How to make an 8 page zine
Zine (pronounced zeen)
If you are a person with ideas, issues you care about and want to change the world for the better, then zines might be just the thing for you!
Zines are handmade, self-published magazines and come in all shapes, forms, and sizes. They celebrate a lo-fi aesthetic as zines are cheap and simple to make. They are used by many different people; artists, protesters and often just people who have something they want to share with their friends or communities. Zines have immense power in giving a voice to people who might not be able to share their ideas in the mainstream media. Zines are as diverse as the people who make them. It's no coincidence that zine culture is associated with some of the most energetic social movements and has been giving people a voice for decades.
Zines can be about anything; poetry, rants, art, personal stories, photography, comedy, or anything you have your mind on. There are no rules, which can often be a scary thought, but we are here to help guide you through your first zine or spark up an idea for a new one.
We will take you through the steps to make a simple folded zine that you can fill with something already on your mind, or look through our zine idea mind map to help you spark up a whole new idea.
You only need a piece of A4 paper, scissors, and something to write with to make a zine. There are many ways to make them look as creative as possible. You can add magazine clippings, newspapers, stamps, and anything you can draw. Once you’re finished your zine, you can photocopy it turn it digital or post it off into the world - the possibilities are endless!
How to make an eight-page zine step by step
Grab your piece of paper and fold it in half long ways.
Open it back up and fold it in half, short side to short side.
Once you’ve folded it in half, fold that half in half again.
Open your piece of paper back up and you should now have eight segments within the folds.
Now you’ve got those segments, fold your piece of paper in half short side to short side again and cut down the Centre fold to the middle where the folds meet. Be sure to only cut one folded segment not the whole way through the paper!
Now when you open your paper back up you should have a cut along the centre of your paper.
Now you’re up to the last few steps. Fold your piece of paper long ways, so the cut is at the top of your fold. Take both ends where the top cut starts and push together to open where you have cut, it should end up looking like a + symbol once you’ve pushed both ends together.
Once you’ve got both ends pushed together you can fold it together into a small eight-page book and you are ready to get those ideas onto the page!
If you are looking for some extra zine idea inspiration, have a look through our zine mind map. It might just help you create your own revolutionary response through the art of zine-making.
Once you are finished your zine, don’t forget to share it with someone. Share it with a friend, family or leave it on the bus, at school, the zine lounge at MoAD, or your local government representative. Whoever it is, let them hear what you have to say! The more voices that are listened to, the more people will understand another’s experiences and the better society will be!
