Lollie Barr

Meet Lollie Barr, author of new teen novel, "The Mag Hags". Lollie is an Aistralian jounalist who has written for several magazines including Cosmo, Marie Claire, New Woman, Eve, Zest, Elle and more. She is passionate about inspiring young women to reach their full potential and is a positive role model. Check out what she has to say...

How did you become a writer? (When did you develop the interest? What steps did you take?)

I never really thought about being a writer, although did win a few fiction writing competitions when I was at school. I was in a band in London called Skinny Elvis and I used to write songs and I had to written lots of press releases from my days as a music PR and when I worked at Triple J. Then by sheer chance I got a job as Editorial Co-ordinator on New Woman magazine when I was living in London. It was the more business side of the magazine - doing lots of organising but slowly I was given small bits of writing to do.

Luckily for me, I had people above me who thought I had potential and encouraged me to write more and more. I was soon promoted to writer and kept working my way up the ladder until I became Senior Writer. I left my comfort zone after four years on the mag and became a freelance writer. I was commissioned by practically every women's magazine in London. I came home to Australia nearly three years ago, and continue to write for newspapers and magazines internationally and in Australia.

What interests you about writing for teenage girls?

When I looked on the bookshelves I noticed that everything was fantasy and there wasn't anything really contemporary and up to date. Teenage girls of this generation amaze me. They have more opportunities than any previous generation and they are really making the most of them.

However, they didn't seem to have a voice for their concerns or world view. From my magazine writing days, I knew teenage girls had a lot of issues to face, and remembering back to my own teenage years, I could have done with a novel that inspired me on to greater things.

What advice could you give teen girls about reaching their potential?

Always be open to trying new things, even if you don't think they are you. We get so hemmed in by believing we know what we like and dislike. In my experience, I have found whenever I push myself out of who I think I am, I discover a whole new side of myself. Like rock climbing. I went along thinking I hate it but I found out I loved heights, adrenaline and hanging upside down. Now I'm training to be a trapeze artist! I suddenly discovered a whole new physical dimension to myself that I never knew existed.

There's a minor character in The Mag Hags called Debs (she's one of my faves) who is a chubby couch potato, who finds out that she is amazing at kick boxing!

What was your inspiration for writing "The Mag Hags"?

I was really sick of seeing such negative stereotypes and role models for young women ala Paris, Nicole and Britney. It all seemed so bitchy, shallow and nasty. They're a real reflection of consumerist culture, where by what you looked like and what you buy seemed more important that what you actually did.

I met this young girl who told me she wanted to be like Paris Hilton when she grew up, when I asked why, she said it was because she was famous! I admire people who actually do stuff and have talent rather than because they're rich! I wanted the Mag Hags to reflect the beauty of individuality - of being the best person you can be, not what society tells you should be i.e thin and rich. Kind of doing stuff, not buying stuff.