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Archives Interview for May/June 2008! An interview with the lovely Katie of Aubade and we are not machines! zine. She has been doing her zines for years and I got the chance to ask her a couple questions and she was kind enough to answer. If you want a copy of her zine you can get an issue through gimme brains! or email katie about it here. first off, how did you get into zines? When I was in high school, a few of my friends were really into zines, and they showed me a copy of brainscan. After I read through that and a bunch of other zines my friends had made, I decided I wanted to make one, and so I spent the next two weeks putting together my very first zine. After that, it was sort of an addiction, and I started putting them out every few months. That was 5 years ago. what is your layout, zine making process like? My layout process has changed a lot over the years. At first, it was very cut and paste-y, using lots of photos that I, or my friends, had taken and pictures from magazines, but now it's much more text-based, and my latest zine, aubade #4, has a very simple layout: handwritten headings, a couple of simple line drawings, and typewritten text. And I think that shift reflects a change in what my zines have turned into. When I first started, it was almost a scrapbooky kind of thing--a way to document what I was going through in my life in a very personal way. Now, the zine is much more writing-centric, and I think that's what the layout really showcases. what is your purpose of making a zine? It's kind of weird--I sort of have this love/hate relationship with zines and I struggle with the question of why I make them. It happens every time I start writing one. Sometimes it's really clear and obvious to me why I do it and other times I think it is sort of a silly and self-indulgent kind of activity. I think when I started I looked at it as another way to express myself, and I was really addicted to the process of making something. I really liked working on something and then at the end being able to hold it in my hands and get feedback from my friends. That's very satisfying. I still enjoy that part of it, but it's a little different now. I think the satisfaction comes less from the actual process of making a zine and more from getting out a message about how I feel about myself and my place within the world. I also really enjoy the process of writing and editing, and I feel like my zines give me a place to practice that skill. how do you feel about the role of the internet with zines? do you feel like e-zines are part of the zine world? You know, I came into the zine world when the Internet was already a big part of it, so it's hard for me to really compare "the way it was" with "the way it is now," if that makes any sense. Letter writing is an activity I really believe in, and one that very few people--even zinesters--indulge in that often, which I find frustrating at times, and maybe the Internet has something to do with that. What I mean by that is, I'm much more likely to receive feedback about my zines through email rather than through the mail, which doesn't bother me at all, but I do think something is lost when you can't see a person's handwriting or "listen" to them rambling without having a delete key like you do in an email. As far as e-zines go, I don't read any, so I can't really evaluate how I feel about them, but I do read a lot of blogs. Like, hundreds, every day. And I have favorite websites and places I visit online frequently, and so the Internet is a huge part of my life, and I do think that there are some great ideas, great writing, great design and layout out there online. It's just a different medium. are there many people in your area that you get to talk about zines? how do you explain to others that don't know what zines are? No, there aren't many people in my normal life that I talk to about zines. I mean, my friends all know that I write zines and we talk about it sometimes, and I do have one friend who draws comics who I talk to sometimes about zines, but for the most part, it is a solitary activity for me. But that's not really by choice--if there were a place for me to go and talk about zines, I would totally be there. The first time that really happened for me was at the Richmond Zine Fest last year, which was the first zinefest I'd ever been to, and it was a really exhilarating and inspiring experience to be in a room with that many zinesters, all talking about this thing that I love so much. As for defining what zines are for people who aren't familiar with them, I mean, I can rattle off the same definition that most people use--a zine is a small, DIY, self-published magazine with (usually) a low print run about, basically, anything you want it to be--but I have a hard time just leaving it at that. It sounds really flat and boring, and I think the best way to really explain what a zine is to someone who is unfamiliar with them is to show them examples. Maybe it's just because I think about zines so much that I really think it's impossible to come up with a definition that encapsulates everything zines can be. how do you feel about being in the zine community? what would you like to see more in the community? Reading other people's zines is really important to me. I read a lot, in general--lots of novels, lots of blogs, lots of zines--and there's something about zine writing that is intensely personal and moving and inspiring that I very rarely find anywhere else. I think it's important to have that community of writers out there in order to keep up this very real, critical conversation of what it means to be living in today's society. I guess my biggest wish for the zine community would be to have more interaction between readers and writers. Sometimes I feel like when I write my zines they are going out into this black hole, and I sort of wish that it was more of a conversation. I say something, then you respond--tell me if you agree or if you think it's bullshit or whatever. But then, I don't want to saddle zines with that kind of obligation, either. So I guess I just wish that more people wanted to respond and evaluate what people are putting out there, which has more to do with people than zines, making it a kind of silly wish how do you distribute your zines? do you go through distros? shows? or simply trading around? or maybe some other way? I distribute my zines through distros, and I also do some distributing on my own. I think this is one of the hardest parts about the zine process--actually getting the thing into the hands of people who want to read it. I post on message boards and online zine communities, and I try to write letters to the author of every zine I read, which a lot of times results in a trade. what ideas do you have for the future? I have about forty thousand ideas for zines I want to make in the future. I just started making this zine called we are not machines! that is about technology, and I really love it. It's really small and weird and kind of angry, and it's a much quicker project than aubade, so I feel like I can try new things with it that I can't do with do with other zines I write. I feel free to push the boundaries of what a zine is in that project, which is really exciting, because I'm not sure there are boundaries. what other d.i.y. projects do you do? Ummm. Zining is by far the biggest DIY project I do, but I think there's kind of a whole mindset behind DIY that is applicable to my own life. To be brief, I think that philosophy is just that I can do anything. I can. You can, too. Now go do it. April, 2008 For this month, I asked questions to another Toronto zine writer, Keet of Echo! Echo! Her zines are amazing! She constantly impresses me with each zine she puts out. Check out her website: http://hellonoelle.com/diy/ first off, how did you get into zines? I've been making ugly newsletters since I was in fifth grade, but I really got into the whole zine thing when a friend of mine gave me a zine called Jawbreaker when I was a junior in high school. In a lot of ways it was also my introduction to radical feminism. It had interesting articles on vegetarianism in a Third World country, as well as the elusive topic of female masturbation, and breaking the Catholic schoolgirl stereotype. I think it they only printed one issue, but all of the articles stuck to me and it was so inspiring that since then I had it in my subconscious to make a zine. But I never really got around to it until four years later (2006), when I moved to Toronto. I was reading White Oleander and there was this part where Astrid (the main character) went to the comic book shop that sold zines. It was only a sentence but it really triggered my memory. Then I googled, so the rest is history. what is your layout, zine making process like? It depends on what kind of zine I'm creating. But when I'm doing Echo! Echo! (my perzine), I always start with a mock-up of the zine, then I scan pages and then do it on the computer. I'm actually afraid to do a cut-and-paste layout of a whole issue because I keep changing my mind all the time. I do a lot of illustrations on paper, but edit a lot on the computer. And recently I just found out that I was never the kind of person who collects articles before actually laying out the zine-- although I have notebooks filled with ideas, 70% never actually make it to the finished zine, but it's nice to have something to go back to when I'm stuck, which happens most of the time. Har. I might have to change the way I work. what is your purpose of making a zine? At first it was just to see if I can do it, to prove I can finish something. But as time went by I realized how important zine-making is for my sanity. It's one form of expression I can rely on. Sometimes just writing, or just drawing can't cut it as well as creating a zine does. Zines are one of the best ways of getting everything I feel out there, where I know someone is bound to understand. And it's actually the documentation of my personal revolution. how do you feel about the role of the internet with zines? do you feel like e-zines are part of the zine world? The internet has been awesome especially when it comes to meeting like-minded people and distribution. I don't think I'll be able to get my zines out there as much as I would like if I was left to my own devices. And of course, I never would've heard of all the great zines out there if it weren't for online distros and communities. So there is one thing the internets is good for. As for e-zines, aren't they just like blogs? I like to think of them as similar things, unless e-zines were in PDF format. Then that wouldn't be a blog. But I don't know, it feels better to hold an actual paper copy than staring at an electronic version onscreen, although I can't deny it saves a lot of money you'd otherwise spend on photocopying and postage. But still... are there many people in your area that you get to talk about zines? how do you explain to others that don't know what zines are? I give my zines to my circle of friends in Toronto every chance I get. Some of them became familiar with zines because I gave them one of mine, which is awesome. I've yet to meet Toronto zinesters, though I exchange letters and zines from other people around Canada. But it feels great sharing zines with people who don't make them because I like the idea of introducing the possibilities. And zines are full of that. Pure possibility. Woot. how do you feel about being in the zine community? what would you like to see more in the community? Everything's been peachy so far. It feels great to be part of a community that's so creative and open-minded. In the short time I've been active in the community, I learned a lot, met a bunch great people, and got a lot of positive feedback from my zines. I can see how the community can get clique-ish sometimes, but I guess it's all about remaining open to new people and perspectives. Yeah. how do you distribute your zines? do you go through distros? shows? or simply trading around? or maybe some other way? I love shopdropping, inserting my zines in library and bookstore books. One of the people in charge of the Toronto Zine Library actually found one of mine that I shopdropped in Pages (Toronto's indie bookstore), which was cool. I'm kind of afraid of submitting my zine to distros, though I know everyone's considerate and awesome most of the time. It's just me. I have a really small print-run (50 copies max) that I'm still quite reluctant to increase, because I feel that if I see too much of my zine floating around the immediacy gets lost. I'd like to try submitting for my next issues though. I amassed my zine collection just by trading. I think it's the best way to share zines with other people. It's like getting a piece of their brain in return for a piece of yours. Woot. what ideas do you have for the future? I'm currently planning to write a body image zine. It's something that I've always wanted to do, something that I've always cared about, growing up fat and Asian in a society that values slender, submissive women. I fucking smash the stereotypes and disappoint a lot of people. I haven't worked out most of the details, much less written anything for it, but it already has a title. I'm excited. what other d.i.y. projects do you do? Just recently, I relearned to operate a sewing machine. Yay! I also have a silkscreen kit that I've yet to put to good use. I have a lot of plans fermenting in my head. Someday, someday. December, 2007 Clemetine Cannibal. She writes licking stars off the ceiling and used to write she breathes. You can visit her site here: go! first off, how did you get into zines? a book called "a girl's guide to taking over the world". it's a book full of exerpts from girlzines. i was really young when i read, younger than their intended audience i'm sure. but i'm so glad i read it. the writing was direct and frank and to the point and it was about masturbation, queer sexuality, being a girl, sexual abuse, incest. these were the things i was too scared to say. way too scared to say for years. but other girls were saying them and i wasn't alone and i wasn't a total freak. i started making zines when i was thirteen. i started publishing them when i was fifteen. my first zine was called "saliva girl", then i had "persephone's passion", then i had "she breathes". "licking stars off ceilings" is my zine now and the one i'm sticking with. what is your layout, zine making process like? first i write. i write all the time, in diaries, on scraps of paper, on the computer, whatever. i just write and write and write. then eventually it starts coming together, i select the pieces, either type or hand write them depending on if a computer is available. then when it's all ready i cut it up and paste it together. the clip art i use is stuff from my life like condom packages and porn mags and shit i find when i'm walking around my city. then when it's all pasted together i go to the copy place and fight with the photocopier. what is your purpose of making a zine? i need to write to live. i need to tell my stories. i also want other girls to read them. i want to do for other girls what girlzines have done for me. i want to show that i'm a human being, sexual, alive, complex, messy, horrible, beautiful, everything, real. i want to talk about the things we're not allowed to talk about. i want to talk about sexual violence and sexual liberation. i want other girls to open their mouths and say what they have to say. i want a riot grrrl revolution of honesty and girl solidarity and support. i want to say: hey girl let's be friends. how do you feel about the role of the internet with zines? do you feel like e-zines are part of the zine world? for me any place where girls spill guts is amazing and important. online diaries, ezines, websites, zines, graffiti on the bathroom wall, whatever in may be. it's all important. the thing i love about zines is that they're physical, tangible, real. they can't be deleted or disappear. they have a life of their own and can exist for years and years and you'll never know who's hands your zines end up in. you never know who's mind your thoughts are in now and it's a beautiful conversation with riot grrrl. are there many people in your area that you get to talk about zines? how do you explain to others that don't know what zines are? there is a bit of zine community in toronto but i haven't been very involved in it as of yet. i went to canzine (a zine fair in toronto) this year and it was really cool. i spent a lot of my years in a small town though that had no zine community, so i did it through mail. nowadays in toronto i like to give my zines to random girls i see, especially when i'm drunk haha. i walk up to them and say: hey i thought you looked interesting and i wanted to give you my zine. they say: what's a zine. i say: it's my art and writing and i photocopied it in a book. how do you feel about being in the zine community? what would you like to see more in the community? i think it's still too much of a boyworld. too judgemental towards girls. too elitest. i want to see support and encouraging each other. i want to see riot grrrl zines, girlzines, i want to see what girls have to say. i think a lot of people are rude to girls who do zines and talk about things like depression and relationships. "girl topics" i feel like girlzines aren't taken seriously by some people unless they're done a certain way. i say fuck any rules about zines. girls, i want to read your zine and i want to read what you really have to say about your life. how do you distribute your zines? do you go through distros? shows? or simply trading around? or maybe some other way? i have sent them to online distros before. i tabled at the last canzine. i've done trades through the mail. i've sold some of my old zines at stores around toronto. i send them to zine libraries. i give them to random girls on the street. what ideas do you have for the future? i'm a zinemaking machine, i can't seem to stop. what other d.i.y. projects do you do? just simply living a gorgeous life that embodies my passions. November, 2007 I got to interview Dodo from Germany. She writes Wolverette zine which she aims to provide a space for herself and other grrrls to express themselves. first off, how did you get into zines? I don't exactly remember, my own zine is only about a year old but i have written for lots of other grrrlzines in the past. i definately got into it via riot grrrl, and grrrlzines have always been my main focus. what is your layout, zine making process like? first i get an idea about what topic might be interesting for the next issue. i write a bit myself, and then wait for contributions (i put my call for submissions in which i describe what kinda stuff i want for my zine on a few message boards and my homepage, http://wolverette.wordpress.com; i bait ppl with a gratis copy which is just fair i think). if i can think of a person who might have to say something interesting about the topic, i'm gonna ask them for an e-mail-interview. practically everything runs over e-mail, its the most comfy way since that way i can copy&paste into the zine document. when i think i've got enough i will reread and if necessary correct stuff, add the pictures, and when i am satisfied with the whole layout, i will print it out, maybe add some handwritten stuff or glue in pics, then put the whole stuff to the copyshop. what is your purpose of making a zine? First: I love zines. Having written something and then see the final project is amazing. Plus, I think they are important to the riot grrrl scene or underground scenes in general, it makes us somewhat independent from the mainstream mechanism, the whole DIY ethic behind it is amazingly anti-capitalist (let's face it, you cant really make money, its cool if you only come out even) and creative. Plus, personally I think Grrrlzines have taken a weird road. A lot of them today are nice and cute but don't have much real content, mostly just personal in&out lists, or a superficial short rant about why britney sucks. while this is fine, too (taking action is always good and hey, the personal is political - always!) I found it lacks balance, I want more reflected zines in the grrrl/feminist zine world so i tried to create a zine that i personally would wanna read. Now Wolverette isn't exactly super profound but thats okay. I try to make decent stuff which is on the other hand also readable without having a degree in gender/womens' studies. EVERYONE should read and enjoy it and get at least a bit of quality. I hope i meet my standards. so far the feedback was positive. My main point though is that there are so many girls out there who have a LOT of important and interesting stuff to say. I see that in discussions, be it real life or message boards/blogs. the internet has done something good, girls have an oportunity to voice their opinions without having to face the consequences of uttering uncomfortable ideas in real life. but that has also made them lazy. I hear from so many girls how theyd like to write something or that they like my zine but they themselves dont dare to write cause they think they cant do it, that their stuff won't be good enough, that they have nothing to say. which is - unfortunately - typical for girls. and it's not true. so far i have not turned down a single contribution. for a reason. they were all good! i wanna make the ladies kick themselves in their asses and dare to make their opinions, ideas and thoughts heard, i want to encourage them to take their own thoughts seriously and worthwile, to make them formulate it in words and send them to a zine. so that they realize that what they have to say is precious, cause it is. i hope if they contribute to a zine (in this case mine) and then hold an actual print copy in their hand, they feel like a proud parent of the issue, that they take a little pride in their own thoughts by seeing them printed and distributed to like-minded folks. it's a huge pity that too many girls are so shy: think of all the wonderful ideas, inspiration and stuff that gets lost just cause girls feel their opinions dont really matter! i wanna make a little change. maybe it will encourage them to take further action. and read more zines. sharing thoughts and experiences is so important. how do you feel about the role of the internet with zines? do you feel like e-zines are part of the zine world? actually i prefer print zines. i feel like they have... more "soul" in them. e-zines kinda lack a bit of the excitement. which doesn't mean I wanna exclude e-zines. any place where people (especially minorities or women/girls) make their voices heard is good. and it certainly IS fun to read through a good e-zine! it also has the advantage that its update more often, you can publish current issues/incidents more quickly. i think the whole blogosphere has done a lot of good stuff for feminism in general. All in all i love the internet cause its easier to communicate with people, getting contributions(its easier to overcome your inhibitions on the net, which is good in this case), making your zine known and it also makes distribution a lot easier. are there many people in your area that you get to talk about zines? how do you explain to others that don't know what zines are? i dont talk with many people about zines. zines are for reading, not talking. talking is also great, of course!! though when someone reads something particularly interesting it will probably be shared and discussed. for example, the sexual abuse issue of "not just boys fun" shocked me a lot. its a really important issue but very, very hard to read. I just HAD to talk to somebody about that. i guess it pretty much works like with other magazines; you talk about something interesting you've read. How do I explain the term zine to others who don't know about it? i say it's a DIY magazine, mostly made by alternative or underground scenes. i guess that gets the point across. how do you feel about being in the zine community? what would you like to see more in the community? well, I can only talk about the grrrl-zine-community; i don't have much contact with the rest. but those ladies are fucking awesome. i got lotsa nice contacts, also lotsa nice zines via zine swaps. exchanging ideas and stuff. its absolutely inspiring.what i would like to see in the zine community is, of course, more grrrls!!! and yeah, sometimes a little more quality - i've already talked about that. which shouldn't discourage ANYONE to write for or create a zine!!!!!!!! the pure act of zine-making is a cool thing itself. i just wish the grrrls out there would take their own thoughts more seriously (again, probably a self esteem issue typical for girls - thats what our society expects us to be like - quiet, docile and humble, so its not only our own fault - just ANOTHER reason to fight it!) and get more into detail, maybe do a little research. when i'm getting a superficial zine i'm not disappointed cause i dont like the zine (i do, its always enjoyable, never seen pure crap) but cause i think the writer/zine owner didn't dare to take her thoughts important enough to take it on further, that they don't see their thoughts as important enough to be analyzed. i wish that would change. Girls, your thoughts are precious, so please dare them to treat that way! how do you distribute your zines? do you go through distros? shows? or simply trading around? or maybe some other way? i distribute them myself. I accept cash, stamps (only german ones though for the obvious reason that i live in germany) and trades, especially zine trades, i wanna make it for everybody possible to get a copy if they want one. details can be seen here: http://wolverette.wordpress.com/category/how-to-get-the-zine/ the only direct sales took place when i was at the copyshop/university copier and fellow students or copyshop clerks got curious about what i was copying. what ideas do you have for the future? right now, the 2nd issue - it's themed Sex - just got to see the light of day, you can find it here: http://wolverette.wordpress.com/2007/10/22/wolverette-2-out-now/ so i will be busy distributing it. of course i plan a 3rd issue but so far nothing particular is arranged (ideas for what the next issue's topic could be are appreciated!); as soon as i figured out you will know by a call for submissions on the Wolverette website. what other d.i.y. projects do you do? occasionally i still write for other zines or do some tapetrading or trades in general, its always fun! oh, and the unevitable "spice up your clothes" DIY-thingy. but thats just for myself. You can contact her through her website: Wolverette! clear