I’ve always been writing — and there’s nothing novel about that — but in recent years I’ve found myself drawn to independent and self-publishing, despite everything I learned in my many years of writing classes. There is a hierarchy to publishing; some places garner more accolades than others, but as I’ve left these formal writing communities I’ve found that what matters most is the act of creating.
So, I made a zine.
death wish features prose and poetry I’ve written — some previously published, some previously published and heavily revised, and some new. Each piece of writing has something to do with death, but don’t fear if you aren’t into morbidity. It’s not that morbid.
The zine has launched on Kickstarter. The campaign will end March 29, 2023.
Contents
Introduction
white dresses (poem)
- Inspired by Picnic at Hanging Rock (1977)
- New work
Corpse Pose (poem)
- New work
A Midnight Visitor (fiction)
- Revised short story
- Previously published in the Agnes Scott Writers’ Festival Magazine in 2016
Gatelocked (poem)
- New work
Lux (poem)
- Previously published in In the Mood Magazine (issue 2) in 2021
Blond Girls Dying (nonfiction)
- Previously publishing in Thursday Matinee (2022)
Design & Printing
I designed the zine myself in Affinity Publisher with a focus on keeping the words central to the design, but incorporating striking black and white images both from film and my personal photo library.
All zines will be printed at Nelson Printing in Charleston, SC using recycled paper and biodegradable inks. We’ll do a simple stable-bind and that will be it!
But, if death wish reaches $1000 of funding I’ll break out my needle and thread and bind the zines by hand for a personal touch.