I made my first zine!

And have one thing to say: everything you've ever wanted is on the other side of fear

May 05, 2025

as I start a new creative project, part of my process is to make a moodboard. Can you guess the theme of the zine based on this board?

I've been wanting to create my own zine for years. I have spent many afternoons at the library and it’s amazing zine collection, taking notes and brainstorming ideas to create my own thing.

If you are not familiar with zines, I have added a definition by Nina Nijsten below, along with this video by one of my favorite artists, Hiller Goodspeed, an avid zine maker, who explains what a zine is and also how to make one if you are interested. I am also happy to share more about the process of creating my own if you are curious. Let me know in the comments if you have any specific questions!

zine detail with the text: What is a zine? My definition. "For me, a zine is not just a self-made and self-published but it is also situated within DIY culture. This means it is non-profit, non-commercial, low budget, and non-competitive. Topics and styles can vary, but it's important that zines remain accessible, both to readers (everyone can afford to buy or trade them) and to writers (everyone can make them). Zines don't exist as little paper islands but they are connected and blossom within a mutally... — Nijsten, Nina. Scissors & Chainsaws No. 2 : Diary Comic Zine *Made in July 2020 During International Zine Month.* Gent, Belgium: Nina Nijsten, 2020.

What prevented me from making it my first zine wasn’t a lack of ideas or even a problem with procrastination. It was fear that blocked me for months. Fear of being judged by real artists out there that are making very cool zines. Or not finding the right format (digital vs print) and making it perfect. Fear of not making an important zine about an important topic.

This Spring, something clicked in me and I decided that I finally wanted to bring my zine to life. I realized that I already had the concept in my brain and it was just a matter of developing the idea a little bit further and polishing some final details.

The zine will be available as a PDF on May 18th via my website, where you will be able to purchase and download it. For my paid subscribers, it will be free to download.

In the meantime, enjoy this trailer that I made to introduce you to the world of my first zine. I am proud that the video truly encompasses the essence of what the zine is all about: remembering what matters by spending time outside, in the real world.