Baecon Bits is published by illustrator Ellen Bae. Her zines center around “collaborative projects, memories & experiences, random funny things, favorite people & things, and personal artwork.” She hand-draws and writes her content, along with some digital manipulation, and she not only photocopies, but also risographs her zines! Her binding varies from zine to zine … some are stapled, some are hand-stitched and others are saddlestitched.
What was your first zine called? What was it about?
It was a risograph-printed, 8-page book made from one sheet of paper. My comic was about how I got my cat, Dorian Grey.
Why do you make zines?
The first time I really felt the impact of a zine was when I read my friend’s zine of her poems. There was a particularly moving piece about her father who had recently passed away at the time. There was a huge difference seeing her words in her own self published zine, rather than just on a scrap of paper. It was powerful and haunting.
What I make doesn’t necessarily have that sort of impact, but I’m fine with that. There is a sense of freedom and self empowerment to make something printed that you can flip through. You made it, every word and image in there is yours.
What do you like about your local zine community?
The people I’ve met and the friends I’ve made. The genuinely open and supportive atmosphere. The diversity, everyone is different and it’s celebrated.
What advice would you give to someone who wants to start making zines?
Don’t think about what a zine is “supposed to be like”. Just make what you want to make. Have fun with it!