Zines and Identity

[grayestofghosts]

So I was starting to make a minizine and it's about making websites and I'm realizing that I should probably have like, my own website, blog, email address on here and it's just making me think... if I put that shit in print... that will mean that I am making a commitment to these usernames, identities, etc? And that just feels... real scary! It's honestly making me wonder if I should change some stuff around. I don't know. I am no good at names, and I don't know what to call myself for this one.

Then again for a little minizine I probably shouldn't be having an existential crisis about it, and because I will have the master copies I should just be able to change the addresses if I really need to update it, right? Ugh.

I may know who I am, but what to call myself is an entirely different question. That one, I don't know. Ugh.

Comments

Thoughts

[ysabetwordsmith]

>> So I was starting to make a minizine and it's about making websites <<

Go you!

>> and I'm realizing that I should probably have like, my own website, blog, email address on here <<

Those would be helpful to have, but not required.

>> if I put that shit in print... that will mean that I am making a commitment to these usernames, identities, etc? <<

Only a current commitment, not a permanent one. So what's your print run? Minizines tend to be short run, which means if you change your contact info, you can just print another run. I've had some of mine in the Llewellyn annuals for over 25 years now, and it's changed a few times. People will catch up.

That said, think about stability. How durable are your current ones likely to be? If you have at least one that is durable, like a website, then you can print that and put your other contact info on the website where it is easy to update if it changes.

>>And that just feels... real scary! <<

It can be.

>> It's honestly making me wonder if I should change some stuff around. I don't know. I am no good at names, and I don't know what to call myself for this one.<<

Lots of writers use pen names. Some have multiple ones. Some change. It's okay if you change your mind later. You can list earlier publications like:

Awesome Title by Previous Pen Name (now writing as Current Pen Name)

>> Then again for a little minizine I probably shouldn't be having an existential crisis about it,<<

Writing comes with challenges. You're not the first person to angst over this stuff, it's common. I doubt there's any writer who hasn't freaked out at least a little over publishing something. It'll pass.

>> and because I will have the master copies I should just be able to change the addresses if I really need to update it, right? Ugh.<<

Exactly. That doesn't mean you shouldn't put thought into it, but you don't need to worry too much because information can be updated. People are used to that.

>>I may know who I am, but what to call myself is an entirely different question. That one, I don't know. Ugh.<<

Who you are can change, and that's okay. People often drop childhood nicknames, and sometimes acquire new ones. They get married and change names, or not. They earn titles. And so on. Who you are today is just who you are today, not who you are forever.

What's important is that you pick something and publish your minizine. Do your best work, but done is better than perfect.

Now go be awesome. You can do this.

[sideways]

Marley de Grey, of course ;)

[axolotls]

Oh, I really feel that with email, it feels like something one shouldn't just change (the domain, that is). And I also struggle with usernames. TAT *sympathies*