Description
Publish It Yourself
Date/Time: Monthly, 4th Sundays| 10am – 2pm
Location: 1901 Jefferson St, Office #105, Tacoma, WA
Cost: FREE
Starting in January 2026, BCP will offer free monthly publishing classes to folks interested in learning to self-publish. Each month, BCP publisher Chris Vega will offer a half-day deep dive into a particular phase of the publishing process (as outlined in “Publish It Yourself” zine written by Chris). The program will start with the first phase of the publishing process (title development) in January, and month by month, move through the entire process (all the way into sales and distribution) until October 2026.
Participants should come with a publishing project in mind (though none is required) so that by October (Tacoma Arts Month, they’ll have worked through the full publishing process and potentially, have a finished zine or book in their hands. If participants don’t have a particular project in mind, they can still come to gather publishing knowledge and be in the artmaking community.
- RSVPs are encouraged, though not required.
- Printed workshop zines will be offered on a first come first served basis each month, though digital copies will be offered to all who join.
- The BCP studio will remain open during the workshop time, so folks interested in browsing books, reading or working in the studio space, or asking publishing questions may drop in, as desired.
The content covered each month will be:
- January: Title Development
- February: Editorial
- March: Prepress
- April: Interior Design
- May: Cover Design
- June: Proof
- July: Print
- August: Marketing
- September: Sales
- October: Launch
Notes
- Registration is requested though not required.
- Email Chris at bluecactuspress@gmail.com regarding any accessibility concerns.
- All tools needed to participate will be provided at the event, including a comprehensive Publish It Yourself zine.
About the Facilitator
Chris Vega (they/them) is the founder of Blue Cactus Press. They’re also a Queer Chicana poet with a passion for storytelling and community involvement. Christina has published over 25 books in their nine years as the publisher of Blue Cactus Press. They co-published and co-authored the poetry collection Decay alongside Conner Bouchard-Roberts of Winter Texts in 2024. They also published their sophomore poetry collection, Vega, in September 2023. Their debut poetry collection, Maps, was published in 2017.
Their poetry has appeared in Creative Colloquy, Frontera Vol. 3: estados silvestres // natural states, International Poetry Review, Papeachu Issue 3, Timberline Review, WA129+, We Need a Reckoning; and at Milk Gallery. Chris/tina’s journalism has appeared in City Arts, Grit City Magazine, Hilltop Action Journal, OLY ARTS, The Ranger, VOICE Magazine and Weekly Volcano.
Follow Chris on social media platforms @bluecactuspress and @chris.tina.vega.
