Your 'Zine History

I started reading 'Zine in 2000, having been introduced to it by my friend Chris, who wrote in for a relatively brief period as Sir Whence Pitchfork. He is the reason for my ridiculous name, as I think he had just discovered the wonders of the Internet Anagram Server at the time and had created his own name in that manner. Suffice it to say, had I seriously thought I would continue to write in, on and off, over the next eight years, I would probably have come up with something better.

Anyway, my first letter was sent on February 17th, 2001, and was merely three bullet points replying to comments others had made (all my original 100 letters are still viewable on what remains of my website - the link is in my signature if anyone cares - which I very much doubt you should). My second was about the 'Zine Anthem, which was being discussed that year, and then from the third I started trying to have original ideas, with limited success.

It's fair to say that 2002-3 were my most prolific years, as I was still at school and under the influence of SWP, with whom I often discussed letter ideas in uneventful break times.

I "retired" in June 2004 - just before I finished Sixth Form - as I figured now I was going to be a student, I would have no time for such trivialities. I made sure it happened on a nice, round 100 letters, as I felt not making a century would have been bad form. All the same, I kept the 'Ziners List going on my website until August 2005, a fact I can hardly believe now I think about it.

When 'Zine was about to die in July 2006, I was spurred to write in and bid it farewell, only to find it miraculously survived. The move to digital brought some interest back to proceedings, with various former 'Ziners offering to write in again to make things a bit better. I joined them, and between 2006 and 2009 sent in another 49 letters. Although this really wasn't many, I felt it was enough to keep a foot in the door, as it were. I could never be as prolific as Colin or Alex or anyone like that, for the simple reason that I've always found writing 'Zine letters quite tricky, tending to agonise over them too much. Often I'd contrive one just because it had been a month or two since the last.

The two stints editing 'Zine over the last two Christmases were definitely highlights, and though, like everyone else, I find a lot of my earlier letters embarrassing, I don't think you can be too hard on your 15-year-old self. I wouldn't care to pick any favourites, although I have a fondness for the pun-filled lists that became popular near the end, and enjoyed making some of my own (new reality shows etc.)

And that's all I have to say about 'Zine! R.I.P.

i don't think that Insane Jam Sow is a ridiculous name, i think it's cool. i didn't realise it was an anagram until i joined VR, though.

Re what Alex said about the word series. i think the plural of series is series.