DIY Publishing: How to Start a Magazine, Anthology, Journal, or Zine

Wednesdays, November 19th - December 10th from 6pm-8pm

Must be 18+ to participate

Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced

This workshop will walk through how to develop and launch a magazine, anthology, literary journal, or zine step by step. Participants will start by defining key details like what they'll publish, how often, and in what format. They'll get insight into typical costs and budgets, publication timelines, strategies for collecting and reviewing work, and how to edit, arrange, and format the pieces. Along the way, they'll get tips on dos and don'ts of literary publishing based on first-hand info from literary journal and anthology editors. In addition to instruction, participants will study both print and online publications from an editorial standpoint. Hands-on learning will include in-class exercises, practice editing and formatting creative work, and the option to share their project plans for peer feedback.

By the end of this workshop, participants will learn how to create a multi-author publication from start to finish. The ultimate goal is for participants to have their project in progress or have a specific plan in place to start it.

About the facilitator: Jess Simms is a freelance writer from Pittsburgh, PA, where they're a co-founder of Scribble House and the managing editor of After Happy Hour Review. They are the author of the flash fiction chapbook Cryptid Bits (Last-Picked Books, 2024) and have published stories and essays in Mythaxis, Orca, SLAB, Atlas Obscura, Rinky Dink Press, and elsewhere. Find them online at https://jesssimms.com.