#pineapplegrenader

I’ve been working on zines for the past year or so. I’ve been on 30+ zines so far, but for every acceptance email I get, I also get between 10 - 15 rejections, sometimes for projects I really, really wanted to work in. It’s still discouraging every now and then, but it gets easier to move on from the rejections after a while. Besides, if I had stopped applying after the first couple of rejections, I wouldn’t have had the opportunity to work on the projects that did accept me later on!

So keep applying to zines! And work on your personal portfolio in the meanwhile. After all, every drawing you make allows you to grow as an artist! 

Good luck & all the best!

-Mod Mandy

Don’t be discouraged! There are plenty of other factors thatcontribute to being accepted and rejected to a zine. Some zine organisers lookfor different styles, either to add variety or to match the feel of the zine.It doesn’t necessarily reflect a lack of skill on your part!Someone mentioned this to me today: having the right person looking at yourwork at the right moment is an important factor. It’s luck basically, but youcan increase your chances if you don’t give up and keep creating and keepapplying to zines you’re passionate about!

Also, as Mandy said, build up your portfolio! Your portfolio isthe first impression the organisers will get when they review your application.Try to include more pieces (especially complete ones if you’re an artist) in yourportfolio! How you compile and organise your portfolio matters too; the orderof your pieces, what is emphasised, and even the site your portfolio is on. Ifyou are providing a link to your blog for your portfolio, is it difficult forthe organiser to find your pieces? Is your blog overwhelmed by other irrelevantposts, or are your work properly tagged or sorted by categories?

I just want to add that, on a slightly irrelevant note, it’s common recentlyfor creators who are new to zines to apply to nearly every zine project theyencounter. Although it’s not a bad thing, I feel that creators should also takethese into consideration:

1. The interest, time, effortand determination to participate in the project: 

Why do you want toparticipate in this zine? If the zine project isn’t about something you feelstrongly enough about, you might find yourself lacking motivation to finishyour piece if you get in. Zine projects tend to be long and draining, it’s important that you are able tocommit to it! Collaboration projects like zines seem fun, but don’t apply toone just for the sake of wanting to be part of one! 

2. Not all zines are wellmanaged:

There’s more interest inorganising zines these days, but I personally feel that some zines are organisedimpulsively (read: without proper planning) and poorly promoted. Choose whatzines to apply to wisely! There are zines where you’re more likely to get into,but it might turn out to be a zine where there were few applicants to beginwith and there isn’t much interest in that zine project. Also check out the organisers on the project; are they people you want to workwith? Do they seem responsible and do they have experience in organising zines?If it’s their first time, do they have other moderators on the team? Is theschedule realistic? Etc. Personally I feel that it would be better not be part of a zine than to be partof a zine that is irresponsibly managed!

 TLDR; Don’t rush into zine projects!