Page 291 – For the love of zines

September 10, 2015

Zine Review: Pieces #1 On Writing, Reading & Growing Up

Pieces #1 On Writing, Reading & Growing Up
Nichole
http://wemakezines.ning.com/profile/Nichole
https://www.etsy.com/shop/fictionandnot

This zine (and #2-#5) came through a trade I made a few years ago thanks to the We Make Zines site. Nichole prefers trades to outright sales, so my financially-challenged self was quite happy.

I had a good feeling that I would like this first one because I am an author (and was back when I made the trade, too) and love a lot of things that are writing-related. This zine did not disappoint.

Pieces takes a ‘snippets of life’ approach to her zine with, well, snippets of her life. Bits and pieces that surround reading, writing, authors and what it means to grow up as a creative person. She does skip around in time – jumping forward and back – but chronology doesn’t matter as much as the feelings of the scenes involved. While my glitchy self would have loved chronology, my free love hippie self was happy to go with the flow.

What was even better is how many experiences Nichole and I had in common. For instance, I also wrote for Young Authors when I was in school. I also started using British spellings in school only to be told a resounding no. (Yay for moving to Australia and putting extra letters in all sorts of words! Colour!) While she was not allowed to read at the table, I was not allowed to write. But we were both convinced (if only a little bit) that the characters would get up to something while we were away.

We’ve even both met Garth Nix.

I won’t give it away, but the zine ends on an exhilarating (especially if you’ve done it yourself) note that leaves you wanting to know what happened next.

September 9, 2015

Don’t Call Me Cupcake 2

Last October (HOW DID TIME GO SO FAST?! WHERE HAVE I BEEN?!) I took an anxiety-filled dive into the world of making my first perzine. Up until then, my zines always had the focus of other people in some way, shape or form. I never really took a stance and talked about how I felt.

Mostly because I’m a chronic fence-sitter, and expressing my opinion on anything opens me up to criticism. And criticism makes me cry.

I wish I was joking.

Anyway, the whole thing was liberating. Wonderful. Yeah, I made some statements that are no longer true for me, but that’s life. People change. However, it’s been way too long between zines.

Before 2015 is out, I really want to create DCMC 2. The first zine was about introductions. Why I chose the name Nyx, an intro to my world of bipolar, an intro to my art therapy, etc. I have finally decided on the ‘theme’ for the next issue:

Fear

I do have some non-fear-related pieces to put in there to lighten up the mood a bit, but the main focus will be fear/s. I do deal with anxiety as well as decision-making phobia and so on. However, while I’m still in the planning stages…

Do you have any suggestions about a fear related topic you’d be interested in reading about? (Or another topic you would like me to write about.) Anything. A response to thoughts, a question, anything really… I am open to suggestions within reason, so if you have any, please let me know.

September 6, 2015

Call for Submissions: 30 before 30 Ideas

Yeah, I still don’t have my list finished. I have started on some of these, so I am still thinking that I will get this done.

Here’s the thing: I turn 30 in a bit under a year. I want to create a ‘thirty things to accomplish before I turn thirty’ list because I think it would be fun.

Whenever I start, though, it turns into my current to-do list. Bah.

So tell me your suggestions! I don’t promise to do them, but I do promise to have a good think about whether it/they should be on the list. So far I’ve had suggestions like watch the sun rise on the beach, go skinny dipping, and learn a different language. I’m also looking for food/drinks to try and other experiences. I’m not exactly rich, so I can’t fly to Japan or anything, but I’ll sort that all out once I have plenty of suggestions to choose from.

Have at it!

September 4, 2015

Hello Friday!

What a week!

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I found a recipe to bake eight large choc chip bikkies. Perfect sized batch.

I found out my cat is Scrabble Cat! He never has to use the dictionary to look up a word.

I found out Zine Ninja loves Picnics – and not the sit-on-a-blanket kind.

I know Mondays are usually reserved for mail, but what the heck. Mail! This one came via sendsomething.net

September 2, 2015

Out & About – Zine Ninja Adventures

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Zine Ninja had a grand time out and about. A friend – I think she shall now be known as Kickass – and I ran a few errands in preparation for her mum’s/my friend’s birthday tomorrow. Zine Ninja got introduced to the yummy treat known as a Picnic.

Bliss.

August 31, 2015

Hello, Sunshine!

Okay, so the first day of spring isn’t until tomorrow, but today was so gorgeous! I couldn’t resist taking some snaps out in the beautiful weather.

Asimov looks so sinister, doesn’t he?

Brin wouldn’t stay still long enough for a proper picture.

My beautiful girl, Zenna, enduring my snapping pictures.

Spring flowers!

August 30, 2015

Call for Submissions: Bullying Zine

Looking for stories/essays (up to 500 words), poems (250-300 words) and artwork on the subject of ‘Bullying’.

Subject matter may include:
-confronting bullies & the outcome
-friends/peers/teachers who don’t intervene(bystanders)
-dealing with trauma/triggers (coping strategies)
-mental health (depression, anxiety, etc)
-thoughts of self-harm/suicide/revenge
-reaching out for help
-being ostracized (feelings of isolation, worthlessness, shame, grief, guilt, anger)
-what you would like to say to your bullies
-has bullying changed the ways you view peer groups today
-understanding bullies
-forgiveness (making peace)

Did the bullying take place in:
-elementary school
-high school
-college/university
-workplace
-community

*Please let us know if you would like to use your real name, an alias or if you wish to remain anonymous (or if you are writing/sending it on behalf of someone you know).

No fictionalized work, please.

Am accepting submissions until August 31st, 2015.
Email submissions to: sandra_reiki_@hotmail.com

Each contributor will receive a free copy of the zine.
Thank you.*

August 29, 2015

Call for Submissions: Found Photography Zine

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Open call for submissions for a new found photography zine (title coming soon) based in Houston, Texas! “Found photos are generally acquired at flea markets, thrift and other secondhand stores, yard sales, estate and tag sales, in dumpsters and trash cans, between the pages of books, or literally just ‘found’ anywhere.”

Please send in a scanned image (JPEG or TIFF preferred, at least 300 dpi) of your found photograph along with 2-3 sentences of where you found it (or if you are feeling inspired, send in a story!) and basic contact info to foundphotozinetx@gmail.com. If you don’t need the original photograph, you may send it to the following address to be included in the zine:

Found Photography Zine
PO Box 920740
Houston, TX 77292

There is no submission deadline. Release date for zine TBD, but hopefully in time for this year’s Zine Fest Houston in October. Please get in touch with me if you have any questions about submitting. Thank you!

August 28, 2015

Zine Review: Photocopy Press 2

Photocopy Press / Issue Two / Fall 2010
Elizabeth J.M.W.
US Half-fold (?)
http://www.etsy.com/au/shop/ElizabethJMW398

Usually I would want to space these out (delay this since I reviewed the first one yesterday) but I can’t find a third one! Wah. Not happy about that. Things happen, so I’m not wandering around with a dark cloud over my head, but I was really hoping to see more of these.

Mind you, I’m not sure it was the best idea to mention that at the beginning of the review. Moving on!

I do love to review a series (or a first and a sequel) because I love to see how things evolve and progress. From PCP 1 to PCP 2, you see the zine get bigger (yay!) and even more. The extra white space I talked about in the first zine? Gone in favour of squishing in more content. She kept the things I loved: easy to find contact details, zine reviews, zine excerpts, and expanded them in the best ways. The zine reviews now (when possible) have more ways to contact the zine makers. She’s added in book, DVD and web reviews but keeps them zine-related.

I was very impressed with her zinester interview section, in which she managed to get in contact with zine makers from around the world. The US, UK and Australia are obvious ones (to me), but she also connected with people from Japan, Singapore, Israel and more. Well done, Elizabeth.

This is definitely a good expansion on the first zine. While I know it’s a bit dated (how is 2010 so far away already?) it’s still relevant and fun. Plus, it’s interesting to see which people are still making zines, what websites are still up and so on. I do hope to track down a Photocopy Press 3 someday.

August 27, 2015

Zine Review: Photocopy Press Issue One

Photocopy Press / Issue One / Spring 2010
Elizabeth J.M.W.
US Half-fold (?)
http://www.etsy.com/au/shop/ElizabethJMW398

Photocopy Press is one of the first zines I bought from Etsy back when I was just diving into the zine world. At least, I’m nearly certain that’s how it came to be in my collection.

PP is one of the kinds of zines that I love to get my hands on *cough*hint*cough*. It’s a zine with variety, but, more than that, it’s a zine about zines! You might think that would be a touch redundant, but I love it. Zines about zines are a fantastic way to find out about zines that you might not otherwise find.

Right on page one, Elizabeth has an introduction, contact details (though her Etsy shop is currently empty), and plans for the next issue (next issue!) including pen pal ads to give people even more opportunity to connect. What’s not to love there? The fonts are clear but varied enough to add interest, the art is small but tasteful, and everything is neat. I’ve seen plenty of beautiful hot messes, but I do also appreciate the beauty that comes in neatly organised things.

There is quite a bit of white space that I wish would have been used up, BUT that is only because I want mooooore. More reviews, zine excerpts, pictures… All of the things. That being said, the white space isn’t a glaring thing. It’s more me wanting every ounce of goodness possible.

I know I have a habit of prattling on endlessly about these things, but I’ll wrap this one up (kind of) short. There’s not much more to say than it has reviews, excerpts and bigger plans for the next issue. If you don’t like this sort of zine, then there’s nothing here that is going to make you suddenly change your mind. If you do like this sort of zine, grab it up!