When a Workshop Shifts the Way You See Your Own Story
I recently attended a zine-making workshop at the Writers Centre on Alcazar Street, St. Clair, led by Kriston Chen. As with most things I know nothing about, I went in open-minded and just went with the flow. I didn’t expect it, but somewhere between folding paper and seeing the creative potential of a blank sheet, something clicked.
The truth is, I’ve been sitting on my fiction project The Space Between Us for far too long. My job had been overwhelming. Other people’s deadlines always seemed louder than my own creative voice. Writing felt like a “hobby” I had to justify instead of a practice I protect.
And then it hit me. Zines could be the perfect way to move The Space Between Us forward. I wouldn’t have to drown in the enormity of writing an entire novel or graphic novel in one go. That one workshop taught me to reduce the scale of the work. It didn’t lessen the impact of the storytelling.
What Is The Space Between Us — And Why Zines Are Part of Its Journey
The Space Between Us feels like the perfect set up for a zine cult following. I need to apply all of my skills this time. After all, this project explores two people. It delves into the invisible baggage that follows us into every conversation, every silence, and every decision. At its heart, this novel is about the tension between connection and self-preservation. Sure, there’s attraction, banter, and the electricity of almost-touch moments. Yet beneath that are the ripples of past traumas. We each have personal walls and carry unspoken rules.
A book can tell this story in full. However, I realized I needed something more hands-on. I wanted something that would let me share pieces of the journey as they’re being built. It needed to be a way that still feels whole and satisfying. That’s where the zine comes in.
Why Zines?
Zines are small, creative, and incredibly flexible. They’re also deeply personal — the opposite of the polished, distant feel a finished novel sometimes has.
Here’s why they work so well for this project:
- Bite-sized storytelling — Instead of wrestling with hundreds of pages at once, I can release key scenes. These include character moments and thematic explorations. They come in smaller, digestible pieces.
- Reader connection — Zines let readers hold a piece of the story in their hands. Readers can read, fold, unfold, and explore at their own pace. That tactile experience creates intimacy.
- Creative breathing room — The smaller format keeps the process from feeling overwhelming. I can experiment, shift perspectives, add visual elements, and test pacing without locking it all down.
- Visual playground for the graphic novel — The fold-out zine becomes a miniature storyboard. It lets me test panels, pacing, and visual beats for the graphic novel adaptation.
The Fold-Out Advantage
The fold-out format lets me layer the storytelling:
- Front and back pages for in-world scenes
- Inside spreads for POV breakdowns, temperature gauges, and “behind the curtain” commentary
- Panels that mimic graphic novel pacing — perfect for visual flow testing
The zine becomes more than a preview — it’s my creative lab where story, psychology, and visual art meet.
Why This Matters for Readers
Have you ever fallen in love with a fictional world? Have you ever wished you could peek behind the scenes? This is your invitation. The zine doesn’t just show you what happens — it lets you see why, how the characters misread each other, and what past wounds are shaping their choices. It’s also a way to be part of the process. Readers can respond to early scenes, share interpretations, and even influence how certain beats land in the final novel or graphic novel.
This isn’t just about publishing a story — it’s about building it together.