Create Your Own Mini Zine Series (Four Week Course) | Beam Works
Arts
Craft
FOUR WEEK MINI-ZINE COURSE Ever wanted to make your own zine but not sure where to start? This hands-on, informal course will guide you through the world of DIY publishing, helping you create and share your very own three-part mini-zine series. We’ll explore the history of zines, different styles and formats, and how to make, copy, and distribute them. Over four weeks, you’ll learn simple but effective zine-making techniques, developing your own creative style along the way. By the end, you’ll have your own set of zines to swap, share, or distribute in your community! *** Dates: Tuesday Course Tuesday 22nd April 13:00-15:00Tuesday 26th April 13:00-15:00Tuesday 6th May 13:00-15:00Tuesday 13th May 13:00-15:00Saturday Course Saturday 26th April 10:00-12:00Saturday 3rd May 10:00-12:00Saturday 10th May 10:00-12:00Saturday 17th May 10:00-12:00Course Breakdown: Week 1 - Introduction to Zines (Tue 22nd April/Sat 26th April) A deep dive into the world of zines – where they came from, what they can be, and why they matter. What is a zine? We’ll chat about the history of zines, from punk and feminist riot grrrl zines to political pamphlets and perzines (personal zines).Zine Library – Explore a selection of real zines from different genres to get inspired.DIY Culture & Accessibility – Zines have always been about **cutting through the noise** and making sure **all voices are heard**. We’ll talk about the importance of **DIY, independent publishing, and self-expression**.Brainstorming & Sketching – Start planning your **own mini-zine series** with playful exercises to spark ideas. Whether it’s a zine about your favourite songs, a short comic, poetry, political rants, or a personal diary-style zine, there’s no wrong way to make a zine!*** Week 2 - Make Your Own 8-Page Mini Zine (Tue 29th April/Sat 3rd May) Time to turn ideas into reality! This week, you’ll make the first zine of your three-part series using the classic 8-page fold zine format – made from a single A4 sheet, no staples needed. Zine Layout 101 – Learn how to fold, cut, and arrange your pages so everything flows nicely.Develop Your Style – Experiment with different techniques like **hand-drawing, collage, ransom-note lettering, typewriters, and photography**.Colour & Mood – We’ll chat about colour palettes and textures, whether you’re going for a **black-and-white photocopier punk look** or something more **bold and vibrant**.MAKE IT! You’ll create part one of your three-part zine series and get it ready for copying.*** Week 3 - Make a Pocket Concertina Zine (Tue 6th May/Sat 10th May) This week, you’ll learn how to make a concertina (accordion) zine – a cool fold-out format great for storytelling, sequences, and continuous artwork. Get Creative with Layouts – Concertina zines work well as story scrolls, abstract collages, or even secret messages that **unfold as you go**.Pushing Your Style – Build on what you made last week, refining your visual language and theme.Experiment with Materials – Try stamping, hand-lettering, cut-and-paste, collage, or whatever suits your zine’s personality.Make Part Two of your mini zine series!**** Week 4 - Make a Flexagon Zine & Share Your Work (Tue 13th May/Sat 17th May) For the final week, you’ll learn how to make a hexagon-shaped zine – a playful format that adds a tactile, interactive element to your series. Flexagon Magic – A fun folded design that works great for puzzles, abstract layouts, or anything that breaks the usual rectangular zine mould.Final Tweaks – Look back at your **first two zines** and tweak or refine where needed.DIY Printing & Duplication – We’ll go over cheap and easy ways to copy your zines using photocopiers, home printers, and risograph techniques.Zine Culture & Distribution – Where and how to share your zines:- Zine fairs & swaps** - Zine libraries & submissions** - Community distros** - Leaving zines in coffee shops, bookshops, little free libraries and local spaces! By the end of the course, you’ll walk away with: ✅ Your own three-part mini-zine series ✅ Multiple copies to swap, sell, or distribute ✅ A solid understanding of DIY zine-making & independent publishing ✅ Confidence to keep creating & experimenting independently ✅ Zine friends! Looking forward to seeing you then and in the meantime you can join my Zine Resources board here ahead of our first session. Cost £80.00 for the 4 week course (Including all materials) Maximum10 people so register early to avoid disappointment
Information Source: Sarah Autumn | eventbrite