Writing a Colophon People Will Actually Read

The colophon is the last page of a zine and often the most honest one. Here is how to write a good one.

Start with plain 80gsm copy paper. It folds cleanly, runs through almost any machine, and costs almost nothing, which matters when you are going to ruin a few sheets learning.

What you need

• One sheet of letter or A4 paper
• A bone folder, or a spoon
• A craft knife and a metal ruler
• A pencil for numbering the dummy

Crease every fold twice: once with your fingers to find the line and once with a bone folder or the back of a spoon to set it. A crisp fold is the difference between a zine that lies flat and one that springs open on the table.

Make the dummy first. Always make the dummy first.

Step by step

When the dummy works, number the pages in pencil before you unfold it. That little map will save you from the classic mistake of printing page seven upside down.

We keep a guest book by the door. Some people write their name, some write a poem, and one person drew the entire floor plan of the shop from memory. It is the best zine we have never printed.