ABOUT IZM

During conversations with friends I found myself saying “Wouldn’t it be rad if there was an International Zine Month?” Which led to the question as to who could make it official. This was actually a silly question since zines are inherently DIY there was no one who would make it official, but I could Do It Yourself. I figured to pair it with the 24 hour Zine thing would be a good idea and since that takes place in the month of July…. JULY IS INTERNATIONAL ZINE MONTH!

In the month of July I’d love for you to celebrate zines and independent publishing with people all over the world. This is not a spectator sport! I’m asking your to get involved!

IN ZINES WE TRUST!

International Zine Month list of suggested daily activities for 2023

DOWNLOAD THE PDF TO PRINT YOUR OWN POSTER HERE!

Get Ready!

Use #IZM2021 when writing online about International Zine Month
Let people who organize zine events know they should submit their events here
Let people who run zine distros submit their distros to the directory here

31 Days of International Zine Month 2023 #IZM2023

1 – What is a zine? Come up with a concise definition in your own words and share it with others.

2 – Zine Rewind! Re-read your favorite zines and remind yourself why you love them. If you’re new to zines, read a zine that is more than 10 years old!

3 – Look up virtual zine events to attend this month! When else are you going to be able to attend a zine event in a different city or even country for free?

4 – AmeriZine Day! Explore marginalized voices in the Americas. Buy, share, and read zines about racial justice and zines written by BIPOC (Black Indigenous and People of Color) from the Americas. Need a place to start? Check out Brown Recluse Zine Distro.

5 – Review a zine: post it online or write a review to print in your next zine.

6 – Zine Pride Day! Explore LGBTQIA+ zines! Buy, share, and read zines by people of marginalized sexual orientations and gender identities. Check out the Queer Zine Archive Project!

7 – Educate yourself of what zine distros are, how they operate, and how they pick zines to carry. Support a distro near you!

8 – Cook with a recipe you found in a zine! Bonus: Photograph the result and post it online or print it in a zine!

9 – Buy direct! Do you sell your zines online? Update your shop and post a link to it online so people can get your zines directly from you. Don’t have a zine? Buy directly from someone who posts a link to their shop.

10 – Write a letter or send a message to a zine maker and let them know you enjoy their zine!

11- International Zine Day! Buy, share, or read zines from a country different than your own.

12 – ZineWiki Day! It’s a wiki just for zines! Add to or update listings to the new and improved zinewiki.com

13 – Make up a zine superstition and share it (skip the 13th issue? Spin 3 times to prevent copier jams or avoid paper cuts? Your best friend has to read your zine before anyone else?)

14 – ValenZines Day! Give yourself some zine love in whatever way it means to you! read zines in a bubble bath? Buy some new scissors? Let your zine friends know you care about them.

15 – Free Zine Day! Offer your zine for free online or – if it’s safe to do so where you are – leave zines in public places for strangers to find and enjoy.

16 – Make a list of reasons you love zines and share your list with others!

17 – Make a flyer for your zine to trade with others, post online, or send out with zine orders and trades.

18 – Zine Trade Day! Ask someone to trade or swap zines with you.

19 – Zine Distro Appreciation Day! Tell people about your favorite zine distros! Order zines from a distro.

20 – Tell someone about something you learned in a zine. Start with “I once read in a zine that…”

21 – Zine Library Day! Search for a zine library in your area and make plans to go someday or contact them about how to include your zine in their collection. Or attend their virtual Zine Librarian UnConference.

22 – Check out YouTube channels about zines- here are some to visit!

Brown and Proud Press

23 – Check out a zine distro you have never ordered from before.

24 -Teach yourself a new zine skill like a new binding technique or how to make a 1 page zine

25 – Send your zine out for review to a website or magazine that does reviews.

26 – Organize your zine collection. Post a shelfie online.

27 – Ask a zine friend if they would like to do a split zine or collaboration with you.

28 – Post online about your favorite zines!