Got a magazine idea? Here’s your chance to get it made for free

Make-a-Mag is a brand new competition from Paper Chase Press and Hemlock Printers and for our money, it’s one of the most worthwhile to enter right now if publishing is your bag. All that you need is an idea for a magazine to apply, the winner gets the chance to launch their publication with a first print run of 250 copies, free of charge.

The panel of judges includes Jiminie Ha, senior director of graphic design at Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum, Aperture editor Michael Famighetti, Magculture founder Jeremy Leslie, and Ivan Vartanian, Goliga Editions founder and publisher.

Applicants don’t need a fully designed or conceptualised magazine; the application form just asks for details such as the mission of the publication, the audience, potential articles and collaborators. It’s free to enter and open to anyone regardless of location.

Make-a-Mag was set up in response to the turbulent publishing market we’re facing. “Too many ideas for magazines simply wilt on the vine because of the prohibitive cost of their production, and the substantive risk of bearing that cost while still building their audience,” a release says. Los Angeles-based Paper Chase Press and Hemlock Printers paired up to bolster the independent publishing scene, which they believe provides a “rare” chance to experience creativity away from the digital form.

You can apply to put your creative ideas in print here. The application deadline is 12 January, with winners announced on 14 February. The winning application will receive 250 copies of their inaugural issue. It can be up to 9 x 12 inches in size, up to 96-page plus cover and will be printed entirely on FSC Certified uncoated papers and in full colour throughout.