A Dozen Zines for 2025
It’s good to have something to feel excited about, especially as the end of the year speeds towards us and another trip around the sun draws to a close. My birthday being in early January always adds another vague layer of dread to the situation, as well. But this morning (Dec. 18), an old idea bubbled back up from the depths and my mind took hold of it.
It’s a small creative project for the coming year: something to play with, something to get excited about, something fun. And yeah, I’ve got other creative work on my plate already, but that’s different. This is purely for the joy of making something new. In fact, this is important for the overall health of my creative exploits in general. Writing that travel book is going well, but it’s hard work and I get bogged down. Making zines is all about experimentation and play, which will help me get that book done.
For each month in 2025, I will create and release a zine. Each one will be released at the end of the month and be based around a different theme. Each zine will be available in three versions:
- A printed zine. Printed on A4 paper, folded and stapled into an A5 zine. Also included will be a small photographic print related to the theme of the zine. These will be sent out by airmail. Unless you’re really set on having a copy that I personally made, I don’t recommend this option, as it’s impossible for me to do at a reasonable price.
- A DIY physical zine. The end product is basically the same as the first one, but it’s cheaper because I provide you with the print files and you can put the zine together yourself at home. This is what I recommend.
- A digital zine. All the same good contents, but in PDF and ebook formats for your digital consumption and enjoyment.
PROTIP: The best and cheapest way to get these zines is to just back my travel book project
Why? Because I'm lazy. And if you back the project, I'm just gonna throw in the zines anyway. Less work for me, more questionable content for you.
I'm not gonna stop you if you want to buy a zine on its own, just want to make it clear that this is an option.
The Travel Book SiteBuy the First Zine By ItselfZine № 1: How To Get Lost in Tokyo and Mean It
Getting intentionally lost is one of the best ways to experience a new place, and I can’t think of a better place than Tokyo to get well and truly lost. This zine is something of a manifesto on getting lost, a love letter to joyfully not knowing where the hell you are. And though it’s focused on Tokyo, the spirit of it should apply to explorations all over the world (just be careful, not everywhere is as safe for getting lost).
This zine will release on or before Friday 2025-01-31.
Reminder: The best and cheapest way to get these zines is to just back my travel book project
Why? Because I'm lazy. And if you back the project, I'm just gonna throw in the zines anyway. Less work for me, a greater quantity of questionable content for you.
I'm not gonna stop you if you want to buy a zine on its own, just want to make it clear that this is an option.
The Travel Book SiteBuy the First Zine By ItselfRegarding Content Availability
Each zine's contents will remain exclusive to that publication (not including segments that end up as part of the travel book) for a period of no less than 6 months. After that, the same content may appear elsewhere. This really shouldn't matter to you, but I have to say so somewhere.