ANNOUNCEMENT:
WHAT ARE ZINES?
Zines are non-commercial, often handmade or online publications devoted to specialized and often unconventional subject matter. - Merriam-Webster
Pronounced zeen, zines have a rich, diverse history reaching as far back as the 1920s, though some include the "pamphlets" created by Thomas Moore and Martin Luther as the earliest forms of zines since it includes most varietals of small press. The Comet out of Chicago started a long trend of science fiction zines produced in 1930s. Zines culture made a resurgence in the 60s with punk rock and feminism. Self-published in small batches and covering a very broad spectrum, zines have leveled the playing field by providing a platform for people of all races, colors, creeds, genders, disabilities, and financial means.
Pronounced zeen, zines have a rich, diverse history reaching as far back as the 1920s, though some include the "pamphlets" created by Thomas Moore and Martin Luther as the earliest forms of zines since it includes most varietals of small press. The Comet out of Chicago started a long trend of science fiction zines produced in 1930s. Zines culture made a resurgence in the 60s with punk rock and feminism. Self-published in small batches and covering a very broad spectrum, zines have leveled the playing field by providing a platform for people of all races, colors, creeds, genders, disabilities, and financial means.
Zines come in all shapes and sizes. Here in the states, the most common forms I have seen are the half-sheet zines and a one-page zine, but you can experiment with any number of paper folds. A half-sheet zine is literally a folded booklet made from a standard US letter-sized 8.5" x 11" piece of paper. The one-page zine is using the same size only one sheet of paper is the entire zine. You can find my folding tutorial here.
Created by all walks of life, zines can range from whimsical to serious. The famous Hugo Awards even have a "Best Fanzine" category, which is what zines were originally called.
One of my favorite thing about zine fests, which are held in most major cities (see below), is that you can not only sell your zines but trade them at shows. I always take extra copies of my zines with me to shows and conventions and have come home with some fabulous trades. I even follow and support several zine makers (see below) on Patreon. In fact, I send out zines to my own patrons on a regular basis. I love making them!
Mental Floss has a great history of zines article they ran in 2016. The part about Star Trek caught my eye, great story on the power of zine culture!
Now if we could just get an animated Firefly series to happen...
THREE DOLLAR SQUIRREL
Three Dollar Squirrel is a writing zine by writers for writers about the act, art, and process of writing. You can find past issues here.
SOME OF MY FAVORITE ZINE MAKERS
Aside from checking out the zine fests in most major cities around the world, and purchasing mine in my shop or searching on Etsy, these are where I get my some of my favorites from.
Zine-O-Matic is a monthly zine subscription box... !!! I know, right?!,,,that has put me in touch with some fabulous zines. It is more hit than miss, though I do end up with a couple here and there that I pass on.
+ Bodie and his Slowquest zines. (see colletion below)
+ Frannerd aka We Are Nice Humans. I've got all of them and they are some of my most favorites. Fran is also on YouTube but I encourage you to support her on Patreon (first link) and even join in on the illustration club.
+ Conifer Crow who also has the most delicious magpie books.
+ Aijung Kim's Sprouthead shop. She also has an incredible Golden Moth Deck you need to see.
+ RockPaperFox (also my daughter) makes zines now and again. Her mini zines are enthralling. I, of course, have copies of all of them in my collection.
+ I fell in love with FizzleAndBang's Quaran-Zine. Grab the Deluxe if it's in stock.
Katie Haegele has been writing The La-La Theory since 2004.
Zine-O-Matic is a monthly zine subscription box... !!! I know, right?!,,,that has put me in touch with some fabulous zines. It is more hit than miss, though I do end up with a couple here and there that I pass on.
+ Bodie and his Slowquest zines. (see colletion below)
+ Frannerd aka We Are Nice Humans. I've got all of them and they are some of my most favorites. Fran is also on YouTube but I encourage you to support her on Patreon (first link) and even join in on the illustration club.
+ Conifer Crow who also has the most delicious magpie books.
+ Aijung Kim's Sprouthead shop. She also has an incredible Golden Moth Deck you need to see.
+ RockPaperFox (also my daughter) makes zines now and again. Her mini zines are enthralling. I, of course, have copies of all of them in my collection.
+ I fell in love with FizzleAndBang's Quaran-Zine. Grab the Deluxe if it's in stock.
Katie Haegele has been writing The La-La Theory since 2004.
FIND A ZINE FEST NEAR YOU
will be launching Summer 2023 and we are looking for zinesters! If you have a zine, drop us a note here.
If you would like to find a zine fests or small presses near you, take a look at some of these sites (note that I am not affiliated) and rummage around...
Austin Zine Fest has published a list of zine fests around the world.
Broken Pencil
Chicago Zine Fest has a fabulous Zinester Directory that can be found here or on their site.
LA Zine Fest has posted a list of all of their 2020 exhibitors.
Milwaukee Zine Fest has also posted their 2020 vendors list.
Printed Matter, Inc.
San Francisco Zine Fest hosted theirs virtually for 2020.
Stolen Sharpie Revolution posts virtual zine events as well as in person when they are happening.
*Though I love zines and zine culture, I cannot vouch for other zines you may come across while rummaging through the links above. Zines have been created on any and all topics.
If you would like to find a zine fests or small presses near you, take a look at some of these sites (note that I am not affiliated) and rummage around...
Austin Zine Fest has published a list of zine fests around the world.
Broken Pencil
Chicago Zine Fest has a fabulous Zinester Directory that can be found here or on their site.
LA Zine Fest has posted a list of all of their 2020 exhibitors.
Milwaukee Zine Fest has also posted their 2020 vendors list.
Printed Matter, Inc.
San Francisco Zine Fest hosted theirs virtually for 2020.
Stolen Sharpie Revolution posts virtual zine events as well as in person when they are happening.
*Though I love zines and zine culture, I cannot vouch for other zines you may come across while rummaging through the links above. Zines have been created on any and all topics.
ZINE LIBRARIES
Berea College
Brooklyn Art Library
East Falls Zine Reading Room in Philadelphia, PA has more than 14,000 zines to peruse.
Brooklyn Art Library
East Falls Zine Reading Room in Philadelphia, PA has more than 14,000 zines to peruse.
This little zine is available in my shop right now!
EXAMPLES FROM MY PERSONAL ZINE COLLECTION
Photos coming soon.
RENMELEON WORKSHOPS + APPEARANCES
Zine, "What I Carry with Me"
Zines
Small one-page zine
Zine, Moon Rabbit
Kentucky Fried Zine Fest 2018
Kentucky Fried Zine Fest 2018
Kentucky Fried Zine Fest 2018
KFZF 2018, Photo credit: Tabitha DIal
Berea Library Class Aug 2018, Photo credit: Tabitha Dial
Berea Library Class Aug 2018, Photo credit: Tabitha Dial
Wild Fig Books, Sept 2018
Wild Fig Books, Sept 2018
Wild Fig Books, Sept 2018
Herb & Willow, Berea 2016
Herb & Willow, Berea 2016
RockPaperFox, one-page zines
