zines!

[holli]

So DC Zinefest is coming up in July, and that's got me thinking about fanzines. I got started today on my own zine for this year, which is going to be about my life in fandom, but I would love it if I wasn't the only one there with fannish stuff.

I don't think the traditional giant-bound-volume-of-fic fanzine is a good fit for the DIY culture of the zinefest, but there's definitely an alternative. I was really impressed by the Adventures of Pete and Pete zine some people put together via Tumblr last year, and I think that's a good model for making fannish zines in a DIY context. There's got to be an audience for single-fandom or multifannish themed zines containing meta, fanart, and short fic, right? Putting together, say, an eight- or ten-page Doctor Who zine, given the collective output of Doctor Who fandom, shouldn't be an insurmountable challenge.

Is anyone else interested in trying to make fannish zines DIY-style? I would be SO HAPPY if I could show up at Zinefest this year with even a quarter-table's worth of fanzines, and I think there'd be an audience for them-- most people I know in that community are pretty nerdy about *something*.

eta: If you have an idea for a zine or know someone who might be interested in contributing to one, please let me know! Signal-boosting also appreciated. I've set up a comm at diyfanzines.

Comments

[crantz]

That sounds fun! I'd be up for it

[holli]

Awesome! Do you have any ideas for specific projects you'd like to be a part of? I have a million ideas for zines I wish existed, but knowing what other people want to see/do/participate in will help me narrow it down.

[crantz]

I'm primarily a writer (I can do fic, I can do essays, I can pretend to be a fake person writing an essay), but I can also do limited graphic work (don't expect me to be able to photomanipulate photos, but I can make nice covers, layouts, etc) and I also have a penchant for toy comics, if that is in any way relevant.

I mostly know comics-related things (marvel, dc, a smattering of dark horse and image, as well as a bunch of japanese things and an ability to learn fast), star trek, star wars, my little pony (original series, I grew up with it. I'm not good with the new series), diana wynne jones books, discworld, greek mythology, and I think I've run out of things I can hold forum on.

I also have access to a variety of interesting teapots and stacking dolls. And action figures.

Basically I've mentioned anything I'd be interested in doing.

[holli]

Sounds good! Once zine idea I am contemplating is something that collects essays and meta on being a fangirl in a 'boy's club' fandom-- my experience was in comics fandom too, so maybe it could be about that in particular? IS that something you'd be interested in contributing to?

Also, I would be SUPER into making a Discworld zine.

[crantz]

I'm a transdude, so I might have a slightly different perspective there. But, I joined comics fandom back when you were called disgusting for wanting to see stories with characters like you (any shade of queer). They thought they were protecting little teenage me from bad influences, not making me miserable.

I would also be super into a discworld zine. Possibly a zine from within Discworld.

[holli]

OMG, an in-Discworld zine is a SPECTACULAR idea, although somewhat challenging on the production end-- we'd need some damn good fanartists. Failing that, a zine of meta, fanart, and ficlets would also be fantastic.

If I can get the comics-and-feminism themed zine off the ground, and you have anything you'd like to contribute, I'd love to have it.

[crantz]

I'm glad you like the idea!

And I'd definitely have something to contribute to the latter.

[holli]

Oh, and I should also say-- I just set up a comm for talking about this at diyfanzines.

[crantz]

joined and subscribed!

[grey_bard]

I'm up for it. I've done traditional fic zines and mini fic zines and things in between. I'm ready to contribute to Who and comics zine projects and interested in making my own to send you. Are minizines that are mostly fic okay?

[holli]

Awesome! I would LOVE to have some fic minizines, and anything else you're willing to contribute. Is there anything you'd like to write in particular?

[grey_bard]

I'm not 100% sure. I have a few friends who I think I can talk into tribbing. Probably Avengers but can't be sure, will have to ask them.

[holli]

Sounds good! Getting an Avengers zine going would be fantastic.