Zine News Round-Up: 24.02.13

image by Angry Violist - thanks!

1. Zine Releases

2. Upcoming Events

3. Submission Calls

4. AOB

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1. Zine Releases
 - Poor Lass #1, “a collection of stories of what it's really like to be working class”, is out now!  Buy a copy for £2 at http://sugarpaper.bigcartel.com/product/poor-lass-1

 - Becoming: A Feminist Coming of Age, a zine created by Project:BABE, is out now!  Contact the editors for a copy at projectbabecollectiveATgmail.com.

2. Upcoming Events
 - Workshop on Zines and Feminism: Thursday 8^th March, 10.30am at Swansea University.  Part of the Swansea Feminist Network’s workshop day for International Women’s Day.  More info at http://swanseafeministnetwork.wordpress.com.
 - Sheffield Zine Fest: Saturday 16 March, 12 til 5pm.  The organisers are looking for people to table and hold workshops – more info and contact details can be found at http://sheffieldzinefest.wordpress.com/ .
 - REVOLT #2: Saturday 16 March, Taylor John’s House, Coventry.  A riot grrrl night with zine stalls and feminist music.  http://www.facebook.com/events/532368940127398/?ref=2
 - DIY Cultures 2013: Sunday 7 April, 12 til 7pm.  A festival of zines, comics, artist-run spaces, talks, films, art and workshops.  http://www.facebook.com/events/590291354321604/?ref=2
 - Any upcoming UK zine events?  Let us know – spillthezinesukATgmail.com!

3. Submission Calls
 - Pandora Press, a feminist compzine published by the Swansea Feminist Network, is looking for contributors for its 5^th issue (theme: media).  Extended deadline: 28 February.  More info at http://swanseafeministnetwork.wordpress.com

 - Kat W is looking for reviews, essays, quotes and artwork for her Stephen King fanzine, titled ‘Death Is When The Monsters Get You’.  For more info, email kjwilliams1986ATgmail.com.
 - ‘Narwool’ is a new zine by and for crafty people, featuring tutorials, how-to’s, artwork, and more.  To submit, contact the editor Kim at narwoolzineAThotmail.co.uk.

 - There’s a Doctor Who fanzine in the works!  Lots of detailed information can be found at http://type-40-zine.tumblr.com/Submission-Guidelines

 - Twigs and Apples, a zine collective based in Preston, are looking for submissions for their latest comp zine.  Welcome topics include “art, illustration, photography, writing, reviews, music, film, veganism, recipes, anarchism, environmentalism, sports, gardening, bike-riding, philosophy, travel, DIY & craft”.  More info at http://twigsandapples.tumblr.com.

4. AOB
- Kirsty, of Make It Work/Hard Femme zines, is currently doing an oral history project on zinesters as part of an MA in Archives and Records Management, and is looking for people to get involved. She can travel to you (or vice versa) and you'll have a 1-2 hour chat about zines, how you started making them, your involvement in the community and so on, anything you want to talk about! Fancy being involved? Or know someone who does/want to recommend someone? Email Kirsty at kirsty.fifeATgmail.com.

Guest Post: How I make my zines, by Emma Falconer

This is a guest post written by Emma Jane Falconer, which originally appeared on her blog 'Emma Makes Stuff'.  Emma is a zinester, illustrator, photographer, and film-maker.  You can find out more about her work at www.emmajanefalconer.com. 

This is how I personally make my zines, mixed in with a few tips for beginners. There's no right or wrong way (aside from doing things like accidentally making it unreadable once photocopied or forgetting about your margins and cutting off half the text). If you want a more in-depth guide to all things zine-related, I can recommend Stolen Sharpie Revolution. You can see all the back issues of my zines on my website.

What I put in them:

I have these two notebooks. The small one is for jotting down ideas. When I think of things, it's usually not when I have the time to actually make them. If I don't write them down, I tend to forget.

The ideas notebook has pages set aside for various categories of things.

I usually write out the contents longhand first. I revise and edit them when I type them up on the computer. If I write them straight on the computer I'm more likely to get distracted. The important thing is to write about the things that personally interest you, not what you feel you "should" write about. Fads in zines come and go like anything else, and sometimes it seems like everyone is writing about a certain topic, and then next year it's something different.

Making the pages:

I make the pages on separate sheets and then glue them onto one master sheet.

I keep all sorts of interesting scraps in this old biscuit tin for zine and collage use. Things like magazine pictures, food packaging and travel tickets.

For the backgrounds I cut pieces of paper about 1cm smaller in each direction than the finished page. That way the margins are built in, and I can't go over them. Things like old wrapping paper, tourist maps, the inside of business envelopes and magazine pages are good sources. You want high contrast patterns, things with delicate colours don't photocopy well. I try to have facing pages have the same background design if they're part of the same article.

I also print off some patterns on the computer. You can get books of copyright free patterns that you are allowed to use for small-scale projects like zines.

I keep all kinds of interesting pictures in the tin too. The blue thing is a Bulgarian metro ticket. If I want to use my own photos, I up the contrast before printing them on the computer. Again think about how well the pictures will copy.

The tools of the trade: glue, scissors, markers (I use Posca ones), correction pen. I recommend sticking to the well-known brands of glue. I've had bad experiences with cheap glue sticks not sticking very well. I wouldn't use fancy or best scissors, because you *will* end up with glue marks on them. I keep a scrap piece of paper to one side to glue on.

I print out my text set into columns. For one column per landscape page I make it 8cm across, for two 5.5 cm. I stick to 9/10 pt Baskerville for the text, and pick one decorative font per issue to use for titles. Too many different jarring fonts hurt your readers' eyes. The fine-tipped scissors come in very useful for this stage. They were £2 in Wilko. In the UK Wilkinson's is a great source for zine stuff. They sell cheap card-making supplies, which are the same things that are useful for zines (I swear by their paper folding tools).

I do pages when I feel like it, and set them aside until I have 24 that I feel will make an issue together. Sometimes they sit in the box for quite a while until they find a home. When I've got enough, I arrange them in order, and then write the pages numbers on the corners. Numbering your pages is very important, it makes assembling much easier once you've photocopied.

I label my master sheet with the numbers (some tips here) and glue the page sheets on, then I'm ready to photocopy.

Zine News Round-Up: 10.02.13

photo by Tukru

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1. Zine Releases

2. Upcoming Events

3. Submission Calls

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1. Zine Releases
- Lisa, author of perzine ‘Sometimes I’m Dreaming’, has released a travel zine about her recent visit to Japan, titled ‘Japanese Whispers’.  Buy your copy at her etsy store.

 - Emma Falconer’s new full-colour zine ‘Little Whisper Smoke Signs That You’ll Never Get’ #2 is available to buy from her website.
 - ‘Opinionated Nobody’ #4, a feminist perzine, is out now!  To buy/trade a copy, get in touch with the author Rebs @ http://sullen-hearts.blogspot.co.uk/
 - Emma, author of ‘Angry Violist’ has released the third issue of her perzine ‘Hedgehog in the Fog’ this week.  To buy or trade a copy, get in touch with her at angry.violistATgmail.com.

2. Upcoming Events
 - Sheffield Zine Fest: Saturday 16 March, 12 til 5pm.  The organisers are looking for people to table and hold workshops – more info and contact details can be found at http://sheffieldzinefest.wordpress.com/ .
 - REVOLT #2: Saturday 16 March, Taylor John’s House, Coventry.  A riot grrrl night with zine stalls and feminist music.  http://www.facebook.com/events/532368940127398/?ref=2
 - DIY Cultures 2013: Sunday 7 April, 12 til 7pm.  A festival of zines, comics, artist-run spaces, talks, films, art and workshops.  http://www.facebook.com/events/590291354321604/?ref=2
 - Any upcoming UK zine events?  Let us know – spillthezinesukATgmail.com!

3. Submission Calls
 - Pandora Press, a feminist compzine published by the Swansea Feminist Network, is looking for contributors for its 5^th issue (theme: media).  Extended deadline: 28 February.  More info at http://swanseafeministnetwork.wordpress.com

 - Kat W is looking for reviews, essays, quotes and artwork for her Stephen King fanzine, titled ‘Death Is When The Monsters Get You’.  For more info, email kjwilliams1986ATgmail.com.
 - ‘Narwool’ is a new zine by and for crafty people, featuring tutorials, how-to’s, artwork, and more.  To submit, contact the editor Kim at narwoolzineAThotmail.co.uk.

 - There’s a Doctor Who fanzine in the works!  Lots of detailed information can be found at http://type-40-zine.tumblr.com/Submission-Guidelines

Zine Reviews: January 2013

Angry Violist #5.5

Emma, Cambridge – http://angryviolist.wordpress.com

Angry Violist is one of my favourite UK zines – Emma writes about classical music and esoteric musical ideas in a fairly accessible way, and I feel as if I’ve enriched my mind somewhat after delving into her writing.  This particular issue was created in 24 hours, so it’s a little shorter and messier than other issues, and is rather more personal and opinionated.  The zine opens with a fascinating piece on the hierarchy of music, sound and noise, and how these 3 intertwine, illustrated with a detailed Venn diagram (who doesn’t enjoy a good Venn diagram?).  We also read about the discipline of acoustic violin/viola/cello playing, and “the wilderness of exceptionally loud and distorted noises” that emerge when you hook your instrument up to an amplifier.  My favourite piece was about the joy and vulnerability of making music with other musicians, and the danger of comparing yourself to other musicians.  The layout is messy and cut-and-paste, though the focus of the zine is the words rather than the visuals.  I adore this zine series - Emma strikes me as a knowledgeable musician, and her zines are always so vibrant and engrossing! 

Girlzone #2: In Your Dreams

Edited by Charlotte Cullen, Huddersfield – http://project-babe.tumblr.com

This lovely half-sized compzine is all about girly sleepovers, an empowering practice of female bonding and exploration that are “an important part of any adolescent adventure”.  We read tips for good sleepovers, how to build a fort, nail art ideas, a list of perfect sleepover films, and tales of sleepovers gone wrong.  There are also pieces of artwork dotted throughout, and the centrefold is a big pink Ouija board!  Printed in colour and bound with pink and green cotton thread, it’s a cute, quirky zine (though unfortunately due to the way it’s been printed, it’s a bit difficult to read in places).  Highly recommended!

Light of My Life: Adventures in Low-power Lighting #1
Flo, Leeds – http://ledfantasticblog.wordpress.com

Light of My Life is a cool half-sized zine all about LEDs, created by Flo while on an electrical apprenticeship.  It’s packed full of info about LEDs, including the advantages of using them over other types of lighting (namely, you save around 92% energy!), how and where to work with them, and how to make a 12-volt LED circuit.  There’s also a list of things Flo loves about their apprenticeship.  It’s a short zine with a nice cut and paste look, and Flo’s enthusiasm for their work is really lovely to read.

Agua Pura: A Month on the US/Mexico Border

Kathleen, Leeds - agua.pura.zineATgmail.com

Kathleen, author of perzine ‘Scratch that Itch’, wrote this zine all about her experiences working as a paramedic providing humanitarian aid on the US/Mexico border.  Every year, thousands of people from central America walk for days through the searing heat of the desert to cross the US/Mexico border, pushed to do so by “economic imperative, systematic violence and family ties”.  Kathleen writes much about the experiences of the travellers – the exhaustion and terror, dehydration and frequent deaths along the way, the US Border Patrol’s overzealous hunting of travellers using helicopters, drones, ATVs and dogs, and Kathleen’s struggle to emotionally detach herself from the events in the desert.  We also read about her personal experiences there – her colleagues, rattlesnakes, finding a dying traveller at the side of the road and being legally unable to drive him to get help, and hearing that a friend of hers died by his own hand while she was away.  The layout is nice – mostly black text on white background, with illustrations, comic strips, and some handwritten sections.  I also love the blue ink on the cover and centrefold.  A very well-written and thoughtful story.

Her Kind #1

Amy Isme, England - herkindAToutlook.com

I picked this zine up for free at a riot grrrl night in Coventry called REVOLT, and it’s actually one of the best British zines I’ve read for ages!  Her Kind is a half-sized perzine that features themes of queerness, sisterhood, illustration, erotica, feminism, and body acceptance.  It’s quite disjointed, featuring lots of little things rather than any extended pieces – lots of illustrated quotes on the topic of eroticism and lesbianism, a sexy piece of erotic fiction (AKA “the one-handed read”), an illustration of her heroine Delphine Seyrig, an open letter to Amy’s school bullies, and some awesome feminist-themed illustrations!  The zine closes with a passionate piece on the power and wonder of the cunt – I adore the whole thing, but especially the image of a turned-on cunt widening “as if trying to hook itself around the furthest-away stars in the galaxy, travelling further & further up into space, making all of the infinite BLACKNESS throb & throb”.  Such beautiful imagery!  Her Kind is intelligent, accepting, and affirming – it’s the kind of zine I wish I could copy and give out to everyone I know!

Zine News Round-Up: 20.01.13

by Anne Lamott, via http://mydarlingafraid.tumblr.com/

Happy 2013, lovely readers!  Spill the Zines is back from its Christmas hiatus, and we’ll be making an effort to keep the blog updated every week with news posts, zine reviews, and guest features.  Remember: if you want to write/contribute anything, just drop me a line!

Cath x

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1. Zine Releases

2. Upcoming Events

3. Submission Calls

4. Distro News

5. AOB (Any Other Business)

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1. Zine Releases
- Shape and Situate #4: Posters of Inspirational European Women is out now!  More information about the zine (and a list of distributors) can be found at: http://remember-who-u-are.blogspot.com

- Colouring Outside The Lines #6, is a zine full of conversations with contemporary female artists, has been released this month.  For more information about the zine, and where to get a copy, see http://cotlzine.blogspot.co.uk/

- New poetry zine Distraction Faction: Found Poetry in London, is out now.  For more details, get in touch with the creator Tony at http://wemakezines.ning.com/profile/TonyHickson

- Pandora Press #4: The Pink Issue, is out now!  Pick up a copy at any Swansea Feminist Network event, or if you’re not from the Swansea area you can contact the editor at pandorapresszineATgmail.com to buy a copy.
- Music zine All Thrills No Frills Music Bill is out now - more details at http://www.allthrillsnofrillsmusic.blogspot.co.uk/2012/08/issue-one-of-paper-zine-now-available.html

2. Upcoming Events
- A zine collective has been established for new zine-makers living in the SW London/Surrey area.  They hold regular meet-ups and zine events, and are currently in the process of organising a meet-up for the end of January.  More details can be found at http://swzinecollective.weebly.com/.
- Any upcoming UK zine events?  Let us know – spillthezinesukATgmail.com!

3. Submission Calls
- Pandora Press, a feminist compzine published by the Swansea Feminist Network, is looking for contributors for its 5^th issue (theme: media).  Provisional deadline: 31 January.  More info at http://swanseafeministnetwork.wordpress.com

- Lindsay Starbuck and Melanie Maddison are working on a compzine called ‘Remember Who You Are’, which looks at “our own individual, personal histories to see how we come to be the people that we are, with the politics that we have”.  More details at http://remember-who-u-are.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/remembering-who-we-are-zine-seeking.html.

- Ink Soup is comics and narrative zine based in Birmingham. They are looking for comics and artwork for their 7th issue entitled 'Under New Management'.  Deadline: 31 January.  For more info check out: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ink-Soup/287767714585794

- Kat is looking for reviews, essays, quotes and artwork for her Stephen King fanzine, titled ‘Death Is When The Monsters Get You’.  For more info, email kjwilliams1986ATgmail.com.

- There’s a Doctor Who fanzine in the works!  Lots of detailed information can be found at http://type-40-zine.tumblr.com/Submission-Guidelines
- SW London and Surrey Zines are looking for zines to sell at their zine stall at a local community market.  Lots of details can be found at http://swzinecollective.weebly.com/1/post/2012/12/call-for-zines-from-sw-london-surrey.html .

4. Distro News

- Some new zines have been added to Princesa Pirata’s stock! http://princesapiratadistro.wordpress.com/about-2/

5. AOB
- Some cheap second-hand zines for sale on the LJ community Zine Scene UK – take a look here: http://zinescene-uk.livejournal.com/157372.html

- Not UK related, but definitely worth a read: Maranda Elizabeth writes about self-care for zinesters on their blog: http://marandaelizabeth.com/2013/01/03/self-care-for-zinesters/
- feministzines.tumblr.com is a new blog made to showcase zines by/for feminists – submit yours, and check out some cool new zines!

Zine News Round-Up: 23.12.12

photo by Tukru

Sorry it’s taken me forever to update this blog – it’s been a horrendously busy few months!  Enjoy your bumper news round-up post for today!  Spill the Zines will be on an official holiday hiatus for a month or so.  Happy holidays everyone!

Cath x 

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1. Zine Releases

2. Upcoming Events

3. Submission Calls

4. Distro News

5. AOB (Any Other Business)

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1. Zine Releases
- Hedgehog in the Fog 3 is out and available to UK peers for £1 sent by paypal to angry.violist@gmail.com (or you can email for trades)

- Your Pretty Face Is Going Straight to Hell #18 is out now! Buy your copy at www.vampiresushi.co.uk.

- Macro Shrub #5, a zine about "music and the creators’ relationship with all things musical, noisy and sort-of melodic", is out now! http://melonshrubblog.tumblr.com/post/35555224545/our-fifth-zine-of-the-year-macro-shrub-5-is-out

- Issue 19 of Lights Go Out, a music fanzine, came out this week! More info at

- Sky Nash's latest zine, My Phone Hates Me #5, is out now.  Details at http://www.etsy.com/listing/115740659/my-phone-hates-me-5

- Shape & Situate: Posters Of Inspirational European Women #4 is out now. http://remember-who-u-are.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/shape-situate-issue-4-back-from-printers.html 

- Melanie Maddison has released issue #6 of Colouring Outside The Lines this month, "a zine full of conversations with contemporary female artists". http://cotlzine.blogspot.co.uk/2012/12/colouring-outside-lines-issue-6.html

- Fanzine Ynfytyn #19 was released last month – available for £0.80 + postage from Emma’s website.

- Music fanzine This Is Not A Serious Publication: Autumn 2012, is out now.  Buy your copy at http://www.etsy.com/listing/111949011/this-is-not-a-serious-music-publication.

2. Upcoming Events
- Have we missed anything?  Let us know – spillthezinesukATgmail.com

3. Submission Calls
- Pandora Press, a feminist compzine published by the Swansea Feminist Network, is looking for contributors for its 5^th issue (theme: media).  Provisional deadline: 30 January.  More info at http://swanseafeministnetwork.wordpress.com

- Lindsay Starbuck and Melanie Maddison are working on a compzine called ‘Remember Who You Are’, which looks at “our own individual, personal histories to see how we come to be the people that we are, with the politics that we have”.  More details at http://remember-who-u-are.blogspot.co.uk/2012/11/remembering-who-we-are-zine-seeking.html.

- Ink Soup is comics and narrative zine based in Birmingham. They are looking for comics and artwork for their 7th issue entitled 'Under New Management' - for more info check out: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Ink-Soup/287767714585794

- Kat is looking for reviews, essays, quotes and artwork for her Stephen King fanzine, titled ‘Death Is When The Monsters Get You’.  For more info, email kjwilliams1986ATgmail.com.

4. Distro News

- Vampire Sushi Distro has been updated with lots of lovely new stock.  They are also selling e-vouchers if anyone is looking for last minute Christmas present! Check it out at www.vampiresushi.co.uk

- Sad news: UK distro Pushpin Publishing is no more.  Marceline still publishes zine reviews over at http://pushpinzines.co.uk/, and sells zines about Japan, music, and craft over at http://shop.askingfortrouble.org/collections/zines.

5. AOB
- Sheffield Zine Fair 2013 is in planning, and will hopefully go ahead in Spring.  if anyone wants to get involved, email Bettie at bettieriotATgmail.com or Chella at chartyourcycleATgmail.com.

Guest Post: Not My Genre!

This is a guest post by Sarah E. Hoffman about stretching your zine writing into new genres.  Sarah is a zinester, blogger, academic and gastronomist. She enjoys picnics, the smell of freshly baked bread and bobo tea. When stressed she bakes until the flour runs out. Sarah is married to a very understanding non-foodie, whom she is in the process of converting. Find her @Sarah999 or http://wingedsnail99.blogspot.com.

image via http://bit.ly/Xfqmi0

I used to have a variety of hobbies and interests but in the last five years I have become a person that has only one hobby. My hobby has permeated every aspect of my life and has become the lenses through which I approach every topic. My life is all food, all the time. However, this does not mean that I only write about carrots. I write about lessons, history, movement, surprise, and a variety of other topics. The following is an articulation of the process that I use to approach a writing prompt that does not strictly fall within the category of food.

Don't make assumptions. Your readers won't storm off in a huff if you write about something that is different from what you usually write about. Would you?

Keep your voice. Consistently writing in a unique voice can be the thread that ties all of your writing together.

Stretch. Find a call for submission that is the antithesis of your chosen topic and write a piece for it.

Brainstorm. Give each call for submission careful consideration. There is usually a way to write about your area while respecting the guidelines of the zine.

Make mistakes. It is acceptable to give up on a submission because the topic is too disparate from your area of interest.

Following this framework has the potential to make your contribution unique. For example, the expected contributions on the topic of red velvet cake would include family traditions, recipes, and birthday cake memories. The submission that results from combining robots and red velvet cake or bats and red velvet cake would be unique. If you write about the prompt through the lenses of a particular topic you will be remembered. Isn't that what we all strive for?

Zine News Round-Up: 21.10.12

photo by Bettie - thanks!

Hello, Bettie here. I'm doing the round-up this week because Cath is
super busy and I am super not! Take a look at the 'Write for us' page
if you want to help out too.


1. Zine Releases
2. Upcoming Events
3. Submission Calls
4. AOB (Any Other Business)


1. Zine Releases
- Vacant Minds #2 is a mainly art and doodles zines, and it's free (or
trade). Info at their Tumblr: http://vacant-minds.tumblr.com/
- Have we missed anything?  Let us know – spillthezinesukATgmail.com.

2. Upcoming Events
- Documentary Screening 'From the Back of the Room': 28th October at
Shacklewell Arms, London. A documentary about women in DIY punk. More
info at: http://www.facebook.com/events/402884689767379
- Leeds Zine Fair: Sunday 4th November at Wharf Chambers. LZF now has
its own website at: http://leedszinefair.footprinters.co.uk
- South East London Zine Fest: Sunday 11th November at the Amersham
Arms, New Cross. Have a look at their blog:
http://selondonzines.wordpress.com or their Facebook page:
http://www.facebook.com/selondonzines
- Queer Zine Fest London: 8th December at Space Station 65,
Kennington. Lots of awesome zinesters and distros have been confirmed,
but there are still spots available to table and other ways to get
involved. More info at: https://www.facebook.com/events/232251613569656/

3. Submission Calls
- Poor Lass Zine is a positive collective zine by working class
grrrls. The theme for the first issue is 'work' and it's gonna be
awesome! Have a look at their facebook page for more info and how to
contribute: http://www.facebook.com/PoorLassZine

4. AOB
- Zinester punx the Copy Scams are playing gigs and holding readings
at zine fests and other events around the UK on their Sinister
Zinester Tour! Check their Facebook page to see where they're heading:
http://www.facebook.com/events/507706389255775/

Zine News Round-Up: 07.10.12

photo by Melanie Maddison - thanks!

We're back!  Sorry for the long silence, life stuff sort of took over for a while.  As an aside, if anyone ever wants to give us a hand with writing for Spill the Zines, do get in touch!  Check out the 'Write for Us' page for more info. 

1. Zine Releases

2. Upcoming Events

3. Submission Calls

4. Distro News

5. AOB (Any Other Business)

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1. Zine Releases
- ‘Dirty Blyter!’ is a zine all about the sexual innuendo/subtext in Enid Blyton’s novels.  Buy a copy at folksy.

- ‘Lights Go Out’ #18: The 24 Hour Zine Thing Issue, is out now!  Buy your copy at http://www.lightsgoout.co.uk/?wpsc-product=lights-go-out-issue-18.

- Have we missed anything?  Let us know – spillthezinesukATgmail.com.

2. Upcoming Events
- REVOLT – DIY Riot Grrrl Ruckus: Saturday 13 October @ Taylor John’s House, Coventry. An evening of riot grrrl, spoken word, and burlesque (and I’m doing a zine reading!).  More details can be found at http://revoltpunk.wordpress.com/.
- Birmingham Zine Festival: 12 – 15 October.  Want to get involved?  More info can be found at http://www.birminghamzinefestival.com/.
- Documentary Screening- ‘From The Back of the Room’: 28 October @ Power Lunches, London.  A documentary on women in DIY punk cultures. More info here.
- Leeds Zine Fair: Sunday 04 November at Wharf Chambers.  If you'd like to get involved in organising the zine fair, or hold a stall at the zine fair then get in touch at footprintATfootprinters.co.uk

- London Queer Zine Fest: Saturday 08 December @ Space Station 65, Kennington.  The organisers are still looking for people to table, and to help out generally – if you want to get involved, there’s lots of info at https://www.facebook.com/events/232251613569656/

3. Submission Calls
- To commemorate the film screening ‘From The Back of the Room’ mentioned above, the organiser Charlotte is putting together a zine on women and punk.  Written submissions must be 200 words max, visual submissions must be black and white.  Deadline: 21 October.  Questions and submissions can be sent to charlotte.richardson.andrewsATgmail.com.

4. Distro News

- Marching Stars Distro is still on hiatus, but will be back soon with a new website! Keep your eye on twitter and tumblr for more info about when the distro will reopen.

 - Vampire Sushi has a new website design and new stock!  Take a look at http://shop.vampiresushi.co.uk/.

- Lots of lovely new stuff over at Pushpin Publishing - http://www.pushpinzines.co.uk/collections/new

5. AOB
- Are you on tumblr?  If you want to spread the zine-love with lots of new followers, share your tumblr over at the WMZ forum: http://wemakezines.ning.com/forum/topics/zinesters-on-tumblr

Zine Reviews: August '12

Ellipsis #2

Sarah-Beth, Coventry – kittenesqueATgmailDOTcom

This is such a beautiful little zine!  Sarah-Beth’s second perzine explores topics including feeling overwhelmed by all the things she’s yet to learn (like how mortgages work) and feeling unsure as to whether she can discuss something if she doesn’t know much about it, a scathing review of the 50 Shades trilogy that clearly highlights the problematic nature of the story, lists of what she’s been up to recently and what she’s enjoyed recently, thoughts on fitness and body image, her feelings about Gala Darling, and girl-hate.  The layouts are gorgeous and carefully thought-out, with printed text (in a nice arial narrow font), stamped headings and the odd handwritten line here and there.   The cover sheet is very clever too – purple paper printed with purple ink.  ‘Ellipsis’ is one of my favourite UK perzine series – highly recommended!

And All The Rest Is Talk #1: Lungs And Lips Locked

Lindsey, UK - thesmingitAThotmail.com

In this 14-page half-sized perzine, Lindsey writes about how everyone is a little bit creative, her thoughts on war (“war means someone has to die”), her experiences of her own femininity and cross-dressing, and her new-found love for zines.  We also read a review of female-fronted punk band Drag, and a nice piece of prose titled ‘To See the World in a Grain of Toast’.  Mostly handwritten, with some magazine clippings and hand drawings alongside the text.  Feels very personal and hand-made, like the pages have been taken out of someone’s journal.

Mythologising Me #5

Ingrid, Oxford – mythologisingmeATgmailDOTcom

Ingrid describes the fifth issue of her perzine as being more honest than previous issues, exploring her feelings on some difficult and personal topics.  The longest written piece focuses on her career plans, frustrations at not being able to afford postgraduate study, and thoughts about why one’s job seems so integral to one’s identity (why do so many people ask “so what is it that you DO?”, as if your job is all you ‘do’?).  There are also lots of shorter pieces throughout, on topics including diary-writing, feeling nervous about standing up for what she believes in when others disagree with her, the internet and how everything has become intangible (ebooks, blogs, etc), feeling down and starting CBT, and making a bigger effort to stick to her vegan diet.  There’s a theme of self-improvement and looking forward that comes out in her writing, and Although Ingrid writes inside that she thinks this issue isn’t as cheery as previous issues, I think I would disagree.  Mostly written on her typewriters (I love the cursive typewriter font!), the layouts are among her best yet, with some hand-drawings and nice cut-and-paste artwork. 

Ok Werner

Jean & Brian McEwan, West Yorkshire - www.jeanmcewan.com

A fanzine made by brother and sister Jean and Brian about their favourite filmmaker, Werner Herzog, this zine was put together on a self-appointed week-long “Herzog Holiday” at Jean’s house.  Inside we read reasons why they love Herzog’s work, common themes in his work, lists of their favourite films, their favourite quotes of his, and more.  I love it when people write enthusiastically about the things they love in zines, and ‘OK Werner’ is a lovely example of that.  I hadn’t heard of Werner Herzog until reading this zine, but I’m definitely going to check out some of his stuff when I get the chance.  Thanks Jean and Brian!