Would it be possible to place in the fanzine something like an ad to promote a fic? I mean like fanart with some details about the story, like a movie poster or something?
We love your enthusiasm for supporting fandom creators but in this instance, no, the zine is not accepting ads to existing works.
For the 25th anniversary, the focus is on creating something NEW inspired by the series, the characters, and/or the crowd-sourced themes (loosely defined as they are). We want to showcase that the fandom is here - alive and kicking - and still making loads of amazing fanworks!
Participating in the zine is a form of self-promotion and we encourage people to apply directly. If there's a writer or artist you love, why not let them know about the zine and that you'd love to see them in it? Obviously, being respectful that individuals have different circumstances and interests and they may not want or be able to participate.
Also! as a PDF publication, we'll be able to link to social media of the contributors' preference (to include portfolio sites and archives) to help drive traffic to creators.
We will consider submissions directly inspired by other people's fanworks provided that they still meet the zine application criteria and can stand up on their own. For example, these moodboards were commissioned by @lifeaftermeteor for her fanfic, but someone unfamiliar with that story can still easily understand them and how they relate to the main show.
https://horrendousedits.tumblr.com/post/186545741813/history-is-much-like-an-endless-waltz-the-three
If anyone is considering this route, I (🍋)also recommend getting in touch with your inspiration and checking they're ok with it before applying! Most creators, I'm sure, would be thrilled and flattered but can you be 100% sure? It's always better to be considerate, communicative and get a go-ahead.
I hope that all makes sense and do please get in touch if you have any other ideas or questions.
