Zine Things

What is a zine?  According to Zine Wiki, a zine (pronounced "zeen" or like "magazine" without the maga) is "an independently- or self-published booklet, often created by a single person. Zines are customarily created by physically cutting and gluing text and images together onto a master flat for photocopying, but it is also common to produce the master by typing and formatting pages on a computer. The end product is usually folded and stapled."  They are often sold through indie bookstores or online through distributors, or "distros," for pretty low prices, depending on size, content, materials, etc.  Trading with other "zinesters" (people who make zines) is very popular - and frankly is my preference.  I'd rather have a piece of someone else's creativity and life in my hands than $1.  Zines can be about anything - your personal life (called "perzines"), art, creative writing, politics, food, etc.  The sky's the limit and you're in charge!  The vast majority of them come from a punk/DIY perspective and generally speaking tend to be pretty left wing politically.  I can't count the number of anarchist zines I've read, but can't think of a single conservative one.   

My first experience with zines was when I was living in Montana.  I found copies of a few in some bookstore in Missoula, I think, and was intrigued by the idea, but I really didn't indulge in the idea of making one myself until I found a copy of Stolen Sharpie Revolution, an introduction to getting started with zines along with a zillion other handy tips, resources, and suggestions, by Alex Wrekk.  I recommend reading this if you have any interest in the scene!   This inspired me to start making my first zine, lovingly entitled I'm Bitter.  My idea was for it to be a goth-themed (which usually meant shameless stealing of images from Gothic Beauty magazine) perzine, and my first issue was probably pretty terrible.  But it was so satisfying to watch it come together!  I don't remember much of the second issue, but by the third issue, which dealt with my breakup with my ex-fiance and brief stay in a hospital's psychiatric ward, I felt confident enough to send it off to Zine World, a major zine review publication that is distributed all over the world.  And I got a good review!!  Based on that I ended up trading/corresponding with people all over the country and the world, from Australia, Canada, California, you name it.  It really was the coolest feeling. 

I continued working on I'm Bitter through issue 9, but it's been over a year probably since I've done anything with it.  I really should start up again, it's a real art form and tons of fun.  Frankly I'm thinking about just letting this blog's entries pile up for a while, printing them out, and making a zine out of that, since I'm not sure if the moniker I'm Bitter really applies to me any more, even in an ironic sort of way.  If you want to look into obtaining zines or learning more about them, check out Microcosm Publishing (based in Portland, Oregon and Bloomington, Indiana, they're a major indie media distributor and publishing house that also does books, posters, and any other number of snazzy thingies) or perhaps look up Zine World, buy an issue, and go from there!