What a great post! I was super influenced by zines when we started thinking about how Little Free Lit Mag could be formatted to get it into Little Free Libraries, via home printers and anyone contributing it to small shared book boxes. It feels like zines are more connected to the ethos of sharing and widening the writing community, and purposefully veer away from some of the cronyism and elitist thinking that can be a part of the publication journey. Inclusivity and accessibility historically are the common roots chapbooks, litmags and zines share. How lovely that this community is this vibrant in person! Looking forward to joining in person and entering into that community more deeply!
I love this comment and the concept of your Little Free Lit Mag. Have you gotten much feedback from people who found them in Little Free Libraries? I've put a ton of zines in LFL's but I always worry that people won't know what they are and will clear them out (thinking they're ads or something.)
Thank you! <3 We've just published our first issue, and I'm trying to give as many curators as possible a heads up via Facebook groups that are for LFL managers (not sure how to reach the ones who don't register so far!)
Zine fests are now on my radar. From reading this column I discovered there was one right here in Asheville this past September I didn't know about: AVL Zine Fest
A celebration of zines, comix, small press, and artists books.
SEPTEMBER 21 + 22, 2024!
Asheville, North Carolina
And I'm plugged into the writing community here, but obviously not strongly enough. Next year. I think it'd be fun. Thanks for posting.
That makes my day to hear, Polly! I'm adding AVL Zine Fest to my radar now too. I'd love to hear how that goes for you.... consider bringing some fresh zines, comix, etc., to trade with artists or people you meet!
This is such a great essay on zine festivals — on tabling and selling your creations and the overall atmosphere of a fest, as well as a great primer on what zines are and the vital role they play in the literary/comics scene. So many writers (and I include myself in this lot) get their start by publishing a zine, and get to cut their teeth on putting their work out in the world. And by participating in a zine fest, you get to speak to your work — up close and personal — with potential readers. Both a nerve-wracking AND empowering experience. Thank you Allie Rigby for documenting and sharing your recent tabling experience, and thanks to Lit Mag News for putting a spotlight on zines.
Thank YOU Jeff! That photo of you at the "anarchist zine fest" back in the '80s captures the essence. And thank you for helping me get this idea off the ground too.
Takes me back! I started writing as a zinester in the 1990's after being given a copy of the legendary review zine Factsheet 5. I manned tables at more than a few zinefests and events in the 2000's. Zines are authentic culture, authentic literature-- have been since at least the 1700's. (Thomas Paine was a zine writer and publisher, after all.) Something more real, more genuine, than culture imposed from on high by conglomerates or governments.
That's the feeling, anyway, I've always had at a zine show, reading, or convention. The variety of colorful displays and quirky presentations enter your mind and stay with you. I still dream about them. . . .
I feel nostalgic for the 1990's zine scene (even though I was too young to have even known about it...). I appreciate your note here–"zines are authentic culture, authentic literature." I feel that way about them too; perhaps there's a zine festival in your new future?
I really want to get to a zine festival! I've done Canzine online and shoehorned my zines into a Maker Faire, but it would be so cool to experience an in-person zine event.
It was because of Covid--it was cool, they had this artsy map that you could browse to sort of mimic an in-person experience. I did make (for me haha) quite a few sales.
The section on what Zines are and their history as a medium would have been much more reader friendly if it were placed much earlier in this piece. I am familiar with the word "zine" but had a different understanding of it, and I'm guessing that many readers of Lit Mag News were not familiar with the word at all.
I would love to learn more about how you taught that lesson, Matt! As an educator as well, I'm always floored by the creativity students bring to lessons.
I kept things very simple and began the lesson with a short introduction to zine making and handed out examples from other students. I impressed the point that the zine should be about a passion of theirs and got them to plan it out -- text and layout. Once everyone was ready to create, I guided them in the folding of the paper then handed out lots of collage cut-outs for them to use in their designs. I would then just move around and facilitate.
The key is to get them thinking about things they care about and the lesson zips by with full engagement. Here is pdf of a zine about ghosts.
This is amazing! I like this student-centered approaching to "get them thinking about things THEY care about." I may try this next time I'm visiting a classroom... thank you, Matt.
Also, I appreciate the nonchalance in your ghost zine, with lines like, "After that he will eat you."
What a great post! I was super influenced by zines when we started thinking about how Little Free Lit Mag could be formatted to get it into Little Free Libraries, via home printers and anyone contributing it to small shared book boxes. It feels like zines are more connected to the ethos of sharing and widening the writing community, and purposefully veer away from some of the cronyism and elitist thinking that can be a part of the publication journey. Inclusivity and accessibility historically are the common roots chapbooks, litmags and zines share. How lovely that this community is this vibrant in person! Looking forward to joining in person and entering into that community more deeply!
I love this comment and the concept of your Little Free Lit Mag. Have you gotten much feedback from people who found them in Little Free Libraries? I've put a ton of zines in LFL's but I always worry that people won't know what they are and will clear them out (thinking they're ads or something.)
Thank you! <3 We've just published our first issue, and I'm trying to give as many curators as possible a heads up via Facebook groups that are for LFL managers (not sure how to reach the ones who don't register so far!)
Here are a couple of links about their shared history:
https://bookriot.com/history-of-zines/
https://digitalcollections.poetshouse.org/digital-collection/chapbook-collection/mimeo-revolution
So appreciate your link between zines and chapbooks–thank you, Sarah!
Zine fests are now on my radar. From reading this column I discovered there was one right here in Asheville this past September I didn't know about: AVL Zine Fest
A celebration of zines, comix, small press, and artists books.
SEPTEMBER 21 + 22, 2024!
Asheville, North Carolina
And I'm plugged into the writing community here, but obviously not strongly enough. Next year. I think it'd be fun. Thanks for posting.
That makes my day to hear, Polly! I'm adding AVL Zine Fest to my radar now too. I'd love to hear how that goes for you.... consider bringing some fresh zines, comix, etc., to trade with artists or people you meet!
This is such a great essay on zine festivals — on tabling and selling your creations and the overall atmosphere of a fest, as well as a great primer on what zines are and the vital role they play in the literary/comics scene. So many writers (and I include myself in this lot) get their start by publishing a zine, and get to cut their teeth on putting their work out in the world. And by participating in a zine fest, you get to speak to your work — up close and personal — with potential readers. Both a nerve-wracking AND empowering experience. Thank you Allie Rigby for documenting and sharing your recent tabling experience, and thanks to Lit Mag News for putting a spotlight on zines.
Thank YOU Jeff! That photo of you at the "anarchist zine fest" back in the '80s captures the essence. And thank you for helping me get this idea off the ground too.
Takes me back! I started writing as a zinester in the 1990's after being given a copy of the legendary review zine Factsheet 5. I manned tables at more than a few zinefests and events in the 2000's. Zines are authentic culture, authentic literature-- have been since at least the 1700's. (Thomas Paine was a zine writer and publisher, after all.) Something more real, more genuine, than culture imposed from on high by conglomerates or governments.
That's the feeling, anyway, I've always had at a zine show, reading, or convention. The variety of colorful displays and quirky presentations enter your mind and stay with you. I still dream about them. . . .
I feel nostalgic for the 1990's zine scene (even though I was too young to have even known about it...). I appreciate your note here–"zines are authentic culture, authentic literature." I feel that way about them too; perhaps there's a zine festival in your new future?
I really want to get to a zine festival! I've done Canzine online and shoehorned my zines into a Maker Faire, but it would be so cool to experience an in-person zine event.
How was Canzine online?!
It was because of Covid--it was cool, they had this artsy map that you could browse to sort of mimic an in-person experience. I did make (for me haha) quite a few sales.
That’s amazing! It also makes these events accessible to folks around the world… I’m glad it was a success, socially, and for sales of your zines too!
Also, I live far away so it was nice to have that opportunity.
An editorial suggestion:
The section on what Zines are and their history as a medium would have been much more reader friendly if it were placed much earlier in this piece. I am familiar with the word "zine" but had a different understanding of it, and I'm guessing that many readers of Lit Mag News were not familiar with the word at all.
With that said, thank you for clueing us in.
Hi Marcia, I hear you. Fair point! Thanks for letting me know.
Shout-out to Quimby's in Chicago
The best! Dropping the link here for curious readers: https://www.quimbys.com
It's a super cool shop & I've made a point of stopping by every time I visit Chi.
Oh man, I've been wanting to go to Chicago and now here's another reason!
I used to run a zine-making lessson for ESL students and I was always amazed by the creativity and expression of ideas that came up.
By far my favourite lesson to teach.
I would love to learn more about how you taught that lesson, Matt! As an educator as well, I'm always floored by the creativity students bring to lessons.
I kept things very simple and began the lesson with a short introduction to zine making and handed out examples from other students. I impressed the point that the zine should be about a passion of theirs and got them to plan it out -- text and layout. Once everyone was ready to create, I guided them in the folding of the paper then handed out lots of collage cut-outs for them to use in their designs. I would then just move around and facilitate.
The key is to get them thinking about things they care about and the lesson zips by with full engagement. Here is pdf of a zine about ghosts.
https://drive.google.com/file/d/1X4N_wphzR6drE47aLVKEwSAGWQ_h_sap/view?usp=share_link
Edit: I have lots of lesson material if you ever need it.
This is amazing! I like this student-centered approaching to "get them thinking about things THEY care about." I may try this next time I'm visiting a classroom... thank you, Matt.
Also, I appreciate the nonchalance in your ghost zine, with lines like, "After that he will eat you."
You are very welcome. For second language learners it helped create a low stakes learning environment to practice English.
Let me know if you’d like any material and I’ll share a Google folder with you.