Zines are self published, often handmade magazines. Throughout history, pamphlets, zines and folded pieces of paper (sometimes stapled at the middle) have provided guidance for protestors and created a vital space to vent about issues. They have uplifted marginalised voices often overlooked by mainstream media, and enabled people to find communities and a sense of belonging. A hundred years ago, feminists were using them to question why things were the way there were under the patriarchy and more recently, zines hold space for stories and bodies who we don’t see on glossy magazine covers, but whom we definitely should.
As well as their important history in political movements, and bringing together communities such as the sci-fi fanzines of the 1950s or the punk fanzines of 1980s, the process of creating a zine can be incredibly therapeutic. It’s also a satisfying way to bring ideas together in a visual way - which is a lot more accessible than many other art forms! Unlike an art gallery, we don’t usually feel out of place picking up a zine and rifling through its pages. Some have pockets built into them and some are sewn together. Some are made from scrap paper and scrambled thoughts, while others are designed on InDesign and sent to a local printer. We can also discuss them with a circle of friends or read one quietly in the sun by ourselves. The medium itself is incredibly versatile and the best thing about them is that anyone can create one, and that’s what we’re going to do right here.
What you will need:
Mini zine
1 x piece of paper (A4 or A3)
1 x scissors
Pens, pencils or paints – to decorate
1 x glue stick – to aid decoration
If you’d like materials delivered directly through your door, I’ve created Zine Making Kits which have everything you need to make up to five zines, using three different techniques. You can check them out here:
Essentials Kit: https://www.grrrlzinefair.com/product-page/pre-order-zine-making-kit-shipping-june-8th
Kit & Full Tutorial Video: https://www.grrrlzinefair.com/product-page/pre-order-zine-making-kit-tutorial-video
How To Make Your Own Zine With @grrrlzinefair
Step 1:
First off, grab one sheet of A4 or A3 paper. If your paper is A3, it will fold down to A6. If your paper is A4 it will fold down to A7!
This mini zine will give you 8 pages in total, as well as a secret space inside- I find this is good for posters (maybe for your zine launch party!) or a whole other, reversible zine inside !
Step 2:
Fold your paper in half 3 times. As it gets smaller and smaller, the folders can get a little tricky- especially if you’re using card - so my tip is to use a ruler or the flat side of an object to push along your fold. This stops paper cuts too!
Step 3:
Open your paper up so that it’s folded in half just once. E.g if your paper is A4, it will now be A5 size.
First off, grab one sheet of A4 or A3 paper. If your paper is A3, it will fold down to A6. If your paper is A4 it will fold down to A7!
This mini zine will give you 8 pages in total, as well as a secret space inside- I find this is good for posters (maybe for your zine launch party!) or a whole other, reversible zine inside !
Step 2:
Fold your paper in half 3 times. As it gets smaller and smaller, the folders can get a little tricky- especially if you’re using card - so my tip is to use a ruler or the flat side of an object to push along your fold. This stops paper cuts too!
Step 3:
Open your paper up so that it’s folded in half just once. E.g if your paper is A4, it will now be A5 size.
Step 4:
Cut to the middle, on your inside edge. Double check it’s the folded side and not the open side.
You’ll now want to open your paper out, and you’ll see it now has a hole in the middle.
Step 5:
We’re going to fold our paper in half again, but this time horizontally, so you have a long fold. We’re now going to pinch each end of your zine and push the paper together. Your zine will do most of the work and fold in on itself.
Step 6:
You now have your zine ! You’re welcome to neaten up your pages a little, making sure it’s as square as possible. This template is great as you can pop it into a photocopier or scanner to make duplicates – perfect for sending to friends or selling at a zine fair. They’re cheap to produce too.
Cut to the middle, on your inside edge. Double check it’s the folded side and not the open side.
You’ll now want to open your paper out, and you’ll see it now has a hole in the middle.
Step 5:
We’re going to fold our paper in half again, but this time horizontally, so you have a long fold. We’re now going to pinch each end of your zine and push the paper together. Your zine will do most of the work and fold in on itself.
Step 6:
You now have your zine ! You’re welcome to neaten up your pages a little, making sure it’s as square as possible. This template is great as you can pop it into a photocopier or scanner to make duplicates – perfect for sending to friends or selling at a zine fair. They’re cheap to produce too.
Step 7: Decorate !
This is the fun bit. I would recommend cutting and pasting from old magazines and books you no longer use. It’s a great way to recycle content that you might have thrown away. Even adverts with patterns or bright colours can be ripped up and made into an interesting background.
If you have some images you particularly love, then you can always print them out and add them in- or hand write into it. Posca paint pens and glitter pens look great IRL and scanned in.
If you’re stuck for content ideas, have a think about what you’d like to put into the world and who it’s for. Maybe you want to share your top tips for self-care, or perhaps reminisce about the best trips you’ve ever had with your best friend and make a zine for their birthday - the possibilities are endless!
I hope you have a lot of fun making your zine and if you’d like more zine content, events, workshops and inspiration, follow me at @grrrlzinefair and tag #grrrlzinefair so we can see what you’ve made.
This is the fun bit. I would recommend cutting and pasting from old magazines and books you no longer use. It’s a great way to recycle content that you might have thrown away. Even adverts with patterns or bright colours can be ripped up and made into an interesting background.
If you have some images you particularly love, then you can always print them out and add them in- or hand write into it. Posca paint pens and glitter pens look great IRL and scanned in.
If you’re stuck for content ideas, have a think about what you’d like to put into the world and who it’s for. Maybe you want to share your top tips for self-care, or perhaps reminisce about the best trips you’ve ever had with your best friend and make a zine for their birthday - the possibilities are endless!
I hope you have a lot of fun making your zine and if you’d like more zine content, events, workshops and inspiration, follow me at @grrrlzinefair and tag #grrrlzinefair so we can see what you’ve made.
My Top 10 Favourite Zines You Can Support Right Now
1• Hate Zine
Hate zine explore politics and social justice through photography, poetry, art and writing.
Website: https://www.hatezine.co.uk/
Follow: @hatezine
2• FEM ZINE__
FEM ZINE is a creative community and platform which makes radically inclusive and personal media. We aim to support and celebrate creatives from marginalised genders through publishing their work in our books, zines and online content, as well as creating safe spaces through our workshops and events. Run by Mia and Georgia, powered by FEM's network of creatives.
Webstie: https://www.femzinelondon.com/
Follow: @femzinelondon
3• Sister Magazine Issue 11 X The Grief Network
Sister are a bi-annual, independent and feminist publication. Founded in 2012, their focus has always been on female talent, opinion and culture. Sister’s core value is that all issues are women’s issues, and that by providing a platform for them to be discussed, together we will achieve concrete change.
Website: https://www.sistermagazine.co.uk/
Follow: @sister_magazine
4• daikon*
daikon* is a zine by SE and E Asian people of marginalised genders in the diaspora, working towards a wider platform of intersectional solidarity.
Website: https://daikon.co.uk/
Follow: @daikon.zine
5• Oppose Magazine
Oppose is a student produced zine about gentrification. They talk about loving their cities but not how they are being reshaped to disadvantage poorer communities.
Website: https://opposemagazine.bigcartel.com/
Follow: @opposemagazine
6• sweet-thang zine
Sweet-thang celebrates words and art created by black womxn and non-binary black folx.
Website: https://sweetthangzine.bigcartel.com/product/sweet-thang-zine-issue-6
Follow: @sweetthangzine
7• Made By Women Zines
Made By Women celebrates queer, feminist art history, producing affordable and accessible zines. Each issue is illustrated and designed by contemporary women artists. The zines teach you about their life and their work in a way that doesn't require any previous art historical knowledge.
Website: https://www.madebywomen.co.uk/
Follow: @madebywomenzines
8• Hotdog
Hotdog is a poetry magazine feature womxn writers, artists and creatives.
Website: https://hotdogmag.com/
Follow: @hotdogmag
9• CONKER Magazine
Bi-annual independent art magazine. Created by survivors for survivors.
Website: https://conkermagazine.bigcartel.com/
Follow: @conkermagazine
10• Cuntry Living Zine
Cuntry Living is a handmade, risograph printed zine and acts a space to platform voices and issues of those identifying and experiencing oppression as women. “We object to their oppression, subjugation and degradation and unite against it. We are based in Oxford but have totally open submissions as we’re always striving to ask better questions, give better answers and platform new voices. We make space for creativity without fear of judgement or rejection.”
Website: https://www.facebook.com/cun4rylivingzine/
Follow: @cun4rylivingzine
Hate zine explore politics and social justice through photography, poetry, art and writing.
Website: https://www.hatezine.co.uk/
Follow: @hatezine
2• FEM ZINE__
FEM ZINE is a creative community and platform which makes radically inclusive and personal media. We aim to support and celebrate creatives from marginalised genders through publishing their work in our books, zines and online content, as well as creating safe spaces through our workshops and events. Run by Mia and Georgia, powered by FEM's network of creatives.
Webstie: https://www.femzinelondon.com/
Follow: @femzinelondon
3• Sister Magazine Issue 11 X The Grief Network
Sister are a bi-annual, independent and feminist publication. Founded in 2012, their focus has always been on female talent, opinion and culture. Sister’s core value is that all issues are women’s issues, and that by providing a platform for them to be discussed, together we will achieve concrete change.
Website: https://www.sistermagazine.co.uk/
Follow: @sister_magazine
4• daikon*
daikon* is a zine by SE and E Asian people of marginalised genders in the diaspora, working towards a wider platform of intersectional solidarity.
Website: https://daikon.co.uk/
Follow: @daikon.zine
5• Oppose Magazine
Oppose is a student produced zine about gentrification. They talk about loving their cities but not how they are being reshaped to disadvantage poorer communities.
Website: https://opposemagazine.bigcartel.com/
Follow: @opposemagazine
6• sweet-thang zine
Sweet-thang celebrates words and art created by black womxn and non-binary black folx.
Website: https://sweetthangzine.bigcartel.com/product/sweet-thang-zine-issue-6
Follow: @sweetthangzine
7• Made By Women Zines
Made By Women celebrates queer, feminist art history, producing affordable and accessible zines. Each issue is illustrated and designed by contemporary women artists. The zines teach you about their life and their work in a way that doesn't require any previous art historical knowledge.
Website: https://www.madebywomen.co.uk/
Follow: @madebywomenzines
8• Hotdog
Hotdog is a poetry magazine feature womxn writers, artists and creatives.
Website: https://hotdogmag.com/
Follow: @hotdogmag
9• CONKER Magazine
Bi-annual independent art magazine. Created by survivors for survivors.
Website: https://conkermagazine.bigcartel.com/
Follow: @conkermagazine
10• Cuntry Living Zine
Cuntry Living is a handmade, risograph printed zine and acts a space to platform voices and issues of those identifying and experiencing oppression as women. “We object to their oppression, subjugation and degradation and unite against it. We are based in Oxford but have totally open submissions as we’re always striving to ask better questions, give better answers and platform new voices. We make space for creativity without fear of judgement or rejection.”
Website: https://www.facebook.com/cun4rylivingzine/
Follow: @cun4rylivingzine