Purveyors of fine low tech, anti-capitalist, bitsyfolk, game-making and cultural zines
Hi! We are a zine distro making zines on topics near and dear to our hearts more easily accessible to creators around the world. We believe that the technological obsession with innovation has led to a relationship with technology that is intrusive, wasteful, and not based in the amazing potential for resource sharing and creativity that is fundamental to digital media like the internet. We are curious about ways to do more with less: less energy, less e-waste, and less centralizing our culture on platforms that are purely profit-motivated. Maintenance and right-to-repair, low tech game making, the history of software art, radically remaking copyright and IP law, digital decentralization, DIY projects, perspectives on the abolition of private corporations, prisons, work and money, and mining the old web for solutions to new problems that we didn't know we already had are some of our primary interests. If you feel that your writing, artistic practice, hobby or even stray thoughts fit in any of these categories, consider letting us print and distribute your zine!
Thanks for visiting our page! We are printing and shipping orders from GZF now. Sign up to our mailing list for news on future zine fairs.
FAQs
How do I submit my work? Your zine should be submitted in a print-ready, black and white format, preferably formatted to international A4 size. The layouts can be single-page mini zines, as well as a variety of double-sided print booklets. In general you should try not to require more than 8 sheets of paper, but there can be certain exceptions. Files should be sent by email. I will get back to you about your submission and any issues with it as soon as I can.
How will it be distributed? We are planning to table digitally at upcoming online zine festivals. In this context, visitors will be able to purchase copies of the zines online, and physical copies will be printed in bulk and mailed by the distro at the end of the fair. Once your files are accepted, you do not have to worry about any printing or shipping.
Where do any profits go? Plaintext as a project prioritizes distributing interesting small publications for the value of sharing them over making returns on them. I will price the zines at as close to cost (tabling fees + printing + shipping) as possible. If there is a significant amount of cash on hand after these costs, it will be distributed to a cause related to our goals and interests above, and all contributing members will be able to participate in a consensus-based discussion to determine which cause will be supported.
Who is running this? Em Reed, a longtime zine, low tech and art games aficionado.
What is the current timeline? We are accepting submissions but do not have a forthcoming zine festival planned after GZF.
