Trading Zines + Zine Reviews
reading zines & telling you about them|
Alert! I am currently taking a break from reviewing zines on my Youtube channel. All zines postmarked after September 2nd, 2025 will not be filmed or featured on First Impression Zine Reviews! (Already sent your zine in? No worries! I’ll be filming one more episode featuring the zines that I received in July and August thru the start of September.) I only have the bandwidth to film one to two episodes a month, and as we enter “zine fest” season, I know I’ll be even busier than usual. By hitting pause on the First Impressions series, I’ll protect myself from getting burnt out during these frenzied months. This will also allow me the space to film a few more in-depth video essays that I have plans for. Thanks for understanding!
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In September 2019, I became the curator of @zines.diy. Originally called @zinereviews, the page features — you guessed it – reviews of zines. I’ve since branched into sharing zine mail videos on my Youtube channel as part of the First Impression Zine Review series. Do you publish a zine you think I should read? When my P.O. Box is open for submissions, I’d be happy to check your zines out and consider them for a review on the channel, I just ask that you please follow the following submission guidelines:
Submission Guidelines:
+ I consider zines to be handmade, non-commercial, diy publications, typically printed on a copy machine (but not always!), and then folded and bound/stapled/sewn by hand. Although similar, they aren’t books, magazines, or pamphlets.
+ I don’t review e-zines, blogs, .pdfs, or scans of zines. I want to touch your zines, hold them in my hands, turn actual pages.
+ I don’t review pornographic zines; sorry!
+ I also don’t accept books. If your work has an ISBN (a number assigned to books by a government agency for commercial use), or is a perfect-bound paperback book, please do not send me it. My channel is dedicated to zines.
+ To that end, I am also unable to accept submissions of zine anthologies (books containing scans of many zines.)
+ If you created any part of your zine using Midjourney, DALL-E, Chat GPT or any other generative AI, I’m not going to review it. Please don’t send me zines featuring AI-generated work. I will throw them away.
+ If you send me a zine promoting hate speech, discrimination, or fascist ideologies, it’s going in the trash.
Where + When I Post:
+ When I am accepting Zine Review submissions, all of the zine mail that I receive in my P.O. Box will be opened on camera as part of my First Impressions Zine Review series. From perfectly-scrappy cut-n-paste layouts, to unexpected typeface choices and interesting paper stocks, zines are an innately visual medium, and I love how using video allows me to take viewers inside the pages and show off what makes each zine special.
+ In addition, select zine submissions will receive written reviews posted here on the catmothcrow blog. (A note on Instagram: for the most part, I don’t post or participate in Instagram anymore. I have left the @zines.diy page up as an archive, but I consider the page and platform defunct.)
+ I can’t make promises as to when your zine will be featured in the First Impressions series; it all depends on how much zine mail I receive, as well as how much free time I have to dedicate to my zine-y pastimes. Generally, when review submissions are open, zines are opened on camera about 2 months after the postmarked date. This is just a hobby of mine amongst many others hobbies, and I dedicate as much time to it as I am able to, while still keeping it fun.
Pen Pal Letters:
+ Let me know how I should credit you: include a note with your website, and (if applicable) your email or P.O. Box address if you’d like me to share that you’re open to trading zines.
+ Please let me know if you’d like to trade zines with me (otherwise, I will assume you just want your zines shared on the channel, which is alright, too!)
+ If you include a penpal letter, I will try and write you back! Again, it may take me a few months. It’s called snail mail for a reason 😉.
+ Even when Zine Review submissions are closed, my P.O. Box will still be open for penpal letters and trades! I’d love to hear from you, about your zines, your hobbies, and what it’s like in your neck of the woods. When it comes to trades, I am most interested in trading with folks who write perzines, especially if they are b&w and collaged. I’m also a big fan of witchy zines and diary comix. If you’re curious if I’d be up for a trade, just shoot me an .
Shipping Info:
+ Please don’t mark your zines as “signature required” for delivery! I can only check my P.O. Box once or twice a month, and notices that I need to sign for an envelope are left in the Box, meaning I’ll probably not see the notice in time and your zines will get sent back to you.
+ Unfortunately, I can’t return submissions… Most submissions will be donated to a zine library or will be passed along to other zine enthusiasts.
+ If you are sending your zines in a rigid, cardboard envelope that is 8.5″ x 11″ or larger, please send me an when you drop your zines in the mail (esp. if the post office gives you tracking info!) I’ve had some issues with my post office returning zines that are in cardboard envelopes larger than my P.O. Box. — I’m hoping that by keeping a close eye on tracking, I can prevent any more zines from being returned. Thank you!
To submit a zine for consideration, please send it to:Dayna M.
P.O. Box 413195
Kansas City, MO 64141 USA
You can browse recent written reviews here, or go and subscribe to my channel to pump each new review straight into your algorithm (don’t forget to like and comment!)
