You want to make a Zine to the Future! Good idea! First we we'll talk how to make it, then what to put in it! You are going to make a physical paper zine...
MAKING A PAPER ZINE:
Do you already know how to make a zine? Then you know that zines have no rules! If you are an experienced zinester, you can design your zine however you want. But we want people who have never made zines before to be able to do it easily, so here's a short set of instructions , with explanatory videos by Jie Tian, Reference Librarian at the Pollak Library (involved in the creation of the Library's new "Makerspace"), on making a basic Zines to the Future! zine, with some advice if you want to do more!
THE PAMPHLET. This is the basic Zines to the Future! zine! We like print and wanted to work with our hands. The idea is simple: four sheets of 8 1/2" x 11" paper folded in half to make sixteen zine half-pages (remember, there are two sides to each sheet!). Add a sheet of thicker grade paper as a cover folded to hold the others. Use a hole punch to make three holes evenly spaced along the fold and tie the sheets together for binding. (You can also staple if you have a stapler that can reach!) That's it! You have a zine to fill.
Below is to a video by Jie Tian demonstrating how to make a Pamphlet zine. (Called "Part Two--The Pamphlet.") She uses a small awl to make neater holes, but you can use a hole punch. She binds her zine with thread. A "bone" folder helps keep things straight and can be used to help fold.
THE "HOT DOG" ZINE. Like to work in an even smaller space? The "Hot Dog" zine takes one sheet of paper and folds it, makes a strategic cut, and leaves you with a tiny zine to fill that fits in the palm of your hand. These are bite-sized. Make a series or make an addition to your main "pamphlet" zine! You can unfold and copy them, then refold, your zine.
Here, in "Part One--the Classic 'Hot Dog' Zine," Jie Tian shows you how to do the Hot Dog zine's fold and cut, using an exacto knife--but scissors works just as well. Then we have a bonus video where you can learn to do the "Accordion" zine, and begin to think about how simple paper folding can make for a more interesting zine design, in Tian's video "Part Three--The Accordion Variations."
Check out the Pollak Library's even more extensive Guide to Zine-making pages, created by Tian, which includes longer tutorials on making zines and curated links about zine history, science fiction, making art zines, and more!
CONTENT: What Should Be In Your Zine?
We like stories and poems, and our sf theme is "Imagining Diverse Futures." For my horror and fantasy classes, the genre itself is the theme. Why horror?
Zines began as "fanzines" with articles/reviews/rants and what have you. Do those if you want! Love something inordinately, as a fan does, and talk about why it is so great! Pick an author! Or a kind of horror! Talk about what you like; make art, make a collage, find copyright free images online (there are lots of works released now from museums and elsewhere). Be free. NO AI CONTENT. AI is a trap meant to hold your attention adn stunt your art. This is you making art--making a physical thing, an object--you!
Here are the basics of the format and things that normally appear there:
--On the Cover: title, issue, author/illustrator names, theme, an image or images
--Inside words: stories, poems, essays, commentary, reviews, points of view, word art, lists, manifestos, opinions.
--Inside pictures: drawings, photos, collages, paintings!
--Inside back cover: tell us who you are and how to reach you! How can someone else get another copy of your zine? This is a good place for information about you.
What else?
Zines often include....marginalized voices, edgy styles and topics, comics, handmade feel, "cut-and-paste" look of collage, notebook look, political topics, personal narratives...anything really!
Zines are often collaborative! Join with others to work on a larger zine as a group! Put writers, and illustrators together! Or just do your own thing!
Follow the links below to much more information on zines and how to make them from our Library's Makerspace. Or head over to think more about our Theme. Or head home.