How To-35: "How to Make a Zine"

How to Make a Zine

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Zines (pronounced 'zeens', shortened from the word 'magazines') are small independent publications. Fun and easy to make, they are a great way to get your points across and make sure the voice of the people is heard.

Steps

1. You should start by folding your rough copy. To make a 12-page (10 pages plus a front and back cover), 8.5' x 5.5' zine. Start out by taking three pieces of regular sized computer paper, fold them in half horizontally, and hold them sideways like a book.
   
2. Next you need to pick your subject(s). It doesn't need to be all on one topic. You can have a different topic on every page if you want. Some popular topics are: Stories, Polls, video game tips, comics, artwork, recipes, fashion tips, sports news, and crosswords.
   
3. Pick a title. A good title is short, to the point, and easy to remember.
   
4. Start looking at the layout. You can do the write ups by hand or on the computer, as long as it all fits on your page size.
   
5. Make your master copy. This will be what you use to make copies from. Everything should be firmly fastened down and the way you want your it to look like.
   
6. Start making copies. The easiest and cheapest way to print up a zine is usually a photocopy machine, so get prepared to become very familiar with how they work. You'll be making 'two-sided copies;' i.e., you're copying both sides of a master sheet onto both sides of a blank sheet.
   
7. Start handing your wonderful creation out!
   

Tips

• Remember that everything you do will end up in black in white unless you invest in color copies which get Very expensive.
  
• Remember to leave margins on the side, top, and bottom of your page so that it looks professional and you can be sure nothing will get cut off.
  
• Alternatively, format your zine in software that can create a landscaped page with two columns, like Microsoft Publisher, and print each copy on your own printer. This will make a cleaner product.
  

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Sources and Citations

• You can get your zine distributed through various zine distros. One of these is a commission based distro, http://www.northwestzineworks.com/ which also has a forum in which you can talk about making zines with other people.
  
• http://www.icantgetpublished.com/
  

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