write about the time my family got caught out on a salt marsh in kayaks during a thunderstorm, I suppose… I don’t know if I remember it well enough anymore though.
*ponders topics*
I could write about the writing workshop I did last week, or my trip to New York City two weekends ago…
Hmmm… I could do one about visiting Australia as a Student Ambassador, or maybe about Space Academy. (There’s a lot of literature about the Space Camp programs for younger kids, but the Academy’s a lot different and not as well known.)
That’s a great idea! I’ll think about it… though I can’t think of a topic…
I could write about living on a boat in the winters….but I have awful writers’ block right now. I think I’ll have to submit that some other time, if I decide to write it.
EP, do you want the columns to be stories, as in specific events, or can they be slightly more general? I remember the one by Cat’s Meow about “virtual friendship”. I could try to write one about pipe organ, but there isn’t any one fascinating story in my organ history. I’d be thinking along the lines of my overall experience with the instrument, as well as some basics of how organs work. Would this be an acceptable format? Of course, you seem somewhat desperate for entries, so I would guess you’d be more willing to stretch the format a bit.
I have multiple ideas for a Muserology:
– Urban legends
– The debate over whether there’s a God
– Animal intelligence (Alex the parrot, etc.)
– Supposed UFO sightings
– Supposed ghost sightings
– Supposed psychic powers/ESP
(EP, you may recognize this list.
)
(21) Rainbow: Muserology columns are not general-interest articles by professional writers. They are first-person descriptions of Musers’ hobbies and personal experiences, written by Muse readers themselves.
I suppose I could write about anthropology as it relates to speculative fiction, the Tiptree Award and Wiscon (gender in science fiction), Ancient Egyptian Hieroglyphs, or whatever else I think of. I’m not sure if I’ll have the time though, as next semester starts soon.
(23) Again, oxlin, Muserology is about things you’ve done yourself. If you’ve written an anthropological science-fiction book or worked in the Egyptology section of a museum, then those would be good topics.
See, I took ancient egyptian hieroglyphs last semester. If I’d done fieldwork, anthropology writing would be more interesting. I wasn’t proposing articles I hadn’t done myself. I’m not sure how interesting they’d be, though.
So is Muserology like, personal experience essays? I only have a few issues of the mag.
You can see all the Muserologies we’ve published (the column started in September 2008) on our Web site. See comment 12.1 and also the top of this page.
Good morning! This is a response to Piggy (20) and AvalonGirl (14) and most of the rest of you, too:
Like Robert said, the idea of Muserology is for our readers to share something about themselves. You all do a lot of interesting things, and come from different backgrounds and different parts of the country (or the world). Piggy, I would love to hear about WHY you play the organ; that’s an uncommon instrument to play, and a pretty complicated contraption. You have to be pretty dedicated to play something like that. AvalonGirl, I want to hear about whatever YOU are the most excited about. Imagine you’re talking to a friend you haven’t seen in a long time. Do you want to tell her about how your acting experience in NYC gave you a taste of what your future life as an actress might be like? Or explain to her this role-playing business that’s got you writing so much?
One more thing: you don’t have to have gone on an international trip or survived a natural disaster or competed in the national spelling bee to write a Muserology (although those all would make great material). It can be something that seems like a normal part of your life, but would be unusual to someone else: Do you live in a bilingual household? Live on a farm? Are you homeschooled?
Which of my ideas do you prefer, or do you think i should write about something else? I’ve been meaning to write a Muserology since… erm… *voice gets very small* parent-teacher conferences last year…
I just sortakinda haven’t gotten around to it….
Well don’t feel bad…it’s not a homework assignment! It’s just supposed to be a fun writing contest. Like I said to AvalonGirl, if you want to try entering, you should write about whatever is the most exciting to you, and imagine you’re sharing a story with a friend.
Anyway, my dad will definitely give you an A in his class if you get published. No, just kidding. I don’t think he has a spot for “published Muserology column” in his grading rubric.
Hmm. I guess I’ll try both and send them both in, and you can see whether you like either of them.
26- I used to be homeschooled and live on a farm!
Spooky.
I live in a bilingual household on a farm and am homeschooled.
You also belong to a nontraditional family and are a walking engine of Brazilian destruction.
*cracks up*
That is indeed true. The nontraditional family part, anyway. (For the benefit of EP-my parents are lesbian.) I’m not so sure I’m an engine of destruction…yet, anyway. 
Really? Haha wow!
Thanks, Elizabeth-I’ve decided on my subject, and are going to start writing right now.
Just as a question; is there a specific size and font that Muse uses?
26.1: -voice gets very small- I’ve been meaning to write one ever since I got my first article with a Muserology in it…
Oh, just as a hint, what I’m planning to write is called “Collaborating Who You Are” and is a combination of two of my topics I was thinking about. If I don’t get another good idea-I’ll write two to three Muserologies-that’s the title of mine.
You can type in whatever font, size, and color makes you happy. I usually convert things to Times New Roman while I’m working on them, and then our art and design staff decide what fonts to use in the actual magazine.
Additionally (for everyone’s information!) I edit the Muserologies just like I do any other article or column in the magazine. So you don’t have to worry about making your article perfect; after I pick a Muserology, I work with the author to make the article the best it can be.
O jeez, I’d love to, but… hmmm… I could write one about being an organist. That would be Muse-worthy. Or caring for guinea pigs. Or being the manager of the YA section at our library.
Can we submit more than one? Because my brain is ticking now…
Is there a specific word limit, or amount of words that we should keep it around?
RoseQuartz (30): A two-page Muserology is usually around 800 words, but if you write more we can always trim it down.
Armada (27.1.1): I’m still laughing.
MissSwann (29): Yes, you may send as many entries as you like. I’m glad brains are ticking! Oh, but (spoilerspoilerspoiler) you might want to hold off on the library one for now.
29- Oh, no–competing Muserologies about organ playing? It’s a battle for the ages, folks!
Dueling organists: awesome.
Hey, do you think a Muserology on being Jewish would be cool? Or would one on an obsession of books be more fun to read?
What’s the ideal word count range?
See comment 31.
Ah. I only saw the last line of that post. Thanks!
This is a comment for everybody! Including JJjetplane (33).
Whatever YOU are the most excited to write about will be the best topic for you. Seriously. I know from experience–I write a lot of odds and ends for MUSE, and the pieces I have fun writing always come out the best.
32- Oh, it is AWN. :3 I’m obviously the best candidate for organist muserology, because I’m younger than you. Therefore, less likely to be an organist. Plus, I’m already done writing it and I can’t write about the library.
I submitted mine. It’s about Harry Potter.
Sweet. Who doesn’t love an article involving Harry Potter?
OMG THAT’S ACTUALLY A REALLY GOOD IDEA. TESSERACT THAT WAS MEAN. XD it’s okay. But I am jealous.
Haha, thanks. Sorry for not mentioning it before I wrote it, I kind of came up with the idea while staring at the blank Microsoft Word page.
Unfortunately, I haven’t got anything to write about. I will definitely send something in when I actually think of something to write about.
EP: What’s the policy involving other people? As in, if my Muserology involves interaction with other people, should I give them fictional names, refer to them by their initials, or what?
Well, it doesn’t hurt to give people a heads-up if you’re writing about them. (In Bo’s Page, I sometimes use my friends’ names for fake scientists in the false stories. I make sure it’s okay with them first, and send them a copy of the magazine afterward–and they always get a kick out of it!) On the other hand, if you don’t really know the people or you’re writing something that would be embarrassing to them, it doesn’t hurt to change names (just be sure to say something like “Names have been changed”).
So, first names only, unless they’d rather it be changed?
That sounds fine.
My family is kind of non-traditional. *thinks*
Could I write about MuseBlog? Specifically how MB has affected my life and why I came back to it after over a year away?
I do think that’s an interesting topic–so interesting, in fact, that we already published a Muserology abut it! Cat’s Meow wrote that article (“Virtual Friendship”) and it was published in November/December 2008. You can read or reread it online (follow the link from the original post on this page).
That’s a really good example, though, of how something that might seem like a very normal part of your life (hanging out online) can make an interesting article. “Virtual Friendship” sparked a lot of discussion in the mail and on our website; some people agreed that they had valuable online relationships, while other people found the whole idea offensive.
…this is what happens when I don’t have time to read. Sorry, I should have known there was already an article about it.
I don’t DO anything! I don’t play an instrument, I don’t volunteer, I have never been in a natural disaster, and I’m about as normal as can be!
Well, I mean, I’ve worn a bathrobe and slippers to school… and around the neighborhood… But that was because of Purim! And the mismatched socks (patterned knee socks) are just an eccentricity… And those hats… well, it was Adar…
All right, I’m odd! But that’s nothing to write home about. And how do I write a Muserology for that? “Bizarre is the New Black”? “Sanity is Overrated”?
I could do one on the Jewish month of Adar/the holiday of Purim, and why we dress up, etc. but would anyone want to read it?
Well, now you’ve got ME curious, anyway.
Sanity is Overrated is something I’d definitely want to read. And probably put on the front of one of my binders.
Go for it!
Well, I’m Jewish so I know about it, but I think it would be a very interesting article!
Bizarre is the New Black! Genius! Write it! Or I will have to!
*smiles at the thought of a MuseBlogger considering enself “normal as can be”*
Purim is only part of it. Just being Orthodox Jewish makes you unusual. According to one estimate I’ve found, there are about 600,000 Orthodox Jews in the United States. That’s two-tenths of one percent of the population. The other 99.8% might well find your life much more interesting than you do.
I suppose I could write something about my month sailing. Or playing music. Or doing living history. Eh, I dunno. Mostly I’m lazy.
I’ll think about it.
I think your sailing and living history adventures sound really interesting–I doubt there are many other Muse readers out there who do those things. (Meanwhile, all of you are making me feel like I lead a very uneventful life!)
We all think we live very uneventful lives, until you think. I wouldn’t dream that anything about my life is usual, except that I started thinking.
*my life is unusual.
I might write one about OAC.
I need to think of a title, though.
I finished it, but I can’t send it in until I get permission for the photo I want to be printed. I also can’t think of a title.
Oh, and the submission form doesn’t have italics. Does MB HTML work there, EP?
Hm, you’re right. I don’t know why the submission form doesn’t have any formatting options. I don’t know if HTML will work there, but if you’re concerned about preserving your formatting you can always just submit via email.
Also, I should warn you that sometimes I change people’s titles. But if you have a good idea then go for it, because thinking up titles is HARD.
What’s the address I should send it to, if I do send it via email? That would definitely make things easier for me.
Also, if I send by email, could I send the picture later on? The photographer has to give permission for the photo to be sent, and she hasn’t written back yet. I could probably send it by tomorrow.
mail [at] musemagkids [dot] com. I’m sorry our website is not more user-friendly!
And yes. You can just include a note saying that you have a photo to go with the article.
My life is so boring. I have nothing. (T.T)
Well, I could write about my grandmother in world war two. Although that isn’t necessarily me, but it’s actually pretty interesting. Yesss, I shall go start now… *huhuhu*
Glad to see you again, Presto. It’s weird to see someone adultish that isn’t in italics.
Well it’s nice to “see” you too! And I’d love to hear about your grandmother.
I think italics are reserved for your hardworking blog administrators, and anyway I’m mostly HTML-illiterate.
My life is boring too. I can think of absolutely nothing worth writing about. (T_T)
Write about your week-long kokon with Zinc!
I had planned on writing something for Muserology at some point, so maybe I’ll do that once school starts. I don’t have a super interesting life, but I’m sure I can dredge up a few things to compile into an essay of some sort.
I used to write letters to Muse all the time and never send them. I found a bunch recently. Wow, I’m glad I never sent those.
Can we have the essay published under our username rather than our real name?
That’s a good question (51). You DO have the option of publishing under a pseudonym (false name) or using your first name and last initial, if you don’t want to use your real name in the magazine and/or on our web site.
I would probably prefer something that looks like an actual name to something that looks like an online username, for mostly aesthetic reasons, but we could talk about that.
It’s just that if I DO write about Space Academy under my real name, everybody here will see that the details match up to what I’ve written here and they’ll know what my real name is, which my mother wouldn’t approve of.
Would Kai Y. or Kai C. be okay?
Yes, that would be perfectly fine. (But we in the office WILL have to know your real name, so we can write a contract for you, make sure you get your free copies, etc.)
So I should write my real name on the envelope and stuff, but sign the article with “Kai Y.”?
Sure. Please include your email address, too! (Or you can email your submission.) That makes it much easier for us to contact you.
Okay, I’ll start my Space Academy essay as soon as I get back from this trip.
When can we expect to find out if our articles are being considered for publication?
I’ve been a little disorganized about responding to people’s Muserology submissions, since a lot of things are in a “maybe” pile as opposed to just “yes” or “no.” But as soon as I finalize the Muserology for the next issue, I’ll try to respond to everyone who’s sent something (thank you!).
Yes, I second the question.
Also, if the article doesn’t fit with the Nov/Dec issue or… something (a different one is chosen, etc.), will it be considered for publication in a later issue? In other words, do you keep articles you like and save them for later issues?
Yes, I do hang on to articles I like, even if they don’t have a home in an issue yet.
I finished my submission today! It’s about my obscure branch of photography, and yes, it does have something to do with the toyish camera that is representing me. Now I just have to type the darn thing. *shudders* I cannot read my own writing. Typing it is going to take forever.
SFTDP
I forgot to ask: About how many subscriptions do you receive per month? Is this a rather popular contest, or do few people bother to participate? And how many peoples’ opinions go into deciding? What is involved in this rather mysterious contract that I’m hearing about? I’m just curious to know how the whole process works.
The contract….Let’s see, I don’t remember all the details, it’s been over a year since I signed it, but….Basically it consisted of
signing your soul over to the devilsigning away all your rights to your Muserology article, all couched away in lovely lawyer speak. (I have an aversion to lawyer speak. it confuses me)Okay, well I’d say that “signing your soul over to the devil,” struck through or not, is a little hyperbolic.
The contract gives us the right to print your article in the magazine, to post it on the web site, and to use it in any other ways that might come up, always with the name of the author. For example, anyone who views our sample magazine (which you can get to from our web site) sees the fabulous Muserology about mold.
The reason for the lawyerese is that a Muserologist is treated the same as any adult author in the magazine. But if people (or their parents) have any questions about it, they should always just ask.
(55.1&55.1.1) Okay, thanks!
Oh, I know……’twas intended as a joke.
As for the lawyerese, yes, I understand the reasons behind it, and it makes perfect sense to me that it is used, I’m just not fond of it…..And as for questions, I was pretty sure I understood it, but handed it over to my parents for their translation, before signing.
Out of curiosity, since I don’t have any thoughts at all for another Muserology, what are the rules concerning a “repeat” submission. That is, would you even publish an article by a former Muserologist? Just wondering, in case I should ever again be struck by inspiration. (Although hopefully not another flock of fishy eagles!
)
Luna: Even if you find yourself mired in fishy eagles again (let’s hope not!), I would prefer not to publish the same Muserologist twice. Sorry!
That’s what I figured. I guess it’s a good thing I don’t have an unbearable urge to write another one!
Bubbles: I’m excited to read about your “obscure branch of photography”! In answer to your questions, we do not receive very many submissions for Muserology. Luckily, we’ve received enough to be able to publish something really good every month. But it means your odds are pretty good.
I am considering writing one of these about my experiences fencing epee on the school varsity team/classically with the Society for Creative Anachronism.
I don’t know how much I’m interested in writing it, and how much I’m desperately grasping at any excuse to not do the summer work before school starts in four days.
And I’m afraid that writing about either of those could easily take more than eight hundred words.
Would people be interested in it?
I think creative anachronism would be a very Musey topic! And it’s okay if you just can’t limit yourself to 800 words and need someone else (such as yours truly) to trim your writing down.
27.1.1- Which languages do you speak?
27.1.1.1- And a bad influence *wants to learn carpoeira too now*
I’ll try to write something too… Meh, I’ve got good topics but I’m not sure which one I want to write about. Can I submit several?
Yep.
Elizabeth Preston, I don’t know if you are still checking in on this thread, but I have a few questions. I’ve written a piece I’m considering sending in for the Muserology colum. It’s about Canada an being Canadian. It’s still only in the first draft stage, it needs a lot of editing, but it’s 738 words. Is that too long? The length will probably change as it gets edited, but I’d just like a rough estimate of how long you’d like an article to be. Thanks!
Oh hi! I answered this question a few times already, but: A two-page Muserology is usually about 800 words. If you write more we can trim it down for you. 1200 words might be a bit much, though!
whoops! I just rewrote it and it is 1,200 words.