Who are we?

We’ve got day jobs but want space to think, daydream and grow. There are eleven of us. We’re all women, Millennials, and we work in a variety of fields including law, business, marcomms, arts, policy, academia, etc. We’re based in various locations including London, New York, Geneva and San Francisco.

Founders: Ahalya, Buffy,  Jia Jia, Joy, Monica, MQ, River, Serena, Stephanie, Tina,  Zhu

What are we trying to do?

We want to foster thoughtful conversations around some of the underlying issues of contemporary life. And we want to do it in an organic way, not restricted by classic media categories (News, Lifestyle, Fashion, Entertainment, Food etc.) or formats.

Issues can be big or small, serious or light-hearted. For example, Do we have to pursue “passions” to be happy? What are the power dynamics that shape our perceptions of beauty? What do we want to see in the new Star Wars films? And what is the etiquette of sharing an armrest when you’re on a plane?

We seek to present content in ways that reflect the fluidity of how thoughts and conversations actually form. Formats vary and facts mix with emotions and imagination. Whether the final output is a series of conversations, an article, a poem or a cartoon, we always think of it as work-in-progress. Because we’re providing thought-starters that we hope will trigger others to join in and extend the conversation.

Ultimately, we strive to create a more open and constructive culture for sharing ideas and perspectives. One that is focused not on proving who’s right or who’s wrong, but on gaining a deeper understanding—of any given situation and of each other—by appreciating nuance and diverse points of view.

What is our process?

We take inspiration from various sources—incidents from daily life, articles and videos, the news, art and entertainment…sheer whim—and work through pieces in groups, and sometimes as individuals.

Often, ideas are first explored through shared email threads before being distilled into a final format. Sometimes we tackle issues and emotions directly; at other times, we find that creative forms like poetry and fiction provide more room for exploration. Often we can’t decide on a strong point of view, in which case we play out our thoughts as a conversation with multiple voices. From time to time, we want to capture an observation or impression before it escapes.

Who are our readers?

We don’t want to put you in a box. That said, we’re going to try—a little—so you get an idea of the kind of person whom we think would enjoy our conversations.

You like exploring ideas and connections and don’t believe that life can be neatly categorized, either in how you live it or the ways in which it’s written and talked about. That’s why you like Buzzfeed as much as you do The New Yorker, get as excited about Star Wars as you do ballet, and consume fan fic and Pulitzer prize-winners in equal measures.

Are we just for women?

Our founding group is all female but we don’t believe that everything you do is defined by your gender. Our writings are informed by our life experiences as individuals and as women. Cultural identity, covert warfare, sci-fi, Jane Austen, etc.—all are equally up our alley. Some pieces might have a stronger female orientation, others might not.

Can I contribute?

We would love this. You can:

  1. Comment on articles on our website, via Facebook and Twitter.
  2. Share articles and spread the word.
  3. Submit ideas for articles/pieces for publication. If you’d like to submit, just write down your idea in a single paragraph (200 or so words) or capture it in a single image/diagram/cartoon strip and email to submissions@11andmore.com. Ideas can be for pieces in any medium or genre.

After all, having conversations just among the eleven of us can only be so much fun. Your voice is why we’re called “11 and more”. The more perspectives, the richer the experience. Come join in the conversation in whatever way works for you.