Make a Zine!: Start Your Own Underground Publishing Revolution

If you're entirely new to zines, I'm not sure if this is the best book for you. Frankly, you might do better to buy a bunch of actual, homegrown zines. Order a wide variety of them, in lots of different styles & genres. Then you'll have a better idea of the zine scene.But then again, maybe this is such an all-encompassing reference, it may be exactly what you need at your elbow, once you decide to be part of this crazy, underground-ish publishing community.For starters, the cover of the book I received is only vaguely like the illustration on the sales page. Mine is multicolored, and I actually like it, but that was the first warning that this book wasn't what I was expecting.Then there's the size. I should have read the description. It really is just a little larger than 5" x 7". In my mind, I'd expected something bigger. My mistake.As a result of the dimensions of the book, the type inside is tiny. I was tempted to use a magnifying glass for some of it. The illustrations aren't well-served by their scaled-down sizes, either.At the very least, do what I did, and read it in full sunlight or under an especially bright reading lamp.I did, and that's when I realized that I'd read an earlier version of this, years ago.So, with so much "meh" in this review, why am I giving it four stars...?Because it's a superb textbook, covering almost every aspect of every kind of zine you might consider creating and publishing.Sure, if you're planning to publish a one-off zine for friends, you may not need this book. Start with your unique vision, put it together, call it a zine, and share it. (In a way, that describes the roots of the zine movement. It's a renegade, low-tech, counter-culture form of creative expression... in print.)However, if you're thinking in bigger terms such as wide distribution and multiple issues over an extended period of time, this book will help you make plans that will support that creative vision. In fact, it might be essential.For me, this book could have been a five-star winner if it had been published in a full 8.5" x 11" format. I searched the book for a link to a PDF (I'd have happily paid for it) to print this larger for full enjoyment.No luck.Then again, zines are meant to be eccentric. And, in that spirit, perhaps this book is perfect as it is.

This book tells you everything you need to know to create your own zine. It's a small size and has a hand-made feel to it -- like a zine. Very helpful. I would recommend it for anyone interested in producing their own zines.

Good how-to stuff! Especially on binding and layout and copyright.

This book is quite well-written and has fun illustrations. Sometimes it's hard to concentrate when I read, but no problems here--Just what I was looking for!

Great book. Very fun. Very informative about the zine community and its history.

Worth a read for some encouragement, but not really necessary.