THIS.
The number one reason you should be creating a zine is because of the above quote. Making something with your hands, using your creativity and your brain, plus speaking your mind and putting it out there in physical form helps create your own world.
I grew up on punk rock zines, which then led to Riot Grrrl zines.
I would pour over the Riot Grrrl ones – political, confidence building, badass, and sometimes angry – I identified and still identify with their messages.
The Riot Grrrl Revolution saved teenage me.
Kim Boekbinder and I got together:
broke out the Poloroid camera,
glue sticks,
tape,
scissors
and magazines
and started a revolution on her floor this week.
Today is the last day you can snag our homemade zine – it won’t be available after today – so go check it out. And even if it’s not your thing, we made a song/spell to go with it for you to download free. Happy Holidays!
And while I’m excited we got our zine out to the world, I KNOW there’s a zine in you, too. So let’s dig that up, shall we?
Here’s how!
Step 1: THEME: Decide on a Theme or a Specific Message for your Zine.
Kim and I decided that we’d do a New Year 2015 takeover for our zine theme. We included stories, art, tips and tricks to help our readers rock out 2015.
What would your theme be?
What causes are important to you to talk about and share with others?
Step 2: COLLECT: Start Collecting Pictures to Collage and Create Art.
You can do this by cutting out photos from magazines, and also by putting whatever you’re looking for into google search images and printing, then cutting them out.
Step 3: TYPE IT OUT.
What do you want to say?
Here’s the part where you get to unleash on the keyboard. Write uncensored. Print it out. Got an old-school typewriter to bang this out on? Even better.
Step 4: MAKE YOUR MARK.
Have a friend take Poloroids of you in your environment – making your zine. Your readers will be able to connect to you and your words if they can also see you. It makes it more personal and captures that moment in time.
Step 5: ASSEMBLE.
Once you cut out all your images and words – grab a blank page and lay it all out to try different design styles. Once you’ve arranged it all to look how you want it….glue stick those guys down!
Step 6: ADD YOUR OWN TOUCHES.
On our zine, I doodled in the margins of pictures, drew hearts and stars, wrote additional things in my own handwriting. Your zine is a part of you. This is a fun time to additionally make your mark and make it personal.
Step 7: PRINT FOR THE MASSES!
No matter where you live – there is some dusty print shop with and old copy machine somewhere. Copy, staple and send out to all.
Step 8: ROCK YOUR OWN REVOLUTION.
Promote your zine, hit up local record stores to carry it, put it all over social media and make a few extra copies to slip in your local indie bookstore or library.
Your words, writing and art are power.
Do you have a your own zine or thinking of starting one?
Share in the comments!
