This Zine making lesson can fit well with a journal writing assignment, a personal or family history project, a short story, creating a poetry, a quote book, or a doodle art collection.

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To begin, you will need to have an overarching topic. I suggest first writing a one-page journal entry about something that is presently occupying your mind: Love, dislikes, hobbies, friends, an activity, concerns, struggles, etc. Somewhere on that page of writing will appears your zine topic. What is important is to start without putting too much thought into it; be spontaneous! It is always best to begin from a place in your present mindset--that place is authentically you.

 

Now, with your topic in mind, take an 8.5 x 11 sheet of paper and follow the steps on folding, cutting and identifying each page number and orientation (See ZINE FOLDING below).

Your one-page zine will comprise of 8-pages: 1-cover, 6-inside sections (or 3 larger ones), and 1-back cover. My recommendation is that your cover design be the last page you create to maximize the impact of the topic described on the inside pages.

 

Once the pages and back cover are roughly sketched, you need to design a cover that invites or grabs the attention of your intended readership: what is the title of your zine? NOTE: Don't forget to inscribe either on the front or back cover, your name, group number and date of publication.

Making zines is fun but are also important for you to share with a larger number of readers interested or curious about the same things as you. Believe it or not, your ideas are important for you but might just express what others are also feeling, concerned or thinking about.