Published: Wednesday, December 29, 2010
Publisher finds zen in zine
Independent Edmonds poet finds big freedom in tiny design
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Enterprise/CHRIS GOODENOW
Edmonds Community College English instructors Marcia Woodard (left) and Amanda Laughtland discuss Laughtland's new business, Teeny Tiny, a small book publisher of handmade editions (on table), folded and bound here at her kitchen table. Her first release of a book with a spine is a collection of nonfiction essays by Woodard.
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Enterprise/CHRIS GOODENOW
Edmonds Community College English instructors Amanda Laughtland filters through books she published for Teeny Tiny, a small book publisher of handmade editions, folded and bound here at her kitchen table.
EDMONDS — The definition of publishing is constantly changing.
The online community has shifted the paradigm from paper and ink to online publishing, chat and fan groups and blogs. Vanity publishing houses have brought the dream of seeing your words in print become a reality.
Even old-school photocopiers are being pinned as enabling the creation of free zines.
Zines are original works, issued irregularly to serve a readership that may be considered on the fringe of mainstream. They are inexpensive to produce and are not released through traditional distribution channels. Instead they are distributed through writers, online contacts and the contributors themselves. Publications are routinely passed along and promoted through blogs and chat groups.
Indie publisher and poet Amanda Laughtland has found the zine outlet fits her creative lust.
“I took on the smallest publishing project I possibly could,” said Laughtland about the 2002 inauguration of her publishing company Teeny Tiny, based in Edmonds. “I didn't have to learn any special skill at the moment I started.”
Small size in a big world
Teeny Tiny's 4½-by-3-inch zines are chock full of poetry or prose submitted to Laughtland for publication and distribution. She does not charge the submitter or the subscriber.
“I love this style of publishing,” said Laughtland, an instructor of English at Edmonds Community College. “I love literature and I am willing to make the books for free. But I always like self addressed, stamped envelopes, a dollar or two or a trade.” One recent trade was a supply of origami paper she intends to use for book covers.
From noted authors to those looking to break into publishing, submitters are inspired by the format. “They can create in a different style and format,” she said. “Some write expressly for Teeny Tiny. One poet recently sent a tiny novel of seven chapters in for publication. Another zine features multiple authors.”
She also maintains that zines can be a path to mainstream publishers. “To get even a little notice, you first have to be published. Zines are one way to get published.”
Laughtland does all the print and production work herself. She designs the tiny books and their covers, photocopies pages and crafts the covers all at her kitchen table — which is also tiny.
Overhead at Teeny Tiny is minimal, limited to the costs of photocopying and postage. Laughtland pays for it all, considering her work a public service.
Expanding project
With the zine experience under her belt, Laughtland published her first book with a spine last October. That book, “Collected Kona: Brief Takes on a Basenji,” was written by her friend and teaching colleague Marcia Woodard. It is a collection of columns Woodard has written for the American Kennel Club Gazette and is sold through dog-oriented booksellers and Amazon.com.
Laughtland's publishing prowess began when she was a student at Edmonds-Woodway High School. “I was interested in writing and started doing literary reviews,” she said. “So I contacted editors and got book review assignments from newspapers and national publications, including The Progressive.”
From high school she pursued literature through an undergraduate degree and a master of fine arts degree at the University of Washington.
Laughtland encountered zine publishing at a book fair where one author was using a zine as a marketing tool for handbound journals.
“Publishing this way is very different,” she said. “It frees you with the free aspect. There are many ways of publishing. You don't always need to have a printing press.”
The online community has shifted the paradigm from paper and ink to online publishing, chat and fan groups and blogs. Vanity publishing houses have brought the dream of seeing your words in print become a reality.
Even old-school photocopiers are being pinned as enabling the creation of free zines.
Zines are original works, issued irregularly to serve a readership that may be considered on the fringe of mainstream. They are inexpensive to produce and are not released through traditional distribution channels. Instead they are distributed through writers, online contacts and the contributors themselves. Publications are routinely passed along and promoted through blogs and chat groups.
Indie publisher and poet Amanda Laughtland has found the zine outlet fits her creative lust.
“I took on the smallest publishing project I possibly could,” said Laughtland about the 2002 inauguration of her publishing company Teeny Tiny, based in Edmonds. “I didn't have to learn any special skill at the moment I started.”
Small size in a big world
Teeny Tiny's 4½-by-3-inch zines are chock full of poetry or prose submitted to Laughtland for publication and distribution. She does not charge the submitter or the subscriber.
“I love this style of publishing,” said Laughtland, an instructor of English at Edmonds Community College. “I love literature and I am willing to make the books for free. But I always like self addressed, stamped envelopes, a dollar or two or a trade.” One recent trade was a supply of origami paper she intends to use for book covers.
From noted authors to those looking to break into publishing, submitters are inspired by the format. “They can create in a different style and format,” she said. “Some write expressly for Teeny Tiny. One poet recently sent a tiny novel of seven chapters in for publication. Another zine features multiple authors.”
She also maintains that zines can be a path to mainstream publishers. “To get even a little notice, you first have to be published. Zines are one way to get published.”
Laughtland does all the print and production work herself. She designs the tiny books and their covers, photocopies pages and crafts the covers all at her kitchen table — which is also tiny.
Overhead at Teeny Tiny is minimal, limited to the costs of photocopying and postage. Laughtland pays for it all, considering her work a public service.
Expanding project
With the zine experience under her belt, Laughtland published her first book with a spine last October. That book, “Collected Kona: Brief Takes on a Basenji,” was written by her friend and teaching colleague Marcia Woodard. It is a collection of columns Woodard has written for the American Kennel Club Gazette and is sold through dog-oriented booksellers and Amazon.com.
Laughtland's publishing prowess began when she was a student at Edmonds-Woodway High School. “I was interested in writing and started doing literary reviews,” she said. “So I contacted editors and got book review assignments from newspapers and national publications, including The Progressive.”
From high school she pursued literature through an undergraduate degree and a master of fine arts degree at the University of Washington.
Laughtland encountered zine publishing at a book fair where one author was using a zine as a marketing tool for handbound journals.
“Publishing this way is very different,” she said. “It frees you with the free aspect. There are many ways of publishing. You don't always need to have a printing press.”