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National Fantasy Fan, v. 4, issue 1, January 1945
Page 9
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INTRODUCTION. Prepared by ART WIDNER, Massachusetts Fanzine publishing is the dominant phase of fan activity. Almost without exception, every fan who has had any real interest whatsoever in Fandom has tried his hand at this fascinating facet of our hobby. The editing and publishing of a fanzine, in my opinion, is an unsurpassed outlet for the expression of creative energy and ability. To do it well requires intelligence, craftsmanship, self-criticism, and cultural sense. Not only that, but it develops these qualities to a better than average degree. Learning to gather material, to choose the best, to produce a pleasing format, and to weld them together into an harmonious entity is an education in itself. If you have heard of the NAPA, or other amateur publishing efforts, please don't judge fanzines in reference to those mundane hobbyists. We are not bound by musty traditions and prejudices. Unlike our venerable predecessors, (whose only aim was skill with the printing press), who considered "Mary Had a Little Lamb", printed on fancy paper in several colors, superior to an earnest essay or thotful bit of fiction by some youngster laboring with cheap mimeograph -- we go for the latter. This does not condone sloppiness, however. Although King Mimeo reigns in fandom, it isn't hard to turn out neat, legible efforts, and in some cases fen who have a way with machines have turned out marvelous productions that make many a printed affair I have seen look sick. At the present time, there are two main types of fanzines. The subscription type, or subzine, and the gratis type, or fapazine, so-called because their editors belong to that organization known as fapa, the Fantasy Amateur Press Association. The subzine is generally the more elaborate of the two, and to offset the added expense the editor charges a modest price, usually from five to fifteen cents, depending on the size and frequency of appearance. Subzines are mostly of the "general" type, featuring diverse articles, fiction, poetry, humor, etc. pertinent to stf or fantasy. Often material is solicited from some of the more good-natured pro authors. It has become a tradition for subzines to get out a "supercolossal" issue on each anniversary, with the added cost being met by good will or "booster" ads from fen and pros congratulating the editor on the event, and wishing him another year of success. A fapazine is a much more informal and personalized affair. In most cases, the editor also writes a good bit of his material. The contents are less likely to be directly concerned with stf or fantasy as such, but with concepts deriving from the reading of them, and more closely connected with reality. Such as discussions of whether various socialistic or utopian cultures described in stories could
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INTRODUCTION. Prepared by ART WIDNER, Massachusetts Fanzine publishing is the dominant phase of fan activity. Almost without exception, every fan who has had any real interest whatsoever in Fandom has tried his hand at this fascinating facet of our hobby. The editing and publishing of a fanzine, in my opinion, is an unsurpassed outlet for the expression of creative energy and ability. To do it well requires intelligence, craftsmanship, self-criticism, and cultural sense. Not only that, but it develops these qualities to a better than average degree. Learning to gather material, to choose the best, to produce a pleasing format, and to weld them together into an harmonious entity is an education in itself. If you have heard of the NAPA, or other amateur publishing efforts, please don't judge fanzines in reference to those mundane hobbyists. We are not bound by musty traditions and prejudices. Unlike our venerable predecessors, (whose only aim was skill with the printing press), who considered "Mary Had a Little Lamb", printed on fancy paper in several colors, superior to an earnest essay or thotful bit of fiction by some youngster laboring with cheap mimeograph -- we go for the latter. This does not condone sloppiness, however. Although King Mimeo reigns in fandom, it isn't hard to turn out neat, legible efforts, and in some cases fen who have a way with machines have turned out marvelous productions that make many a printed affair I have seen look sick. At the present time, there are two main types of fanzines. The subscription type, or subzine, and the gratis type, or fapazine, so-called because their editors belong to that organization known as fapa, the Fantasy Amateur Press Association. The subzine is generally the more elaborate of the two, and to offset the added expense the editor charges a modest price, usually from five to fifteen cents, depending on the size and frequency of appearance. Subzines are mostly of the "general" type, featuring diverse articles, fiction, poetry, humor, etc. pertinent to stf or fantasy. Often material is solicited from some of the more good-natured pro authors. It has become a tradition for subzines to get out a "supercolossal" issue on each anniversary, with the added cost being met by good will or "booster" ads from fen and pros congratulating the editor on the event, and wishing him another year of success. A fapazine is a much more informal and personalized affair. In most cases, the editor also writes a good bit of his material. The contents are less likely to be directly concerned with stf or fantasy as such, but with concepts deriving from the reading of them, and more closely connected with reality. Such as discussions of whether various socialistic or utopian cultures described in stories could
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