What exactly is a zine? It’s almost easier to tell you what it isn’t than what it is – and that’s part of the chaos that makes zines so compelling.
A zine (pronounced “zeen”) isn’t a slick publication from a big publishing house. It’s not a perfect, pristine piece of publishing. But beyond that? There really aren’t any rules, which is precisely the point.
Rebellious Zines
Zines are, in many ways, a rebellion against the perfectness of publishing and the pristineness of galleries. They have this amazing history as sub-cultural or counter-cultural publications – ways of spreading ideas that might not make it into popular press.
I’ve seen some folks in the zine community get bent out of shape when someone creates a zine with higher production values (maybe laid out in design software and professionally printed), claiming that’s not a “real” zine. I call bullshit on that. They’re all zines because they exist outside the traditional publishing industry – they’re small, scrappy, and carry tremendous emotional and intellectual freight precisely because they’re made by individuals.
From Pirate Photocopying to Professional Printing
Traditionally, zines got their start through what you might call “pirate photocopying” – people sneaking copies on someone else’s machine! Now we can take them to copy shops, and they range from completely hand-drawn and hand-lettered creations photocopied in smudgy black and white, to nicely laid out publications that are professionally printed and hand-bound.
The format is incredibly flexible. You might create a single-page zine that folds into a mini booklet, or something more substantial. Some folks are even distributing digital zines as downloadable PDFs (which is a great way to get something out into the world without the cost of mailing).
Why Make Zines
I make zines for several different reasons, and each one serves a unique purpose in my creative practice:
Documentation containers: They’re perfect little catalogs for pulling together my art projects and bodies of work. Creating a zine helps me get my thoughts organized around different creative endeavors.
Community keepsakes: I’ve made commemorative zines for my community choir, choosing one song from our quarterly schedule and creating a little keepsake for the members.
Experimental playgrounds: Zines provide a small container for exploring themes or styles I don’t normally work in. Some of my grittier, more experimental work has found its home in zine format – and honestly, some of the best-looking zines I’ve seen are those rougher, edgier ones.
Releasing Zines Into the World
The beauty of zines is in their hand-to-hand distribution. I love leaving mine in little free libraries around my area. There are also zine distros (distribution websites), local zine fests where people gather to trade and share, and yes – you can absolutely sell your zines too.
I’ve seen people get upset about others selling zines, but that’s ridiculous. Zines cost money to make and to send if you mail them! Whether you choose to distribute them freely to spread ideas or sell them to cover costs (and maybe make a little something for your creative time), both approaches are completely valid.
To Carry Truth
Here’s what I love most about zines: they prove you don’t need permission to make something, to speak something, to share your ideas and voice with the world. Whether you create them through writing, imagery, rough sketches, or polished layouts – whether you give them away or sell them – they’re perhaps the best vessel I can think of for carrying truth and authentic voice into the world.
They’re accessible, immediate, and completely yours. In a world that often feels over-polished and corporate, zines remain beautifully, defiantly imperfect and human.
If you’ve made a zine, I’d love to trade with you! Sign up for my newsletter to know when new ones are dropping.