… and then there was light !
Yes! Circle of pinkness enveloping our lives. We all noticed it. We noticed it because we asked for it. And because we asked – we got! Yes, I am talking about the Gaysi zine – the first issue of which was released last month. I am sitting here at my desk with a coffee stained, final copy of my beloved that is falling apart.
Getting here hasn’t been easy, though. I’ll have some terrible memories to live with in my life…
…Upsetting Rashmi by editing her piece and publishing it before she could give her feedback . …Endless fights with MJ over the design, content, style, and … the list is long. (That’s why we are falling apart now…)
It is amazing what can be accomplished with a few resources and a head full of determination. As weird as it seems, we had no clue about printing, or an eye for design but we did it purely for the love of what we do and our convictions about who we stand for.
What’s very cool is that some people shared what they thought of the zine. One lovely reader said “Its supercool. In a place where Indian queer lit doesn’t exist – coming up with such a collection is a gift”. Another astute fan said, “I love the design but the content is all over the place. It could have been pieced together in a little more coherent way”. Another dear friend said, “There’s too much sex in it”. I gulped that one down…but my favorite was “Endlessly fascinating. Can’t wait for the next issue”.
And neither can I.
So here at Gaysi, cool air is rushing by, clouds are floating in the sky, sparrows are chittering, and no one is speaking. It is so quiet that I can almost hear QC’s heartbeat… (yes, she is working on the erotica for the next issue. Sigh!)
This time around it is going to be brand spanking new content previously unseen and maybe even…unheard (shhhhhhhh!)
Yes, you read that right. We are coming up with the second issue and I invite you readers to pretty please share your thoughts on the first one. The most honest critics will get a deep hot kiss from MJ (those who don’t fancy MJ – sorry guys. Suck it up! )
But on a sincere note, be honest and ruthless, as only brutal honesty will help us with the second issue. And yes, we know the difference between when you criticize/compliment the work and when you do so for the artist.
PS: Are Bert and Ernie gay? Seriously!
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Loved the first one! The article on the Tambrahm Gay Wedding was brilliant! Can’t wait for the second one…
What there are more Zine? Keep it coming! Awesome job Gaysi team!
congrats!
I think what you’re looking for is this :
1) Content is interesting yes, but too much like a blog in print. I’d like new content if I’m paying for a mag. And exclusive content that’s hard to find.
2) While the format was unique, it took some getting used to. I guess the real ‘magazine’ format as we understand it, is yet to evolve for Gaysi.
3) What I like about Gaysi is that it has a younger, more contemporary feel to it than most queer mags out there. It has the ability to interest anyone from 20-40, maybe tapping into this in a more focused manner might help? And of course, it looks much spanking better than any out there.
Hope this helps! Cheers!
Thanks a ton for the feedback
it is gonna HELP us big time ! Yes, with zine 2 we’re looking at absolutely new content which will be more interesting and will even allow the larger issues come into the journal. idea is to increase its scope and also be less predictable..
That’s lovely Chicklet
Waiting eagerly for the next one!
I agree with Yoda. The point of an actual zine can be to get the same content to a different crowd, however most zine-readers are in the U.S. and Europe. Since many of the readers in India already read the blog, exclusive content may be more incentive to actually pay. And it sounds like the next zine is going to be exciting!! I’ll add: The original zines are very different in format – more rough and edgy. Since this is more of a magazine, and not so much a zine, it looks great… but we know magazines cost more to make than zines, so any feedback can help make the production cost more and more worth it each time you make a new zine