Zine-making with HINCHAS Press

I recently joined a zine-making group at HINCHAS Press, a micropress based in Los Angeles that specializes in zines, poetry, and non-fiction in the field of library science. They hold monthly workshops (you can register for future events here), and the prospect of meeting other zine enthusiasts was intriguing. I attended the first workshop last weekend, with Darren J. de Leon as the featured artist.

We began by creating a simple zine out of a single piece of paper. Darren showed us how to fold the sheet properly, repeating the task multiple times to make the method stick. We saw some of Darren’s work and were given advice on how to print zines. Logged in with two accounts, we could clearly see both him and his workplace.

What I liked best about the workshop was the relaxed atmosphere: there were no uncomfortable introductions or pressure to share your work right away. The group was a small, so there was plenty of time for everyone to ask questions and share useful resources. It was a refreshing change of pace and a fantastic way to spend an hour on a Sunday afternoon surrounded by inspiring and creative people.

When asked at the beginning of the workshop what one word summed up what I hoped to gain from it, I replied, "Accountability." I took part in the event to hold myself accountable and get my first zine out there in 2022. More than that, I've committed to sharing it with everyone at the upcoming workshop on March 27th. Because sometimes you just need a little push. I should definitely do the same when it comes to writing.