In Which Carmen Plans to Take Over the World

[xaara]

I was browsing around the University of Wisconsin website yesterday, looking for the campus literary magazine so I could subscribe and figure out the submission guidelines. I discovered something that both excited and disappointed me: there isn't one.

And enter, Carmen.

I immediately started putting together a sketchy list of things I'm going to need in order to start a zine, a list that I have copied here for my reference and for suggestions if any of you have any.

Things a Zine Needs:

• 3 people (editor, 2 people to help edit, make copies, run promotions, post fliers, etc.)


• A catchy title


• Legal-sized paper


• Access to black and white photocopier


• Access to color photocopier (for cover)


• Possibly, a boyfriend at the local Kinko's ;)


• Heavy-duty staplers and staples


• A website, web designer/maintainer, and webspace (provided by UW)


• Some sort of online subscription service

How to Get Above Things and/or Break Even:

• Get paper donated from a local Staples or similar office supply store


• Partnership with UW to provide something (free space in zine?) in exchange for an X number of photocopies


• Create relationships with local storeowners to provide financial support or window ad space in exchange for publicity through ad space or product placement in the zine


• Coffeeshop promotions (free zine with a coffee? dollar zine with a coffee? some ratio of coffee sales goes to the zine if customers mention it when buying coffee?)


• Open mic readings sponsored by zine (If you read, you have to submit to the issue? If you read, you get your name on a credits page?)

So many ideas, so little time. ;)

Comments

[uscathena.livejournal.com]

I don't know if this will help you much, but, at USC, if you managed to start a club and have a professor back you up, the university gave you a little money to help you get started. UW might have a similiar program ;)

[thirteenmirrors.livejournal.com]

Wow. While some people (like me?) would have gotten sulky over the fact that what they wanted didn't exist -- you're completely taking initiative and figuring out how to solve the problem. That's awesome. I wish you luck.

[thirteenmirrors.livejournal.com]

Also: I had an incredibly weird dream (posted in journal, which you probably know by now) last night in which you made a guest appearance, which is weird, considering that we've only met once.

[xaara.livejournal.com]

They might, and that's definitely something I'll have to take a look at. Finding a professor is a top priority, because seriously, who's going to listen to some freshman who wants to expend university resources in the name of nerds everywhere? Even one as annoying as me?

But thanks for the tip--if all else fails, I can always tell UW, "Well, USC gives their kids money." ;)

[xaara.livejournal.com]

Thank you. I've always been much more of a Let's-get-This-Show-on-the-Road-er than a sit-around-and-mope-er. It usually manifests in exasperation, impatience, and the inability to delegate tasks. :P

And I'm popping over to your journal to read the details. Never let it be said that I'm not nosy. ;)