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Zines and Small-Press Publishing

An Introductory guide which explains what small-press publishing and Zines are, where you can access Zine collections in Dundee and around Scotland, and how to create your own zines and small press publications

Guides to Different Zine Formats and Binding


There are lots of different ways that you can bind your zine, some which require more practice and materials than others.
 

 

 

Here's a collection of external guides to give you some ideas:

 

  • Cut and Fold Zine (Rookie Magazine)
    Materials needed: Scissors, A3 or A4 Paper
     
  • Staple Binding (Sea Lemon, Youtube)
    Materials needed: A4 Paper, Pencil, cutting mat, Stapler (long-armed staplers can be found in the create space), Binder clips, Awl (see substitutes - http://bit.ly/Ylyz16), Bone folder (see substitutes - http://bit.ly/15EP8dB), Utility blade (or x-acto), Book press or weights (optional)
     
  • Concertina/Accordion Fold (Massachusetts College of Art and Design)
    Materials needed: A3 or A4 paper, glue, scissors
     
  • Stab and Coptic Binding (Massachusetts College of Art and Design)
    Materials needed: paper, hole punch or nail and hammer, thread, string or twine, scissors, needle (if using thread)
     
  • Perfect/Glue Binding (Bookbinding Workshop Singapore)
    Materials needed: A4 Paper, Penknife, Bone Scorer, Ruler, Cutting Mat, Glue, Brush, Pencil and Eraser, 2 clips or 2 clamps or 2 thick / heavy books
     

Digital Zine Making Resources

 

Below are a list of external websites to help you get ideas for zine-making, structure your zine, and create a zine completely online using their tools:
 

Tips on Distributing your Zines

 

As the reason for making zines is not generally to make money but to share your ideas, distributing your zines most likely won't follow traditional publishing routes. You may choose not to distribute your zine at all and just make it for the joy of making! Here's some tips on how you can get your zine out there:
 

  • Create an art page for your zine-making on social media, follow other artists, zine-makers, zine-fairs, indie bookshops etc.
  • Sell your zines via Etsy or another online marketplace, if people search for 'zines' they'll find em!
  • Apply to table at a Zine Fair
  • Contact zine-makers to organise swaps with them, you might be able to find message-boards and blogs dedicated to zine-swaps too
  • Contribute to collaborative zines looking for submissions (see a list below)
  • Donate or sell your zines to zine libraries and distros
  • Submit your zine to a zine/website dedicated to reviewing zines like Broken Pencil or or RazorCake 
  • Ask an indie bookshop or record-shop if they'll stock your zine
  • Print off a bunch of your zines, drop them in cafes, bars, music venues, student accommodation, studios, stick them to things etc etc

     

Zines Accepting Submissions

 

Here are a selection of zine-collectives who accept submissions. This is by no means an exhaustive list so if you don't see anything which resonates with the kind of work that you want to make keep searching! 
 

If you're accepting submissions to your own zine and want to spread the word you can email details to bmccall001@dundee.ac.uk to add it here!