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Zine making
Making small, self-published booklets — about anything — by hand or on a photocopier.
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Startup cost
Free or nearly free
Difficulty
Easy to start
Typical session
~60 min
Activity
Sitting / gentle
Space
A table or desk
Equipment
Little or none
What do you actually do?
- Fold a sheet of paper into an 8-page mini zine
- Fill it with writing, collage or drawings
- Copy and share or swap it
Why people enjoy it
- Total creative freedom
- Costs a sheet of paper
- Zine fests and libraries host swaps
What you'll need
- Paper
- Pens, scissors, glue stick
- Old magazines for collage
- Access to a copier (optional)
Startup cost: Free or nearly free — a rough beginner estimate in US dollars (2026). Borrowing, secondhand and library kits can bring it down.
Time & difficulty
A typical session is about 60 minutes. Easy to start: you'll make something you're happy with on day one.
Getting started
- Fold an 8-page mini zine from one sheet
- Pick one topic you care about
- Fill pages with words, drawings or collage
- Photocopy a few and share them
Common beginner mistakes
- Waiting for a perfect idea
- Forgetting pages flip when folded
- Margins too thin for copying
Accessibility
Low-strength, seated; can be made digitally and printed.
Courses & resources
We haven't verified specific courses yet, so we're not listing any rather than guessing. Libraries, community centers and the official sites of tools you use are good first stops.