David Fulcher, a founding member and contributing editor of Old Scratch Press poetry/short form collective will be featured at Stone Soup Poetry October 28th, 7 pm ET, for a special horror-themed reading! David will be reading his poems and a short story.
To join this fun Halloween-themed event, go to Stone Soup’s Blog or follow the instructions below:
Stone Soup Poetry meets every Wednesday online from 7:00-9:00 PM via Zoom. Stay tuned for updates on any future live gatherings. On October 28, Stone Soup ends October with a proper horror themed reading from David Fulcher.
R. David Fulcher is a publisher, editor, and writer of fiction and poetry who lives in Ashburn, Virginia with his wife Lisa, and their rambunctious cats. He is a founding member/contributing editor of Old Scratch Press, including a curator for the digital magazine Instant Noodles. He also is a publisher/editor of the magazine Samsara. His books are The Pumpkin King and Other Tales of Terror, Asteroid 6: And Other Tales of Cosmic Horror, and Howling Into the Void. His shorter works are in Lovecraft’s Mystery Magazine, Black Satellite, The Martian Wave, Burning Sky, Shadowlands, Twilight Showcase, Heliocentric Net, Gateways, Weird Times, Freaky Frights and the anthologies Dimensions and Silken Ropes.
Join us on Wednesday, October 28, from 7:00 to 9:00 PM ET by clicking this link.
If you haven’t delved into the Zine scene lately, you may be missing out! A zine, pronounced “zeen,” short for “fanzine” or “magazine” is a personal hand-crafted publication that can contain anything the creator’s imagination can supply and often devoted to unconventional subject matter!
Zines are made to share, trade, explore, discover and celebrate all modes of self-expression that can be printed: writing, art, photography. All you need to create a basic one is pen and paper. (A photocopier helps if you want to produce more quantity!)
My latest close encounter with zines happened when a professor at the university where I work asked to display her students’ zines in the library where others could read them or even take one with them if they wanted. She was teaching a class called Zine Writing and her students produced a variety of zines on fascinating topics ranging from their personal struggles with cultural assimilation to social justice issues affecting them and their families. I was really captivated by their insightful observations and the accompanying artwork, which included collages, flags, maps, masks, pictures of food, drawings and even a playlist!
These zines were tiny pamphlets cleverly folded from a single 8.5 X 11 piece of paper, but zines come in all shapes and sizes.
How-to Zine
A quick YouTube search will yield many zine-making tutorials:
This guide shows how to make a zine from a single piece of paper such as the students did—no staples required!
Find a Zine Event Near You!
If you want to fire up your imagination, you can view original zines or learn how to craft one at a Zine fair or Zine fest! Zine events take place worldwide; you can easily search for your city or region and zine fair/ zine fest / zine event and the current year to find a zine-making workshop at your local library or a zine festival that includes many publishers:
Printed Matter lists both national and international zine events organized by state or country.
“Founded in 2015 by EXILE Projects as part of O, Miami Poetry Month, the Fair is a free, public celebration of self-publishing and independent print culture. Each year, it brings together over 150 artists, writers, illustrators, activists, and poets from Miami and beyond.
Visitors can explore hundreds of zines—handmade and expertly crafted—alongside workshops, performances, and multimedia projects. Open to all ages and backgrounds, the Miami Zine Fair invites the public to browse, touch, and engage with the vibrant world of independent publishing.”
Zine New Wave
Some see the Zine resurgence as a response to an increasingly digital world:
One reason writers and poets are attracted to the zine medium:
”Zines offer an intimate platform for sharing personal stories, poetry, and experimental writing that might not fit into traditional publishing models.”
The above article offers advice on how to delve deeper into the zine culture:
“Zine Fairs and Festivals: Keep an eye out for local and online zine fairs. These events are fantastic opportunities to discover new zines, meet creators, and connect with the community.
Independent Bookstores and Art Spaces: Many independent bookstores and art galleries are now stocking zines, recognizing their cultural significance.
Online Communities: Platforms like Instagram and Tumblr host thriving zine communities. Search hashtags like #zine, #zinester, #diyzine, and #[yourcountry]zines to discover creators and connect with others.
Directly from Creators: Many zine makers sell their work directly through their own websites or social media. Support independent artists by buying directly!”
“Social critiques, personal diary rants and impassioned protests are just some of the topics commonly discussed within feminist zines. Zines are able to bypass traditional gate-keeping mechanisms that silence non-dominant voices and perspectives. As a result, zines offer a platform upon which feminists of all genders are using words, images and other non-violent discursive practices to advocate for equity, mobilize activist efforts and build and sustain community.”
You can see how zines have become a much-valued venue for self-expression!
Dip a toe in the zine pool and you might wake up a tsunami of creativity!
