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Zines allow us to create<br />
something as unique as we<br />
are. They are a form of free<br />
expression, where parts of<br />
ourselves can be explored<br />
creatively, and presented<br />
with freedom and choice<br />
“They provide us with something<br />
to focus on which will be of<br />
interest and value to others, which<br />
can give us a sense of purpose<br />
and meaning,” explains Jane.<br />
“Creativity provides an outlet for<br />
us to explore, be, and express our<br />
true selves.”<br />
Visit hopezine.com<br />
MAKE YOUR OWN ZINE<br />
A good way to start is to decide<br />
what you want your zine to be<br />
about. Try thinking of a theme,<br />
such as ‘living with anxiety’ or ‘my<br />
favourite family recipes’. Consider<br />
if it is a project for yourself, a<br />
gift, or do you like the idea of<br />
distributing it?<br />
Zines can contain a range of<br />
creative techniques. One of my<br />
favourites is using ‘found objects’:<br />
items we are all surrounded by.<br />
This can be newspaper cuttings,<br />
old train tickets, receipts –<br />
anything goes! These can be kept<br />
whole or arranged into collages.<br />
If you feel stuck, try “free<br />
writing”. Take 10 minutes to sit<br />
with your notebook and write. You<br />
could use a key word or phrase<br />
that summarises the theme for<br />
your zine as a starting point.<br />
Maybe you have illustrations or<br />
photos you’d like to include? Lists<br />
are also great to use.<br />
It could be music<br />
you’re listening to,<br />
places you want to<br />
visit, stereotypes<br />
you want to challenge, or your<br />
ambitions.<br />
The other consideration is how<br />
you will put it together. I like<br />
using quality A4 paper folded into<br />
an A5 booklet. Once it’s done,<br />
and I’ve made any photocopies, I<br />
staple these in the middle. I once<br />
used thread to bind it – which<br />
looked beautiful, though sewing<br />
paper is time consuming and<br />
fiddly! There are also various<br />
paper-folding techniques, with<br />
lots of guides available online.<br />
Plus you can create zines<br />
electronically. Erica’s Hopezine is<br />
a great example of this, and she<br />
provides both PDF and printed<br />
versions of the finished work.<br />
You could, like Erica, collaborate<br />
with others. Do you have friends<br />
who write poetry, or create<br />
artwork? Some zine creators post<br />
callouts for contributions online.<br />
This is a great way of bringing<br />
together diverse voices around a<br />
theme, again building the sense of<br />
community.<br />
There is no right way to make a<br />
zine, so relax, and enjoy creating<br />
something that’s personal and a<br />
perfect space for exploring your<br />
experiences.<br />
44 | September <strong>2021</strong> | <strong>happiful</strong>.com