Signing up for a zine fest (even though I did have a zine yet)

This week, I am telling you everything about the time I signed up for a wine festival even if I didn't have a zine made yet.

If you are part of the organization of the New Lynn zine festival, don't worry, zines will be ready for the 18th of February.

What is a zine?

So first, what is a zine? Basically, it's a paper publication, with a diversity of shape and length, some very DIY and with a more or less profound message. A zine can be made by anyone, artists, political movements, fans, by anyone who wants to express themselves. Basically, zines are the ancestor of blogs.

What is a zine fest?

A zine festival is therefore, without much surprise, an event around zines. Creators exhibit their work and the public comes to stroll through the aisles and sometimes even buy their work. It's also a time for creators to meet each other, build bonds, initiate projects or share resources.

Zine and me, the past

The subject of the zine has been on my mind for a few years. I first became interested in it when I wanted to start an independent magazine. At the time, I tried to make a zine with photos from a trip to Spain, but I never managed to finish that project. I wanted to do everything perfectly even though it was the first time, I got lost in details, my creativity was completely swallowed by stress. Definitely, the opposite of what the zine culture advocates, which is based on creativity, self-expression and embracing imperfection. So I left this desire aside.

Zine and me, the present

When I arrived in New Zealand, I registered at the library and I realized that they had a whole shelf of zines available, as well as books on the subject. It made me want to take up the subject again. I grabbed a sheet of paper and a pen and created my first zine in twenty minutes. Well, normally there would be a reproduction stage, with a photocopier for example, but this zine wasn't for the public. I just wanted to prove to myself that I was capable of finishing this project, unlike a few years ago.

From this newfound passion, I started following Instagram accounts of zine festivals in New Zealand, to find out about upcoming editions to attend, but also with the secret hope that I could participate. A few months later, I saw a post about a new zine festival in the New Lynn area. The organizers were looking for stallholders. And bonus, the stalls were free.

Wanting to join a zine fest

I spent the day fantasizing about being one of those creators, having a stall, meeting people, organizing, and most importantly, what I could create. Old reflexes came back to spoil the party a bit. I thought "No, but why would the organization choose me? Anyway, I don't have anything yet, and if I manage to create something, it will suck, nobody will like what I do. And it's going to be hard to do, like when I tried a few years ago."

Fortunately, in the last few years, I have accumulated several experiences that contradict these ungrateful thoughts. For example, my first lino and one of my poems were selected for a group exhibition on the theme A Table (a French expression inviting people to come to the table to eat). Also, I won a photo contest on the theme of K road, a well known street in Auckland. Finally, I started stand-up comedy and now people tell me I'm funny at the end of open mics. And I did it all on the basis of "I have nothing to lose by trying. At worst, I won't be chosen but at least I will have tested the first steps of this new experience".

Photographic journey zines

So I thought about what kind of zine I could create. I needed something easy enough to do, that I could easily pitch in my entry and in which I already had some experience so I wouldn't have to do everything in step one. The easiest thing to do was to make photo zines on different themes. I already had my pictures on the K road theme. And I had a stock of photos from a day in Waiheke, which is an island near Auckland. Also, I knew I was going on holidays to Wellington and Christchurch, so I would have photos from those places.

As a bonus, the entry form said it was possible to sell other work. I've done a lot of linocutting and painting here. One of my goals for the year was to sell one of each. So this was the perfect opportunity for that.

Last check of possibilities

To make sure I have time to get everything done before the festival date, I made a list of all the tasks that need to be done. Choose the photos. Touch up the photos. Layout them. Choose titles. Find a printer. Fold the printed sheets. Think about the necessity and the possibility of a packaging. Find out about prices. Thinking about how to display my stall and arrange my artwork. In short, I thought it would be a great experience. Also, I saw it as an opportunity to have a deadline to finally release a zine after years of thinking about it.

So I signed up.

And I got the answer this week: I was accepted!

So I'll leave you guys to it because I've got some work to do.

What about you?

Thank you for reading this article of How to be a beginner! Let me know on Instagram what you tried this week!