📚 How to Make a Zine 📚
(and not die in the process)
A quick and beginner-friendly guide on how to get into making zines. This covers:
- Traditional zines
- Fandom zines (commercial and non-commercial)
- Resources
- Tips & Tricks
- Research tips
And more!
See 🧵 for info!
(and not die in the process)
A quick and beginner-friendly guide on how to get into making zines. This covers:
- Traditional zines
- Fandom zines (commercial and non-commercial)
- Resources
- Tips & Tricks
- Research tips
And more!
See 🧵 for info!
So to preface this thread:
Hi! My name is Kiri and I like zines. Most of my experience with them has been in the commercialized fandom "zine" space, so I feel it's really important to teach folks about traditional zine history and how to make their own! (1/3)
Hi! My name is Kiri and I like zines. Most of my experience with them has been in the commercialized fandom "zine" space, so I feel it's really important to teach folks about traditional zine history and how to make their own! (1/3)
(2/3) If you know about zine history, have any tips + tricks to share, or want to contribute resources, feel free to comment on the thread, @, or DM me!
This thread is just a summarized supplementary resource I'm posting here while I make progress on the full written guide and +
This thread is just a summarized supplementary resource I'm posting here while I make progress on the full written guide and +
(3/3) + I'd love to have input from others! Your expertise, feedback, and shared resources are a huge help to me and to anyone looking to make their own zines.
So! Now that the me-talk is over (hooray!!) we can get onto the actual zine stuff!
So! Now that the me-talk is over (hooray!!) we can get onto the actual zine stuff!
📚 What is a Zine? 📚
First off, I'd like to direct everyone to the Fanlore entry on zines and zine history: fanlore.org/wiki/Zine
Zines come in a variety of shapes, sizes, formats, and price-points. Zines, as they were upon their creation, were traditionally free. (1/3)
First off, I'd like to direct everyone to the Fanlore entry on zines and zine history: fanlore.org/wiki/Zine
Zines come in a variety of shapes, sizes, formats, and price-points. Zines, as they were upon their creation, were traditionally free. (1/3)
(2/3) They were made using standard household supplies and materials (and oftentimes a copy machine), making them an easily accessible form of art and self-expression.
Commercialized fanzines are a separate category from traditional zines. They fall into four main categories +
Commercialized fanzines are a separate category from traditional zines. They fall into four main categories +
(3/3) + ─free, pay-for-production, charity, and profit─and many of the large, fancy projects you see online only represent a small subset of what fandom zines can be.
Not all zines (fandom or not) are fancy. Most aren't! Zines are still predominantly informal and hella fun!
Not all zines (fandom or not) are fancy. Most aren't! Zines are still predominantly informal and hella fun!
📚 So What Counts as a Zine? 📚
Anything that counts as a small-print-run booklet can (technically) be a zine!
Zines are really versatile in size, medium, and function. Some are meant to be read, cut up/clipped, personalized, or just enjoyed. The sky's the limit!
Anything that counts as a small-print-run booklet can (technically) be a zine!
Zines are really versatile in size, medium, and function. Some are meant to be read, cut up/clipped, personalized, or just enjoyed. The sky's the limit!
📚 Zine-Making Basics 📚
Zines─whether fandom, independent, political, or otherwise─don't need to be fancy, expensive, have a big following, or even have an entire management team. They can be made by one person alone with whatever materials they have at hand!
(1/6)
Zines─whether fandom, independent, political, or otherwise─don't need to be fancy, expensive, have a big following, or even have an entire management team. They can be made by one person alone with whatever materials they have at hand!
(1/6)
(2/6) So how do you make a zine? Seriously. Where do you even start?
The answer is: research! It may sound sort of ridiculous to say "look it's easy and you can do it at home but do some research first" but this is my best piece of advice for beginners.
The answer is: research! It may sound sort of ridiculous to say "look it's easy and you can do it at home but do some research first" but this is my best piece of advice for beginners.
(3/6) Research is a huge help when you're starting out with making any sort of zine. Seeing what other people made, their process for making it, the materials used, and even finding people to ask for guidance and advice are all great things to find while researching.
(4/6) If you're looking into traditional zines, I encourage you to look for zine-making forums! This may sound old-school, but... that's because it is. Forums and community spaces for zine-making and sharing are one of the best places to get started with classic handmade zines.
(5/6) If you're looking into fandom zines, there are a lot of ways to go about researching for your project.
If you're looking for independent (single-person or very small group) fandom zines, I recommend searching for fanbooks.
If you're looking for independent (single-person or very small group) fandom zines, I recommend searching for fanbooks.
(6/6) If you're looking for team (moderated) fanzines, search by type of zine (free, P4P, charity, profit) along with fandom.
Many zine mods and merch-makers have guides on how to organize, track, and manage fandom zine projects available online!
Many zine mods and merch-makers have guides on how to organize, track, and manage fandom zine projects available online!
One of my personal recommendations by way of fandom zine resources are the ones put together by @/lunachaiart! They're free and include templates, guides, and info on things spanning from finance to sourcing.
lunachai.com/blog/zine-reso…
lunachai.com/blog/zine-reso…
📚 Resources 📚
RESOURCES
Zines can be made for free, physically or digitally, without needing to buy new materials or programs. There are lots of resources out there that make it possible to do this in any financial situation.
(1/6)
RESOURCES
Zines can be made for free, physically or digitally, without needing to buy new materials or programs. There are lots of resources out there that make it possible to do this in any financial situation.
(1/6)
(2/6) Digital Resources:
Canva | Free, online site that is a great beginner resource for layout and graphics. It requires sign-up to use but is free.
PhotoPea | Photoshop's hotter, cooler cousin. No login, no payment, all the function! This is a great option for advanced users!
Canva | Free, online site that is a great beginner resource for layout and graphics. It requires sign-up to use but is free.
PhotoPea | Photoshop's hotter, cooler cousin. No login, no payment, all the function! This is a great option for advanced users!
(3/6) Creative Market | Online shop-hosting site for anything from Adobe presets to zebra stripe textures. All content is paid, but they run a weekly set of 6 free assets! Grab these every week!
Links:
canva.com
photopea.com
creativemarket.com/free-goods
Links:
canva.com
photopea.com
creativemarket.com/free-goods
(4/6) Physical Resources:
Newspapers | Great for clippings and for covering your workspace to prevent damage to whatever you're working on top of!
Magazines | Grab these for free of a couple cents each at any secondhand shop that carries them.
Newspapers | Great for clippings and for covering your workspace to prevent damage to whatever you're working on top of!
Magazines | Grab these for free of a couple cents each at any secondhand shop that carries them.
(5/6) Libraries | Many libraries have copy machines, staplers, and other helpful supplies for making zines. Ask before use!
Physical resources are highly dependent on your area, so take a look at community spaces, online forums, and what's available near you.
Physical resources are highly dependent on your area, so take a look at community spaces, online forums, and what's available near you.
(6/6) FB (yes, that terrible social media site) Marketplace has a lot of listing for fabrics, paper, craft supplies, and office supplies for cheap! I've gotten a lot of fabric for sewing and some materials (like foam for cosplay, nice stationery, etc.) for free too!
Thank you for reading what's up so far! As I progress through writing up the main resource, more tweets will be added to this thread. Once the resource is done, it'll be available as a free-to-download PDF and online GDoc as well!
My own resources are now linked as well! Feel free to comment or message if you have a resource you'd like added to the sheet directory!
Resource Sheet | docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d…
Templates Folder | drive.google.com/drive/folders/…
#zine #zines #anyonecanzine
Resource Sheet | docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d…
Templates Folder | drive.google.com/drive/folders/…
#zine #zines #anyonecanzine
And some samples of filled-out templates:
@GrahaZine's Info Doc | docs.google.com/document/d/14Y…
G'raha Zine's Apps Guide | docs.google.com/document/d/1Fa…
@ZenosZine's Custom Info Doc | drive.google.com/file/d/1tgCxaO…
@GrahaZine's Info Doc | docs.google.com/document/d/14Y…
G'raha Zine's Apps Guide | docs.google.com/document/d/1Fa…
@ZenosZine's Custom Info Doc | drive.google.com/file/d/1tgCxaO…
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