layout??

[kitty magic]

hey, what do people here think is the best layout/look for a fanzine???
i make mine look awful and messy and gay and girly and cutesy, and A5 size, when most are A4..... one time i put glue on the covers of the zines, then these huge flakes of glitter that fell off, and this seemed to discourage people from even wanting to touch them, and one guy was like "i got fuckin gay GLITTER on my hands!" in a way i like this, so only the 'bravest' people will read my zine, but it is a bit annoying because it's easier for people (who want to) to put my zine down, and say it's just some stupid zine. if i were to put some miscellaneous porn, or punk on the cover it would be different i think...
------------------------------------------------------------------------
also i want to ask: how do you feel about having advertising in your zine?

[Carlos Palacios Hidalgo]

this is the great thing about zines,imagination is everything..new ways of show your work
in the new issues of my zines im putting images of human cells (you know thast oe that you find on medical books) and looks awesome!!! i think experimentation is everything..keep playing and experimenting :)

advertising is a good idea so you can sprend the word about other people into zine making,i like trade advertising,i usually inclde flyer that i got with the trade packages i made

[Shotgun Seamstress]

hey there! i think you should go with your gut as far as layout, because in the end what you want is a unique result that's all your own. and i think that the more you do it, the more you'll end up liking your results. aesthetically, i tend to feel that less is more and that simple is better than busy. i like my stuff to be easy to read and clear. but i appreciate zines that have a more artsy and multi-media approach, too.

about advertising... well, i do a lot of "advertising" online through things like myspace and facebook and whatnot. i make a zine whose target audience is people of color so i feel like the better job i do putting the word out about my work, the more people of color will find it. but more than advertising, making connections with other people and building community through zines is what's most important. hope this helps.

[kitty magic]

yup, thanks!.... i have decided, after months of thinking it through, that i don't want ads in my own zine. i like the look of zines without ads.

Shotgun Seamstress said:

hey there! i think you should go with your gut as far as layout, because in the end what you want is a unique result that's all your own. and i think that the more you do it, the more you'll end up liking your results. aesthetically, i tend to feel that less is more and that simple is better than busy. i like my stuff to be easy to read and clear. but i appreciate zines that have a more artsy and multi-media approach, too.

about advertising... well, i do a lot of "advertising" online through things like myspace and facebook and whatnot. i make a zine whose target audience is people of color so i feel like the better job i do putting the word out about my work, the more people of color will find it. but more than advertising, making connections with other people and building community through zines is what's most important. hope this helps.

[Robin Clare]

A bit of glitter never hurt anyone. There's not enough glitter in the world today I say! It's great that you're willing to experiment - the best zines in my opinion are the ones that reflect the maker in some way, then what comes across is the passion and spirit which is totally exciting.