I run a micro risograph press and have been feeling really happy to see zines coming back, and you've made a lot of great points here! I'm finding myself becoming more anti-AI and suspicious of platforms etc by the day.
I won't be paywalling my Substack. I like the idea of having somewhere to write and having those writings as a portal for people who might find interest in my other creative projects. On Patreon I run a zine subscription where I publish a monthly mini zine. The lower tiers of my Patreon gets you access to ready-to-peint digital versions of my zines, and I encourage all my subscribers to print and share as many as they want. The "physical zine tier" is a tier where supporters also get a copy of the latest zine I have published mailed to them, along with some other goodies (a few extra mini zines, a hand written letter and a handmade sticker). I've only had one physical zine subscriber, but I love the idea of a physical zine that you get via good old snail-mail. It's a great way of breaking away from the algorithms that have become so deeply ingrained in our daily lives. Would be rad if some of my Substack subscribers like what I do so much that they decide to support me by getting a physical zine sent to them monthly. Both my Substack and Patreon are still very small, but I also appreciate that since it feels more real. Those who do subscribe are there because they are really interested in what I share. I like that.
I also like the idea of turning something I post on Substack into a zine. I'm publishing a new piece on signatures on my Substack tomorrow and now you have sparked the idea, I can actually see how it would make a really cool zine too! Thanks for that!
I tried making one of my posts like a magazine, i wanna keep trying too. So its really neat to see this posted! Kinda like a lil push to keep going. Thanks!
I am a lifelong lover of zines! I just signed up for substack because I am hoping it's kind of like a collection of digital zines, in a way. Also, I couldn't believe my eyes but I have the same risograph print as you, of the hopping bunnies. I got mine at the Fort Myers zine fest a few months back :)
Oh my gosh, I love that. Mine is from St. Pete Zine Fest 2025 (I have a post about it). We're local! If you make it to SPZF26 do say hello, I vended this year and hope to next year as well.
I would love to say hi! I didn't make it to SPZF but I did make it to the Fort Myers and Miami ones this year. I'm new in SWFL and still trying to find my community. I subscribed to your page 😊
I don’t know much about zines but I am curious if it could open doors for things like being able to gather reference images before we had pinterest that you know won’t have Ai photos. Or for writers to share stories in chapters like in the victorian era when Charles Dickens and Jane Austin did that or Sherlock Homes stories and many others.
Yes, absolutely! I have seen some writers serialize their writing in zines, which I love. I have a long-running article series in my zine called The Second Canon where I take one guy's American Literature reading list and replace every author with women, people or color, or books about women and/or people of color while still maintaining an iconic, essential reading list that hits all the same points as the original. Once it's done I'll be revising in and making it into a standalone zine, so kind of the same philosophy as a serialized work. It makes a huge, long-term research project much more achievable and keeps me motivated to work on it, too.
That’s quite a project! I’m in the early writing phase but I’m actually thinking of sharing a graphic novel project as a “webcomic” on my substack. I didn’t always read newspapers but I did like to look at the comics page and publishing a comic in a newsletter especially if it was printed like a zine might give a similar feel but more like the other books I mentioned since the comic I’m working on is more long-form. Does that make sense? Haha
Absolutely! I've seen a few fun zines done this way. They kind of have the feel of the old books of comic strips I would buy as a kid, if that makes sense. I love the idea.
I am doing this and it has made both writing and comic-making doable for me! There's something about knowing I only have 8 pages to fill that gives me the motivation to actually get the job done. There's also something about knowing I can give a physical copy to people that's extremely exciting. It's not just a post on the internet, it's something ypu can truely interact with.
The zine scene passed me by until recently- I live in Norwich, England, and it's been becoming a big thing here over the past few years. I have all kinds of plans for how to join in and also came to the realisation that I could turn my newsletters into little zines (but still working on the format/aesthetics). I'm struggling to get writing published traditionally at the moment so it's nice to be able to take control and share something at least (both here and in a physical format). I'm planning to hand out a minizine at open mics etc with my substack details on the back, so if people like it maybe they will follow me here! Appreciate your posts for my zine education :)
I'm so glad you found zines! Yes, I've gotten some great ones from England, the scene there is definitely growing fast. I really think the first issue is always the hardest. When I started up again last year after a break I took so much time to get my first zine "just right," and now I'm scrapping and reformatting it so it matches my current style. Maybe first zines, like first pancakes, are always a throwaway lol And I'm so glad I can help :)
I've missed reading zines that comic artists made of their original stories or fans creating ones based on a series that they love. I don't feel like I should put my Substack behind a paywall, but I never thought about turning it into a zine. It's a great idea!
I absolutely love this idea. I used to create a zine with my literary group in the 90s. I am saving this so I can read with more focus and pen some ideas 🙏
I published a zine in high school, 40 years ago. To announce a recent live music gig, I made a two-page zine as a kind of promo, and then I snail mailed it to local record & book stores, art galleries, a public radio station, a New Age shop, and like-minded places. About 25 or 30 copies went out. I printed the text in Word (a little on my typerwriter’s dried ribbon, which I have since replaced), scanned and printed using my Epson ET-3843, which I think is a great machine, on both printer paper and a thicker card stock. I’ll do this again. I’ll do all the text on my Hermes 3000 typewriter next time, scan & print on the Epson, and mail ‘em out again. It was fun. It’s like an art project. Art projects should be fun.
Zines in the late 90s/early 00s were everything to me. Being involved in the zine scene definitely helped to shape who I became as an adult. I'm still friends with people I met on the Pander board, and, like you, I still have a collection. I haven't put out an issue of my zine in 20 years, but I occasionally get the urge. It makes me so happy to see they're having a resurgence. Couldn't have come at a better time.
Same! And I love that. I remember getting zines from Pander Zine Distro though I can't remember if I was on the message board. I know some of the zines I still have are from them. If you ever make zines again let me know if you'd like to swap!
As someone who is new to the community, I often find myself wondering if I'm not going to fit in or if I'm doing something wrong but overall I've found very positive vibes and warm welcomes!
I would also love love love to see more zines published by my favorite people. The only issue is money! If I subbed to 50 of my favorite creator's zines at $3/mo that'd be $150! That's the hard part about physical stuff I think. At least I'd actually see their work though haha. Maybe I can look into those Japanese illustration magazines again! I just remembered those.
It's a great community by and large! That's a great point, I guess in my idealized head if a bunch of us were making zines we'd probably be doing a lot more swapping and the article is more for people who are monetizing their content anyway without making any physical item for their readers to enjoy.
“PS: Zinester teachers, should I share my lesson plan?”
I’m not a zinester or a teacher, but I’d love for you to post your lesson plan!! I was a kid in the 90s but somehow missed zine culture and reading your article makes me want more.
I’ve actually been quietly thinking my substack might work well as a quiet little physical publication alongside other people’s quiet, quirky writing and art. (I like to think that’s how it’s being received anyway…) Reading this last night opened a question about how I maybe don’t have to figure out how to do that from scratch. And I will happily dive down that rabbit hole even without your lesson plan, but since you’re offering… yes please!
I used to write zines about 10 years ago. I am not planning to print zines again, but I’m trying hard to bring zine vibes to my Substack. Any tips for that?
I love this question so I have been brainstorming about it. One thing I love about zines is that the stuff that isn't necessarily SEO friendly is perfect zine content. There's a Substack here called "All the Birds In" that's all the birds in a given work that I think is just about a *perfect* example of zinetastic weirdness:
So embracing whatever niche, weird thing you want to talk about endlessly creates the perfect zine content vibe, in my opinion. Zines are 100% "what do I want to write about" and 0% "what do I think people want to read about." (In my opinion.) I hope that helps!
This is a great idea! I never thought about making my Substack into a zine. I used to be into them, but feel out a while ago. So I will have to get back into the culture, but it is one that I really enjoy too.
I really enjoy it. I'm online for my job as an artist and having zines where my writing is essentially only in print has been really fulfilling. People always say "write like no one's watching" but it's really hard to actually develop your voice as a writer when even no views IS feedback (at least for me). Writing a zine has really helped me re-develop my voice as a writer after years away from them.
I'm so glad! You absolutely should :) and heck, the first zine doesn't need to be perfect, just finished. You can (and will) develop your zine style and voice over time anyway. No time like the present to give it a go.
I run a micro risograph press and have been feeling really happy to see zines coming back, and you've made a lot of great points here! I'm finding myself becoming more anti-AI and suspicious of platforms etc by the day.
Thank you and so cool you're running a small riso press!
I agree, a lot of great points in this article… I am almost convinced.
Wow, risograph! it sounds amazing.
I won't be paywalling my Substack. I like the idea of having somewhere to write and having those writings as a portal for people who might find interest in my other creative projects. On Patreon I run a zine subscription where I publish a monthly mini zine. The lower tiers of my Patreon gets you access to ready-to-peint digital versions of my zines, and I encourage all my subscribers to print and share as many as they want. The "physical zine tier" is a tier where supporters also get a copy of the latest zine I have published mailed to them, along with some other goodies (a few extra mini zines, a hand written letter and a handmade sticker). I've only had one physical zine subscriber, but I love the idea of a physical zine that you get via good old snail-mail. It's a great way of breaking away from the algorithms that have become so deeply ingrained in our daily lives. Would be rad if some of my Substack subscribers like what I do so much that they decide to support me by getting a physical zine sent to them monthly. Both my Substack and Patreon are still very small, but I also appreciate that since it feels more real. Those who do subscribe are there because they are really interested in what I share. I like that.
I also like the idea of turning something I post on Substack into a zine. I'm publishing a new piece on signatures on my Substack tomorrow and now you have sparked the idea, I can actually see how it would make a really cool zine too! Thanks for that!
I'm so glad I sparked an idea, that's awesome! And I love that you have a digital zine for subscribers, too.
I love the sound of your set up and ethos!
Thank you!
I tried making one of my posts like a magazine, i wanna keep trying too. So its really neat to see this posted! Kinda like a lil push to keep going. Thanks!
That's so fun! And absolutely keep going <3
I am a lifelong lover of zines! I just signed up for substack because I am hoping it's kind of like a collection of digital zines, in a way. Also, I couldn't believe my eyes but I have the same risograph print as you, of the hopping bunnies. I got mine at the Fort Myers zine fest a few months back :)
Oh my gosh, I love that. Mine is from St. Pete Zine Fest 2025 (I have a post about it). We're local! If you make it to SPZF26 do say hello, I vended this year and hope to next year as well.
I would love to say hi! I didn't make it to SPZF but I did make it to the Fort Myers and Miami ones this year. I'm new in SWFL and still trying to find my community. I subscribed to your page 😊
Aww I didn't make it out to those but I'm going to try to do to more next year. If you ever want to swap too just say the word :)
I don’t know much about zines but I am curious if it could open doors for things like being able to gather reference images before we had pinterest that you know won’t have Ai photos. Or for writers to share stories in chapters like in the victorian era when Charles Dickens and Jane Austin did that or Sherlock Homes stories and many others.
Yes, absolutely! I have seen some writers serialize their writing in zines, which I love. I have a long-running article series in my zine called The Second Canon where I take one guy's American Literature reading list and replace every author with women, people or color, or books about women and/or people of color while still maintaining an iconic, essential reading list that hits all the same points as the original. Once it's done I'll be revising in and making it into a standalone zine, so kind of the same philosophy as a serialized work. It makes a huge, long-term research project much more achievable and keeps me motivated to work on it, too.
That’s quite a project! I’m in the early writing phase but I’m actually thinking of sharing a graphic novel project as a “webcomic” on my substack. I didn’t always read newspapers but I did like to look at the comics page and publishing a comic in a newsletter especially if it was printed like a zine might give a similar feel but more like the other books I mentioned since the comic I’m working on is more long-form. Does that make sense? Haha
Absolutely! I've seen a few fun zines done this way. They kind of have the feel of the old books of comic strips I would buy as a kid, if that makes sense. I love the idea.
I am doing this and it has made both writing and comic-making doable for me! There's something about knowing I only have 8 pages to fill that gives me the motivation to actually get the job done. There's also something about knowing I can give a physical copy to people that's extremely exciting. It's not just a post on the internet, it's something ypu can truely interact with.
The zine scene passed me by until recently- I live in Norwich, England, and it's been becoming a big thing here over the past few years. I have all kinds of plans for how to join in and also came to the realisation that I could turn my newsletters into little zines (but still working on the format/aesthetics). I'm struggling to get writing published traditionally at the moment so it's nice to be able to take control and share something at least (both here and in a physical format). I'm planning to hand out a minizine at open mics etc with my substack details on the back, so if people like it maybe they will follow me here! Appreciate your posts for my zine education :)
I'm so glad you found zines! Yes, I've gotten some great ones from England, the scene there is definitely growing fast. I really think the first issue is always the hardest. When I started up again last year after a break I took so much time to get my first zine "just right," and now I'm scrapping and reformatting it so it matches my current style. Maybe first zines, like first pancakes, are always a throwaway lol And I'm so glad I can help :)
Yes that's a good way to think of it - a fun little pancake! I will keep flipping haha
Sounds like a great idea Amber.
I’m working on my first zine. One of my colleagues is an avid zinester, and she’s cheering me on, telling me to hurry up so we can trade. 🩵
I love that! Nothing quite like a zine friend to swap with to help with motivation.
I've missed reading zines that comic artists made of their original stories or fans creating ones based on a series that they love. I don't feel like I should put my Substack behind a paywall, but I never thought about turning it into a zine. It's a great idea!
I'm so glad you like the idea!
I absolutely love this idea. I used to create a zine with my literary group in the 90s. I am saving this so I can read with more focus and pen some ideas 🙏
I appreciate you saving it and that literary zine sounds really fun! I hope it helps spark some ideas :)
I published a zine in high school, 40 years ago. To announce a recent live music gig, I made a two-page zine as a kind of promo, and then I snail mailed it to local record & book stores, art galleries, a public radio station, a New Age shop, and like-minded places. About 25 or 30 copies went out. I printed the text in Word (a little on my typerwriter’s dried ribbon, which I have since replaced), scanned and printed using my Epson ET-3843, which I think is a great machine, on both printer paper and a thicker card stock. I’ll do this again. I’ll do all the text on my Hermes 3000 typewriter next time, scan & print on the Epson, and mail ‘em out again. It was fun. It’s like an art project. Art projects should be fun.
That sounds awesome and I totally agree, art SHOULD be fun. The 24/7 grindset hustle culture is not very zine culture lol
Zines in the late 90s/early 00s were everything to me. Being involved in the zine scene definitely helped to shape who I became as an adult. I'm still friends with people I met on the Pander board, and, like you, I still have a collection. I haven't put out an issue of my zine in 20 years, but I occasionally get the urge. It makes me so happy to see they're having a resurgence. Couldn't have come at a better time.
Same! And I love that. I remember getting zines from Pander Zine Distro though I can't remember if I was on the message board. I know some of the zines I still have are from them. If you ever make zines again let me know if you'd like to swap!
As someone who is new to the community, I often find myself wondering if I'm not going to fit in or if I'm doing something wrong but overall I've found very positive vibes and warm welcomes!
I would also love love love to see more zines published by my favorite people. The only issue is money! If I subbed to 50 of my favorite creator's zines at $3/mo that'd be $150! That's the hard part about physical stuff I think. At least I'd actually see their work though haha. Maybe I can look into those Japanese illustration magazines again! I just remembered those.
It's a great community by and large! That's a great point, I guess in my idealized head if a bunch of us were making zines we'd probably be doing a lot more swapping and the article is more for people who are monetizing their content anyway without making any physical item for their readers to enjoy.
“PS: Zinester teachers, should I share my lesson plan?”
I’m not a zinester or a teacher, but I’d love for you to post your lesson plan!! I was a kid in the 90s but somehow missed zine culture and reading your article makes me want more.
Oh wow I really love that idea! Kind of like Zine School through Substack.
YES! Yes exactly!
I’ve actually been quietly thinking my substack might work well as a quiet little physical publication alongside other people’s quiet, quirky writing and art. (I like to think that’s how it’s being received anyway…) Reading this last night opened a question about how I maybe don’t have to figure out how to do that from scratch. And I will happily dive down that rabbit hole even without your lesson plan, but since you’re offering… yes please!
I’m surrounded by three loud children, can you tell I’m craving a little quiet? 🤫 😂
I used to write zines about 10 years ago. I am not planning to print zines again, but I’m trying hard to bring zine vibes to my Substack. Any tips for that?
I love this question so I have been brainstorming about it. One thing I love about zines is that the stuff that isn't necessarily SEO friendly is perfect zine content. There's a Substack here called "All the Birds In" that's all the birds in a given work that I think is just about a *perfect* example of zinetastic weirdness:
https://open.substack.com/pub/allthebirdsin/p/all-the-birds-in-this-is-how-you
So embracing whatever niche, weird thing you want to talk about endlessly creates the perfect zine content vibe, in my opinion. Zines are 100% "what do I want to write about" and 0% "what do I think people want to read about." (In my opinion.) I hope that helps!
Agreed! But how does that differ from Substack overall?
This is a great idea! I never thought about making my Substack into a zine. I used to be into them, but feel out a while ago. So I will have to get back into the culture, but it is one that I really enjoy too.
I really enjoy it. I'm online for my job as an artist and having zines where my writing is essentially only in print has been really fulfilling. People always say "write like no one's watching" but it's really hard to actually develop your voice as a writer when even no views IS feedback (at least for me). Writing a zine has really helped me re-develop my voice as a writer after years away from them.
I’m so encouraged by this. I have wanted to create zines but up until now I have felt stalled. This is so encouraging I just might give it a try!!
I'm so glad! You absolutely should :) and heck, the first zine doesn't need to be perfect, just finished. You can (and will) develop your zine style and voice over time anyway. No time like the present to give it a go.
I’m already dreaming it!!