Action Tips: Create a 'Zine (as in Maga-zine)

So you want to take a stand for your cause, but you want all your friends and classmates to listen? Create a 'zine full of articles, comics, and quizzes that will engage your friends and make them think.

FYI

A 'zine is defined as "An inexpensively produced, self-published, underground publication" - basically a great medium for you to get the word out cheaply and efficiently.

Square One

Creating a publication can be a ton of work (though it might look easy from afar). Start this process by sitting down with a notepad and brainstorming your way to a specific format, look and structure for your ‘zine. For instance, maybe you want to:

• Set up an anonymous letter collection and publish some letters (with responses) in the first section of your ‘zine.
• Separate the ‘zine into a visual section and a written section. Include comic strips about your cause. For example, you can have a strip about dating violence situations and how to handle them. Of course dating violence isn’t a laughing matter, but you can handle it in a sensitive way while making it visually interesting as well.
• Include a quiz. For example, if your cause is environment, you can have a quiz titled “How Green are You?” followed by tips on how to “greenify” your life. Or if it’s dating violence, a quiz on how to tell if you are a victim of dating violence and a section of resources to help those who might be in a violent relationship.

Make a list and check it twice

Once you have a good idea of how you want your ‘zine to be structured and separated, you can start compiling a list of the articles you'll need. This list will change over the course of the next month (give yourself a solid month for production), but it's good to have a strong list before you start.

Collection

This part might be difficult but you’ll have to do it to get some articles for your ‘zine. Your classmates are so busy with school and sports and everything else that it's hard to get them to do anything extra. Set up a meeting with a teacher or principal who might let you post flyers. And set up collection points throughout your school.

• You could also treat your writers to something nice (an incentive) like ice cream cones for all, driving them to school for a week or study help.
• Another idea is to search the internet for real stories about your cause. Just be sure to contact the website and find out if you can reprint those stories.
• You can also contact a local hotline or cause related group. For example, if your cause if domestic violence, contact a group or shelter and see if a service provider will be willing to submit an article or maybe they can direct you to someone who has experienced dating violence and is willing to share their experience. If they don’t want to write it, maybe they’d be willing to be interviewed.

Putting it all together

Now, it's up to you how you want to assemble your awesome publication. In true ‘zine fashion, you could cut and paste everything onto paper, photocopy it and staple the binding (completely DIY, i.e. Do It Yourself). If you are computer graphics savvy, you could assemble everything (art and writing alike) electronically.

Pass it out

Check with adults at school like teachers and your principal to see when you can pass your ‘zine out to your classmates. If this doesn't work, you might be able to leave a pile in the guidance office or at a local store where kids from your school hang out. And if you love the experience, maybe you have a future in journalism!