Della Donna: a webzine for women

It started out as just a dream.  With a love of reading, writing and women's issues, I thought that being the editor of a women's magazine would be the perfect job for me.  But at my age, and at the beginning of a career, how to go about it?  I cannot simply walk into the offices of Ms. and announce that I would like to take over.

I soon realized, however, that the new Web2.0 craze allows for more access to audiences than ever before.  I saw that anyone, regardless of experience, situation or finances, could create content and share it with billions of people worldwide.  We all have voices now.

So I decided to try and put together the magazine I had dreamed up in my head.  It wouldn't be "feminist" or ideological.  It would be open and all-encompassing, so that you could just as easily hear from a Catholic nun as from a stripper.  I wanted the stories of women - all women - to be accessible.  To be read and celebrated.  All too often in this world, women find that they do not have a voice.  They feel that government doesn't hear them, the Church doesn't hear them, their husbands and bosses don't hear them, even their children..  I wanted to provide a place where such women could be heard.

So I created Della Donna: a webzine for women.  It is simple in design and in implementation because I have done it all myself.  I had no money, only a dream and a reservoir of energy to pump into hard work.  I designed the logo, I wrote and edited, and I set out on the World Wide Web in search of talent.

Boy, did I find it.  I can honestly say that in four months worth of issues, I have never published a piece that I, personally, did not find fantastic.  Turns out that women are pretty spectacular, and if I didn't know it before, I sure as hell know it now.

I am excited about the magazine in so many ways.  No, it doesn't sell ad space or bring in any money, and no, I cannot quit my day job for it.  (Perhaps this will come in the future, or perhaps not.)  But I have plans for its development, some of which include interviews with prominent, dare I say "famous"? women and working in some kind of charity event that could actually raise money for important causes like breast cancer research or supporting victims of domestic violence.  There is no end to what can be done with an engaged readership.

As it stands, Della Donna is being read by men and women alike in the United States, in Europe, in African countries, and all over.  Authors, CEOs and leaders of the women's movement have signed on for interviews.  Things are getting exciting, but I can hardly take the credit for it ... why do people read it anyway?  Because the material, material provided by wonderful, capable women, is truly extraordinary.

So far, a few Gather members have agreed to feature their work in Della Donna.  In Issue #4, the one that was just released, Samantha M. shared her poem, "I'm No Princess," and G. Frankovitch shared her painting, "Baby Violets."  More and more Gather members have been in talks with me about getting their work in as well.

I hope that after reading this article and knowing what it is we are working towards, you will become a reader and/or contributor.  To use a cliche, it's for a good cause!  ... Us!

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April D. Boland is a freelance writer and editor.  Originally from New York City, she now resides in Austin, Texas where she enjoys reading, writing, soaking up culture and taking advantage of the beautiful outdoors that she never had back home.  She is the founder and editor-in-chief of Della Donna, a webzine for women for which she heartily accepts submissions.  Her published work can be found at her website, AprilBoland.com, and she blogs about writing at These Words.