chicagozinefest's blog

We've officially had our first planning meeting for the Chicago Zine Fest 2011! We're very excited to be able to get the ball rolling a bit earlier this year so we have more time to plan this whole thing! 

We'll be planning some fundraisers soon, so keep an eye on this blog so you don't miss out! We want to try to keep FUNdraising fun! Some ideas we have include an outdoor movie series, bake sales, benefit concerts, and perhaps even zinester speed dating?  Yeah, we might go there. If you'd like to help raise funds for CZF, we'd LOVE for you to set up an event in our honor. Or you can start volunteering early by helping us run a fundraising event that we've set up. Shoot us an e-mail at chicagozinefest@gmail.com if you want to help us get this started. Last year was our first time planning an event this big and even though we tried to keep expenses as small as possible, things still came up! We have a much better idea of what our budget might look like for 2011. Last year's experience will only make planning for this year much easier. 

We've set up a mailing list for general announcements. Don't worry, this will be a low volume mailing list! We'll use it to announce upcoming CZF related events or volunteer opportunities. It'll also be the very first place that you'll hear that table registration has opened! Last year, table space sold out pretty fast. Being on the mailing list is a surefire way to make sure you get to reserve space for 2011. To join the mailing list, either fill out the contact form here or send us an e-mail at chicagozinefest@gmail.com to let us know you'd like to be added. 

Lastly, two great ways to stay informed about all things CZF are to add us on Twitter or join the CZF Facebook Group!

It was great to talk to a lot of you at Printer's Ball and at the Strangelight DIY Fair. Expect to see our smiling faces around more often from this point on. 

That's right.  The first ever Chicago Zine Fest is LESS THAN A WEEK AWAY!!!  We're all very excited with how everything is coming along.  It's going to be so great!

If you are an out-of-towner needing a place to stay, please try to communicate through the forum here or through the discussions page on our facebook fanpage.

In other news, we are proud to announce this year's workshop schedule and times.  Workshops will be held all day on Saturday at Columbia College's Conaway Center, right alongside all of our exhibitors.  The schedule and descriptions are as follows:

Planning a Non-Musical Tour - 10:15

Led by Eric Ayotte of the Gadabout Film Festival.

Zines and Libraries - 11:15

Led by Greg Means of Tugboat Press.

Q&A with John Porcellino, Getting Started - 12:15

Led by John Porcellino.

John Porcellino will talk about the early years of the zine world and how he got started making King-Cat Comics.

What Myth-Making Means: A Workshop on Self-Mythologizing - 1:15

Led by Jim Joyce.

This workshop will be a very brief intro to what mythology is traditionally understood to be, where it comes from, followed by discussion of why/how histories are remembered, and what we can take from our lives, to investigate for mythologizing.

Self-Publishing vs. Working with a Publisher - 2:15

Led by Jeffrey Brown.

Jeffrey Brown will discuss the differences/advantages/etc. between self-publishing and working with publishers.

A Guide to Getting Real - 3:15

Led by Monica Anderson.

A discussion about the idea of writing without reservation or a fear of consequences, leading to a conversation about attendees experiences with writing about their personal lives and the pros and cons that come with.

Mailing Materials to Prisoners - 4:15

Led by Midwest Books to Prisoners.

Come learn how to send materials to our comrades behind bars! We'll have up-to-date information about political prisoners and prisoners of war and will help you write letters, fill out postcards and send your works to those held captive in America's prisons.

Be sure to check those out!