Wanna Publish Zines . . "

The confluence of several things has brought me to

publishing my own Zine -- a dead-tree Zine, limited run

Zine using a photocopier.

1) Seeing the Zines here in the Gemini space.

I think this one speaks for itself.

2) Getting my principal's copier code.

We have been locking photo copies down, but not in any

that takes into account how many copies the different

grades or disciplines would take to do their job.

Instead, it is a blanket limit. This forces us who need

more copies to ask for other people's codes. I hit the

jackpot in that I got a hold of my principal and pointed

out a legitimate need for copies as a resource I

requested was not able to be purchased.

Come to find out his copier code is unlimited. This

presented . . . possibilities.

My current version of the idea is to print the Zine on

my copier code, bookended by legitimate worksheets on

both ends, on the off-chance someone ends up glancing

(I mean, our copiers are hooked to the network and go

down when the internet goes down, so you have to assume

some of the bloat is employee surveillance), and then

anything else I need to do, for my actual job, I do on

the unlimited copy account.

3) Looking back at Tales from the Dorkweb

Specifically the Outsider Art issue. Though I am off YouTube

as a feed, I do allow myself to follow links, and so I saw

some of the stuff on Billy Childish, which does provide an

encouragement to express oneself. It set a sort of punk tone

for the Zine.

==

Making a paper Zine gives me the loveliest of opportunities:

the ability to work with my hands. For my first issue, I

penciled in a draft of the lay out and played around with

where the various written pieces, drawings, and word art

went. I used scissors and glue sticks to do the finished

lay out and then copied out my run of ten.

The Zine is two sheet of paper folded on the side, ie

"landscape." To bind, I simply use Elmer's "school glue"

with secret to making all glues work properly -- pressure

put the joint needs to be. (If you think glue isn't really

that strong, then this is the step you've been missing).

First I get the sheets together at the binding using a dowel

with two scraps on wood put on top so that a light weight

can in turn balance on top and put down some pressure right

where it is wanted -- and not where it isn't.

This step only has to last a few minutes. After that, I

fold the booklet up and then rig up weight along the outside

of the spine. For now, I am using the same pieces of scrap

and using weights and clamps, but soon I will use some other

wood and make little presses that use screws to tighten and

are just the right size.

==

I'd love to hear from people. My email is the handle minus

"net" (so, a work by Voltaire that starts with "c"), at

sdf.org.

While we're adding boiler plate: this work is in the public

domain. Do what you want with it.