I'm Going to Make a Zine
how to make art when you're out of ideas
I’ve been writing a lot lately. I just started one day and couldn’t seem to stop. It poured out of me quickly and without inhibition. Now, obviously, that’s not normal or sustainable, but the feeling is amazing. And while I am loving this shift in my creative expression, I’ve missed making things with my hands. But every time I sat down to try, I couldn’t get into the groove of it. I’ve been playing around for weeks, folding one sheet of paper this way and that, making random cuts, and trying to invent new weird zine templates. But I was getting nowhere, and all my ideas seemed to stutter and fail.
So I tossed those sheets aside and decided to head back to the basics. Surely, I could make a simple 8-page zine. I made the familiar folds and then just stared down at the blank sheet, the words “I’m going to make a zine” repeating in my head. Every time I tried to think of an idea, those words just came back, buzzing and swimming around like TV static. So I followed them.
I’m going to make a zine.
I decided the lack of an idea was the idea, and followed my circling thoughts. I jotted down those few sentences and grabbed my stacks of magazines from the thrift store and newspaper samples from the Newspaper Club. The real work was tracking down all the words I needed, and I don’t want to talk about the sheer amount of time I spent doing this yesterday. The few I couldn’t find, I printed myself. Once all my words were ready, I got to designing each page. I didn’t try to map out the whole zine at once, just went page by page, letting the words determine the vibe for each spread.
The first spread is organized and primed, complete with a mini zine template and gridded background reminiscent of my cutting mat.
Spread two is sparse and static-y. It’s empty and waiting.
The third spread is chaotic and loud as inspiration hits and creation begins.
Next, I slapped a simple title page on the front and my QR code on the back.
I know this isn’t much of a how-to for solving artist block or a tutorial for zine making. But I hope it inspires you to stop waiting for the perfect idea and just get to creating. Sometimes the ideas are right in front of you, and when it comes to zines, even a few sentences is all it takes.
If you’re looking for weird zine tutorials, here are a few of mine:
If you’re looking for a tutorial for the basic 8-page zine I made in this post, my favorite tutorial is by Austin Kleon, How to make a zine from a single sheet of paper.
That said, if you’d like to support my art and writing, you can do so via my Ko-fi account. Thank you for being here, and please consider tagging me if I’ve inspired you to make something. I’d love to see it!
P.S. Obligatory post script to remind you that I started a mail club called the Mollusk Mail Club! As a member of the Mollusk Mail Club, you will receive quarterly shipments containing a postcard print, a sticker, a personal note, and at least one other fun thing. March’s shipments went out this past week; sign-ups are open now for June’s shipment!
Nice!
Love seeing the evolution throughout the form.