Tag Archives: Rough
★ Don’t forget to check out my graphic novel, The Poet and the Flea!
A new page every Wednesday!
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Preview to upcoming post, “Experience of EBABZ (East Bay Alternative Book & Zine Fest)”:
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Here is a brief update on my current creative projects and endeavors…!
Tuesday, December 4th
- E-mails, e-mails, e-mails…!
- Sent out some more fellowship/internship/job applications.
- Worked on the second rough draft for Elias & The City of Cats.
Wednesday, December 5th
Thursday, December 6th
- Was supposed to go on a date with Wes, but I caught a nasty cold. （；へ：）
- E-mails, e-mails, e-mails…!
Friday, December 7th
Saturday, December 8th
Sunday, December 9th
- Today, was nominated again for the Very Inspiring Blogger award! Updated information on this post.
- Hired to do a small freelance translation job (English to Japanese). Began working on first assignment!
Monday, December 10th
- Worked on The First Reich.
- Worked with client on translation job.
Tuesday, December 11th
- First day of cat sitting!
- Sent out some more fellowship/internship/job applications.
- Worked on The Flea script.
- Received e-mail informing me I have a phone interview, yay!!
- Worked with client on translation job.
Etcetera
- The Poet and the Flea: 53 pages of written script (1 page of script = 4-6 illustrated pages), and about 36 pages (1-24, 27-30 completed, and 25-26, 31-36 in progress) of illustrated work.
- The First Reich: about 1-10 pages of illustrated work in progress.
To Do:
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For more updates, don’t forget to follow me on tumblr and/or twitter.
***
Copyright 2012 by G. E. Gallas
Leave a comment | tags: Alternative, Applications, Assignment, Award, Berkley, Book, Books, Cat Sitting, Cats, City, Client, Cold, Convention, Creative, Creativity, Date, Draft, Drawing, Drawings, E-mail, East Bay Alternative Book & Zine Fest, EBABZ, Elias & The City of Cats, Endeavors, English to Japanese, Experience, Expo, Fellowship, Fest, Freelance, Graphic Novel, Ill, Illustration, Illustrator, Independent, Information, Informing, Internship, Interview, Job, Job Applications, Meeting, Nasty, Nominated, Nomination, Online Comic, Phone, Photo, Photograph, Photography, Post, Progress, Projects, Received, Recovering, Rome, Rough, Rough Draft, Schedule, Screenplay, Screenwriter, Script, Send, Sent, Sick, Small, Small Press, The First Reich, The Poet and the Flea, Today, Translation, Under the Weather, Upcoming, Update, Very Inspiring Blogger Award, Web Comics, Webcomic, Wednesday, Wes, Wilhelm Reich, William Blake, Work, Working, Writer, Writing, Yay, Zine, Zines | posted in Announcement, Graphic Novel, Japanese, Update
Just wanted to share some of the work I’ve been doing collaborating with writer Gabe (G. Martinez Cabrera) on the children’s book Elias & The City of Cats.
I’m really enjoying working with Gabe — we’re good at bouncing ideas off one another and both have the creative energy to push one another to make the best book that we can!
Currently, we’re working towards creating a mockup of Elias to shop around to publishers.
A few weeks ago, Gabe took the time to cut up his story and arrange it into a format that gives me a better idea of the images he’s looking for. From that, I worked on a rough sketch storyboard draft of sorts.
Recently, I showed Gabe this first rough draft, and from our discussion I’m putting together a second rough draft. I’m sure both of us will be doing a good number of drafts before we have a polished mockup!
Elias and Ignis, preliminary character designs.
Ignis, another preliminary character design.
Two pages from the first rough draft.
Another two pages from the first rough draft.
The second rough draft, in progress!
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For more updates, don’t forget to follow me on tumblr and/or twitter.
***
Copyright 2012 by G. E. Gallas
40 comments | tags: Arrange, Book, Books, Brainstorming, Cat, Cats, Character Design, Character Designs, Children, Children's book, City, Collaborate, Collaborating, Collaboration, Commedia dell'Arte, Create, Creating, Creative, Creativity, Cut, Discussion, Draft, Drafts, Drawing, Drawings, Elias, Elias & The City, Emperor, Enjoy, Eyes, Format, G. Martinez Cabrera, Gabe, Harlequin, Ideas, Ignis, Illustration, Illustrator, Images, Imagination, King, Kitten, Kitty, Mockup, Pierrot, Polished, Preliminary, Publish, Publisher, Rome, Rough, Rough Draft, Ruler, Shop, Sketch, Story, Storyboard, Storytelling, Words, Work, Work in Progress, Writer | posted in Illustration/Design, Writing
Rough sketch for zine idea.
As I mentioned before (here), I’ve only recently become interested in the world of zines. Not only do zines appear to be an incredibly flexible channel for creativity, but I think that this medium would be a great compliment to my graphic novels and children’s books. I like the idea of the zine being very hands on — a real artist book, the artist not only illustrating, but also cutting and pasting the finished pamphlet together. This process reminds me greatly of Andy Warhol, his factory, and 25 Cats Name Sam and One Blue Pussy.
Before I begin any zines of my own, I’ve been trying to get a better sense of their mercurial world. At APE (Alternative Press Expo) 2012, I talked with Tugboat Press, who produce annual free comics and an anthology called Papercutter. Tugboat led me to Parcell Press, who seems to carry a vast array of zines, comics, etc. I also found “How to Make a Zine” on Rookie. I guess the one true rule of creating zines is that there are no rules!
As I ponder the pre-existing zine world, my own ideas for zines just keep pouring out of me. I scribble these ideas down furiously in a Gallatin notebook I received upon graduation and was saving for something important (who knew that important something was zines). Endless ideas — everything from opera parodies to The Death of Chatterton. I’m not sure when I’ll actually have time to realize these zines since I’m already working on so many projects that need to get done (The Poet and the Flea, The First Reich, etcetera, etcetera). I’m hoping to take a stab early next year, June at the latest. We’ll see how that works out…
Some useful zine-related websites I’ve discovered:
- Zines 101 has some basic but good advice. They suggest submitting zines to sites that review them (Broken Pencil, Xerography Debt, Zine World, etc.) as well as posting on online zine communities (We Make Zines, etc.) to get larger exposure.
- Zinebook.com has an extensive list of zine distributors and reviewers as well.
- ZineWiki: The Independent Media Wikipedia encourages zine creators to add new articles about their zines.
- Etsy, Storenvy, and Big Cartel seem to be used by a huge number of zine creators. There are definite pros and cons to all of them, but I think I’m leaning more towards Storenvy at the moment. (I’m also thinking of selling other products [T-shirts, tote bags, greeting cards, etc.] with images from The Poet and the Flea as well as my zines.)
- In San Francisco, Dog Eared Books, Needles & Pens, and other local bookstores seem interested in carrying zines. Not to mention there’s the East Bay Alternative Book and Zine Fest (Berkeley) and the San Francisco Zine Fest.
- I’m also considering self-printing versus printing with a printer. Most sites seem to recommend working with a local printer. In San Francisco – H&H Imaging, Your Printer, Autumn Press, etc.
- Update Nov. 6: Discovered issuu.com — seems like many zines publish online using this site. Pretty neat!!
Plus, I figure if I make enough zines, then eventually I can release them all in one book.
Any comments, suggestions, or thoughts would be truly appreciated!
***
For more updates, don’t forget to follow me on tumblr and/or twitter.
***
Copyright 2012 by G. E. Gallas
16 comments | tags: 25 Cats Name Sam and One Blue Pussy, Advice, Alternative Press Expo, Andy Warhol, Annual, Anthology, APE, Appreciate, Appreciated, Array, Articles, Artist, Artist Book, Autumn Press, Basic, Big Cartel, Bookstore, Brainstorming, Broken Pencil, Channel, Children's Books, Comic book, Comics, Comments, Communities, Community, Compliment, Cons, Creative, Creativity, Creators, Cutting, Distributors, Dog Eared Books, Draft, Drawing, Drawings, East Bay Alternative Book and Zine Fest, Endless, Etcetera, Etsy, Eventually, Expo, Exposure, Factory, Fest, Flexible, Free, Graphic Novel, Graphic Novelist, Greeting Cards, H&H Imaging, Hands-on, How to Make a Zine, Ideas, Illustrating, Illustration, Illustrator, Important, Independent, Interested, June, Local Bookstore, Local Printer, Media, Mercurial, Needles & Pens, Next Year, No Rules, Notebook, Online, Opera, Pamphlet, Papercutter, Parcell Press, Parodies, Pasting, Pre-Existing, Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, Press, Printed, Printer, Process, Products, Pros, Publisher, Remind, Review, Reviewers, Rookie, Rough, San Francisco, San Francisco Zine Fest, Self-Printing, Self-published, Sketch, Storenvy, Suggestions, T-Shirts, The Death of Chatterton, The First Reich, The Poet and the Flea, Thoughts, Tote Bags, Tugboat Press, We Make Zines, World, Xerography Debt, Your Printer, Zine, Zine World, Zinebook, Zines, Zines 101, ZineWiki | posted in Brainstorming, Graphic Novel, Research
Related post: Plans for APE
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Wow, what can I say about APE?
Well, this was definitely an experience!
Firstly, I believe that APE (Alternative Press Expo) was a productive endeavor. I learned much more about the nature of each publisher I’ve been tracking online. I hope that Shannon and I managed to get the names of our projects (The Poet and the Flea and The First Reich) out there just a little. And I learned a lot about what techniques make a successful table.
As far as the bigger publishers go (Fantagraphics, Drawn & Quarterly, Last Gasp, Top Shelf, etc.), I was glad to see them at the Expo — to see all their products laid out in front of me, rather than squinting at images on a computer screen. Some of them only had marketing representatives who didn’t know much about the submissions process, which was too bad. Others had more knowledgable people to talk to, who offered some useful advice. I guess it really just boils down to submitting material and seeing what happens!
I very much enjoyed talking to some of the smaller publishers. They were very enthusiastic, helpful, and informative. And just because they’re smaller doesn’t mean they have inferior products. They are extremely professional (but in a laid back sort of way) and their books are gorgeous!
I loved talking with the kind folks at Yam Books. Tim Hensley (creator of Ticket Stub) was shocked that someone in their twenties (me) was a Barbara Stanwyck fan!! Both Saturday and Sunday, we had conversations about the film noir starlet, exchanging movie titles and laughing away. He even drew me this awesome illustration of Barbara (see below) in Double Indemnity — bangs and sunglasses and all!
Also had good but brief conversations with the good people at A Raven Above Press and Never Press.
I’ve only recently become interested in learning more about the world of zines. And Tugboat Press seemed like a good place to start. I really admire what they’re doing. I’m glad I talked with them because I learned that, rather than taking submissions, they commission artists. I also received recommendations about which volumes of their anthology Papercutter to buy and realized that they are interested in a vast array of genres. I’m excited to really sit down and read my purchases.
Sunday, I finally figured out where Uncivilized Books got to (I just could not figure out that map!). Their chief Tom was excellent at patiently answering my questions and encouraging me to submit my work. I’m excited to start working on sending out some follow-up e-mails to everyone I talked with!
Also, I picked up a lot of interesting flyers, cards, stickers, etc. from around the expo and from the free table. Below are some of my favorites!!
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Here are my notes of what makes a successful table in case I end up getting one for APE next year!
(This is just a rough list for my personal use. In no particular order!)
- Need a billboard/banner advertising name of artist/graphic novel.
- Need a tablecloth.
- Need a sign (or maybe t-shirts) to hang off the front of the table.
- Wear one of your own t-shirts to further advertise your graphic novel.
- Perhaps a sign or two saying: “Pleas talk to us — we’re friendly!”
- Perhaps a big bowl of free candy.
- Attract customers with a selection of cheaper items ($1 pins or stickers?).
- Need a clipboard and form for customers to sign up for your mailing list.
- Provide plenty of business cards and/or postcards.
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Among the flyers and such was a postcard for the East Bay Alternative Book and Zine Fest, free and taking place December 8th in Berkeley. I’m very interested in checking it out!
***
For more updates, don’t forget to follow me on tumblr and/or twitter.
***
Copyright 2012 by G. E. Gallas
19 comments | tags: 4th Dimension Entertainment, A Raven Above Press, Admire, Advertising, Advice, Alternative Press Expo, APE, Author, Bangs, Banner, Barbara Stanwyck, Billboard, Blog, Business Card, Candy, Cards, Chance, Chief, Comic book, Comics, Commission, Conversations, Customers, Double Indemnity, Drawing, Drawn & Quarterly, E-mails, Encouraging, Endeavor, Enthusiastic, Exhibitors, Expect, Experiences, Expo, Fantagraphics, Fantagraphics Books, Film Noir, Flyers, Follow-up, Free, Free Table, Friendly, Future, Genres, Ginormous, Gorgeous, Graphic Novel, Graphic Novelist, Half-Table, Helpful, Hoping, Idea, Illustration, Illustrator, Information, Informative, Interested, iPad, Last Gasp Books, Learned, List, Luck, Mailing List, Movie, NBM Publishing, Networking, Never Press, Next Year, October, Opportunity, Out of the blue, Papercutter, Patient, Perfect Day Publishing, Perhaps, Pernicious Press Magazine, Personal use, Photographs, Photos, Plan, Please, Plenty, Portfolio, Postcard, Preperation, Productive, Products, Professional, Projects, Publishers, Puna Press, Purchases, Rare, Rough, San Francisco, Saturday, Scans, Screenplay, Screenwriter, Script, Selection, SF, Shannon, Shlep, Showcasing, Snuck Up, Sparkplug Comic Books, Starlet, Stickers, Submissions, Successful, Sunday, Sunglasses, Supplement, T-Shirts, Tablecloth, Tables, The First Reich, The Poet and the Flea, Ticket Stub, Tim Hensley, Tom, Tomorrow John Press, Top Shelf Productions, Tugboat Press, Uncivilized Books, Visitng, Vistaprint, Volumes, Wear, Weekend, Wes, Wilhelm Reich, William Blake, Writer, Yam Books, Zines | posted in Brainstorming, Graphic Novel, Research, The Poet and the Flea, Travel
I feel as though the APE (Alternative Press Expo) has snuck up on me from out of the blue!
I’m hoping that this event will be very informative, and help me take my graphic novel projects to the next level. Not only is this the perfect networking opportunity, but also a rare chance to talk with publishers I am interested in and get a better idea of what they’re looking for in a graphic novel.
Saturday (October 13th), I’ll be attending with Shannon, my collaborator on The First Reich. I think Wes, who is also a graphic novelist and screenwriter, will be attending both Saturday and Sunday. My mom will be checking out the expo too, so maybe she’ll cover ground I won’t be able to.
As a supplement to my business card, I’ve ordered postcards (see above) from Vistaprint advertising The Poet and the Flea and showcasing some of my illustrations. I’ll also bring my iPad loaded with scans of The Flea so I don’t have to shlep around my ginormous (and heavy) portfolio.
Furthermore, in preparation, I’ve been compiling a list of exhibitors/tables I’m interested in visiting.
(This is just a rough list for my personal use. In no particular order!)
- 4th Dimension Entertainment
- A Raven Above Press
- Drawn & Quarterly
- Fantagraphics Books
- Last Gasp Books
- Yam Books
- Uncivilized Books
- Tomorrow John Press
- Top Shelf Productions
- Tugboat Press
- Sparkplug Comic Books
- Puna Press
- Pernicious Press Magazine
- Perfect Day Publishing
- Never Press
- NBM Publishing Inc.
You can expect a future blog post about my experiences at APE 2012. Depending on how everything goes, perhaps I’ll plan on getting my own table (half-table?) at next year’s expo.
Please wish me luck!
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Update: Check out the last-minute DIY postcard for The First Reich. Now I just need to find a paper cutter…
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For more updates, don’t forget to follow me on tumblr and/or twitter.
***
Copyright 2012 by G. E. Gallas
5 comments | tags: 4th Dimension Entertainment, A Raven Above Press, Advertising, Alternative Press Expo, APE, Author, Blog, Business Card, Chance, Comic book, Comics, Drawing, Drawn & Quarterly, Exhibitors, Expect, Experiences, Expo, Fantagraphics, Fantagraphics Books, Future, Ginormous, Graphic Novel, Graphic Novelist, Half-Table, Hoping, Idea, Illustration, Illustrator, Information, Informative, Interested, iPad, Last Gasp Books, List, Luck, NBM Publishing, Networking, Never Press, Next Year, October, Opportunity, Out of the blue, Perfect Day Publishing, Perhaps, Pernicious Press Magazine, Personal use, Plan, Portfolio, Postcard, Preperation, Projects, Publishers, Puna Press, Rare, Rough, San Francisco, Saturday, Scans, Screenplay, Screenwriter, Script, SF, Shannon, Shlep, Showcasing, Snuck Up, Sparkplug Comic Books, Sunday, Supplement, Tables, The First Reich, The Poet and the Flea, Tomorrow John Press, Top Shelf Productions, Tugboat Press, Uncivilized Books, Visitng, Vistaprint, Weekend, Wes, Wilhelm Reich, William Blake, Writer, Yam Books | posted in Brainstorming, Graphic Novel, The Poet and the Flea
Here is a brief update on my current creative projects and endeavors…!
★ Important Note: “The Poet and the Flea 100 Day Countdown to the Premiere” begins August 20th!
Busy, busy, busy, busy, busy…
But it feels like things are coming together! (ﾉﾟ▽ﾟ)ﾉ
Wednesday, July 25th
- In between working on The Flea, began some character sketches for graphic novel collaboration with Shannon.
Detail of rough character sketch for collaboration.
Friday, July 27th
- In between working on The Flea, conducted some image research (46 images and counting) for collaboration with Shannon.
- Received e-mail from Brian (Pixel Flick Entertainment). Trying to schedule a one-on-one meeting with him. Next Alliance meeting on Saturday, August 18th.
Sunday, July 29th
- Continuing to help fellow screenwriter/filmmaker Jay Dial. Had a great (hopefully productive) phone conversation with him.
- Received inquiry about my screenplay-in-progress The Man Who Never Smiled from an interested (and enthusiastic) production company. Although I originally intended this screenplay to be full-length, they’re interested in a short. Will bang out a draft (about 15-25 pages) and send them a copy by the end of August.
Monday, July 30th
- Received e-mail from a potential director/producer interested in making “one or two” of my short films. He suggested chatting on the phone. Very busy this week, so will call him either Wednesday (August 8th) or Thursday (August 9th).
- The Man Who Never Smiled: about 6 pages into research/outlining/writing.
- Some lat minute “spring” cleaning…
Tuesday, July 31st
- In between working on The Flea, worked on some text/font samples for Shannon.
- Heard from The Nicholl Fellowships in Screenwriting Competition. Did not make it to the quarterfinals — knew it was a long shot. But I can always try again next year. Or perhaps I’ll have more success with a different route?
Wednesday, August 1st - Thursday, August 2nd
- Continuing work on The Flea and The Man…
Friday, August 3rd – Sunday, August 5th
- A family vacation of sorts…!
Monday, August 6th
- Received e-mail from Film Independent Screenwriting Lab 2012. Although my screenplay Who is Laurence Harvey? was not selected for this year’s lab, I was given some encouraging feedback: “…the script is a definite contender for the lab. It’s a unique idea with a capable writer at the helm… a noteworthy project…”
Etcetera
- The Poet and the Flea: 37 pages of written script (1 page of script = 4-6 illustrated pages), and about 36 pages (1-18, 21 completed, and 19-20, 22-36 in progress) of illustrated work.
- Working on Inside the Display Case (title may eventually change?) bit by bit. About 17 pages of script (+notes).
To Do:
- Call potential director/producer next Wednesday or Thursday.
- Work on research, character sketches, etc. for Shannon.
- Schedule second meeting with Shannon for mid-August.
- One-on-one meeting with Brian (Pixel Flick Entertainment).
- Attend The Pixel-Flick TV Actor/Filmmaker Alliance Second Meeting (August 18th).
- Finish The Man Who Never Smiled by end of August.
- Sign up with IMDbPro.
- Apply to the Bluecat Screenplay Competition (before October 15th).
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For more updates, don’t forget to follow me on tumblr and/or twitter.
***
Copyright 2012 by G. E. Gallas
Leave a comment | tags: Alliance, Apply, August, Bit by bit, Busy, Character, Collaboration, Comic book, Comics, Completed, Conversation, Copy, Creative, Design, Director, Draft, Drawing, E-mail, Endeavors, Enthusiastic, Family Vacation, Film Independent, Film Independent Screenwriting Lab 2012, filmmaker, Finish, Font, Full-length, Graphic Novel, Graphic Novelist, Illustration, Images, Important, In Progress, Interested, Long Shot, Meeting, Note, Notes, One-on-one, Outline, Phone, Pixel Flick Entertainment, Potential, premiere, Producer, Production Company, Productive, Projects, Quaterfinals, Research, Rough, Sample, Schedule, Screenwriter, Script, Send, Short, Short Film, Sign Up, Sketches, Spring Cleaning, Text, The Man Who Never Smiled, The Nicholl Fellowships in Scree, The Poet and the Flea, To Do, try again, Who is Laurence Harvey?, William Blake, Work, Writing | posted in Application, Graphic Novel, Screenplays, Update
Zines and Me!
Rough sketch for zine idea.
As I mentioned before (here), I’ve only recently become interested in the world of zines. Not only do zines appear to be an incredibly flexible channel for creativity, but I think that this medium would be a great compliment to my graphic novels and children’s books. I like the idea of the zine being very hands on — a real artist book, the artist not only illustrating, but also cutting and pasting the finished pamphlet together. This process reminds me greatly of Andy Warhol, his factory, and 25 Cats Name Sam and One Blue Pussy.
Before I begin any zines of my own, I’ve been trying to get a better sense of their mercurial world. At APE (Alternative Press Expo) 2012, I talked with Tugboat Press, who produce annual free comics and an anthology called Papercutter. Tugboat led me to Parcell Press, who seems to carry a vast array of zines, comics, etc. I also found “How to Make a Zine” on Rookie. I guess the one true rule of creating zines is that there are no rules!
As I ponder the pre-existing zine world, my own ideas for zines just keep pouring out of me. I scribble these ideas down furiously in a Gallatin notebook I received upon graduation and was saving for something important (who knew that important something was zines). Endless ideas — everything from opera parodies to The Death of Chatterton. I’m not sure when I’ll actually have time to realize these zines since I’m already working on so many projects that need to get done (The Poet and the Flea, The First Reich, etcetera, etcetera). I’m hoping to take a stab early next year, June at the latest. We’ll see how that works out…
Some useful zine-related websites I’ve discovered:
Plus, I figure if I make enough zines, then eventually I can release them all in one book.
Any comments, suggestions, or thoughts would be truly appreciated!
***
For more updates, don’t forget to follow me on tumblr and/or twitter.
***
Copyright 2012 by G. E. Gallas
16 comments | tags: 25 Cats Name Sam and One Blue Pussy, Advice, Alternative Press Expo, Andy Warhol, Annual, Anthology, APE, Appreciate, Appreciated, Array, Articles, Artist, Artist Book, Autumn Press, Basic, Big Cartel, Bookstore, Brainstorming, Broken Pencil, Channel, Children's Books, Comic book, Comics, Comments, Communities, Community, Compliment, Cons, Creative, Creativity, Creators, Cutting, Distributors, Dog Eared Books, Draft, Drawing, Drawings, East Bay Alternative Book and Zine Fest, Endless, Etcetera, Etsy, Eventually, Expo, Exposure, Factory, Fest, Flexible, Free, Graphic Novel, Graphic Novelist, Greeting Cards, H&H Imaging, Hands-on, How to Make a Zine, Ideas, Illustrating, Illustration, Illustrator, Important, Independent, Interested, June, Local Bookstore, Local Printer, Media, Mercurial, Needles & Pens, Next Year, No Rules, Notebook, Online, Opera, Pamphlet, Papercutter, Parcell Press, Parodies, Pasting, Pre-Existing, Pre-Raphaelite Brotherhood, Press, Printed, Printer, Process, Products, Pros, Publisher, Remind, Review, Reviewers, Rookie, Rough, San Francisco, San Francisco Zine Fest, Self-Printing, Self-published, Sketch, Storenvy, Suggestions, T-Shirts, The Death of Chatterton, The First Reich, The Poet and the Flea, Thoughts, Tote Bags, Tugboat Press, We Make Zines, World, Xerography Debt, Your Printer, Zine, Zine World, Zinebook, Zines, Zines 101, ZineWiki | posted in Brainstorming, Graphic Novel, Research