Hello, and welcome to Full Steam Ahead! We're a physical, for-charity zine about nerdy female and nonbinary original characters in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics) in their everyday lives and hard at work.Ask us your questions here!

Project closed

about

Hello, everyone, and thank you for your interest in Full Steam Ahead! Join us with our mascots, Ada and Steambot, to create a zine celebrating female and nonbinary original characters being awesome in STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics), whether they’re building the world’s next greatest mechanical invention, making a breakthrough in chemistry, or venturing out to save endangered plants and animals. We’re looking for artists, writers, and creatives of all kinds to join in this ambitious adventure!This will be a physical, for-charity zine whose funds will go towards the Malala Fund to help girls get more access to education. We are hoping that this project is not only a fun way to celebrate nerdy characters but also to learn and appreciate the many amazing female scientists who've helped the world!

schedule

The schedule below is tentative and subject to change.

EventDate
Interest CheckDecember 1-24
Contributor ApplicationsJanuary 1-31
Results SentFebruary 5
Deadline to RespondFebruary 12
Final Ideas DueFebruary 20
Check-in 1 DueMarch 20
Check-in 2 DueApril 20
Final Submissions DueMay 20
Pre-ordersJune 18-August 1
Production + FulfillmentAugust-September
Leftover SalesNovember 18-December 9

team

Head engineers (mods)

mod nisnow

Project Lead

Yo, I'm Nisnow! :D

I’m a nonbinary (they/them) software engineer in the games industry by day and a fanatic artist by night. I'm passionate about art, science, and zines which is how this idea came to be! I’ll be doing the organization, fulfillment, graphic design, finance, and marketing for this book. Though it's my first time as a head mod, I promise to communicate well and often, and I've done a lot of planning and research for this project!

Relevant Experience

mod zas

Project Co-Lead

El Psy Kongroo!

Certified weeb and occasionally prone to bursts of chuuni behavior, Zas is here to look after writing, support production and finance, and be an all-around support to round out the team. Trained as an engineer, working in tech at a vast multinational company, they're passionate about increasing representation and will be sharing their full experience to ensure this project succeeds!

Relevant Experience

Artists

Writers

Game Developer

frequently asked questions (faq)

This section will get updated when more questions are asked.

If you have any questions about the project, please feel free to DM us on Twitter @FullSteamZine or ask a question.Q: What is a zine?
A zine (short for fanzine) is a themed collection of works put together by creatives. They usually take the form of physical booklets accompanied by merchandise such as charms, stickers, and the like.Q: What's the theme of this zine?
This zine revolves around female and nonbinary original characters in science, technology, engineering, arts, and mathematics (STEAM). We want to see original characters engaging in something STEAM-related, either in slice-of-life situations or hard at work. Our vision is to build the book as a timeline of STEAM-fuelled developments, discoveries, and (most importantly) creativity!To narrow the aesthetic focus of this issue, we would only be considering characters that can fit in the rough time periods of 1950 - 2050 A.D.We would prefer OCs be set in the "real world", though "magical" twists are allowed (e.g. steampunk, urban fantasy, sci-fi). We also encourage applicants to consider different geographical locations in addition to different periods in time! The mods will be reviewing pitches for the purposes of balance.Additionally, this zine will be for all-ages, so not-safe-for-work (NSFW) creations are NOT allowed.Q: Is this zine for-profit or for-charity?
This zine will be for-charity whose funds will first go towards the production of the zine and merchandise and the rest towards the Malala Fund.Q: How will contributors be compensated?
All contributors will receive a physical copy of the zine, shipped to them free of charge, and a digital PDF of the zine. If sales allow, contributors may also receive a full bundle of the zine which includes all of the available merchandise.Q: What are the zine's specifications?
★ Soft-cover, perfect-bound
★ Size: 6”x9” (15.24 x 22.86 cm.), 300 dpi with bleed
★ CMYK profile Coated GRACoL 2006
★ ≈ 80 pages
★ PDF zine at 150 dpi, printer-friendlyQ: What kind of content is allowed in this zine?
Your submission must highlight a female and/or nonbinary character (including masculine nonbinary and transgender characters) in a positive light doing something related to science, technology, engineering, the arts, and/or mathematics. Page art preferably has backgrounds and is set in a slice-of-life or hard-at-work setting. Artists will choose a time between 1950--2050 and beyond to set their piece(s) in for the purpose of our timeline theme. Pieces can include fantasy, steampunk, sci-fi elements, and so on as long as the overall piece conforms to the dates described above.Art may have non-female characters in the background, but a female or nonbinary character must be the focus of your piece.Characters from existing fandoms are NOT allowed; all characters must be original. Fan characters, however, may be allowed by moderator permission on a case-by-case basis but we are ultimately prioritizing original ideas.Q: What merchandise will be included in this zine?
Artists will have the choice to do page art along with merch items, and artists may also have the choice to focus solely on merch. We have a list of determined merch below, but artists are additionally able to suggest merch (both physical and digital) and can work with the mods to get it produced in a realistic timeframe.Our list of determined merch is as follows:
- Die-cut stickers and 4" x 6" sticker sheets
- A5 paper prints and a 5" x 5" lenticular print
- Paper dolls
- Acrylic charms
- Enamel Pins
- Washi Tape
- Buttons and magnets
- Tote bagThe exact number of each merch item will be determined based on the number of merch artist apps we receive. Some of these items may become stretch goals as well once things are finalized during the creation period.Q: How many contributors are you looking for?
We're looking for mainly 20--30 artists and 7--10 writers. Artists will have the choice to do page art + merch, only page art, or only merch.Additionally, if you're a creative person who would like to contribute but is not a visual artist or writer (such as a chef, musician, cosplayer, etc.), we have a separate application process to show us what you want to make for the zine!Q: Can I apply to more than one position?
Yes! You will only get accepted to one, however.Q: How old do you have to be to apply?
You must be 16 years old or older by February 5, 2022. Minors will be able to receive a physical copy of the zine free of charge with shipping costs covered. For minors to receive additional copies of the physical copy of the zine and/or merch, they need a parent or guardian to pay since an invoice will need to be sent to a legal PayPal account to pay for extra costs and shipping.Q: Do I have to be a woman or nonbinary person in STEM to apply?
No, anyone can apply as a contributor! We only ask that the content you produce for the zine features a female or nonbinary character being awesome in STEM.Q: Where are you shipping from? Will international orders be available?
All orders will ship from the United States. International orders will be available, though some shipping restrictions may apply based on country.

more questions

This section includes the full answers to archived CuriousCat questions the zine received before the site went down. The mods have fortunately kept the responses to these questions and the questions saved and are able to post them here for your convenience!Since Full Steam Ahead has a new anonymous ask box, questions asked there will be posted here as well if necessary.

If you have any questions about the project, please feel free to DM us on Twitter @FullSteamZine or ask a question.Q: Are original characters for existing properties allowed? (Eg, a star trek or cyberpunk OC?)
Fan-characters/original characters for existing fandoms and media will be allowed on a case-by-case basis after contributors are accepted.Q: Does nursing count as being involved with the sciences? Can we include an OC who is a nurse in the zine?
Characters in the health sciences and healthcare can definitely be included in the zine, so we welcome nurse characters for sure.Q: Even if I don't know a lot about STEAM or the sciences yet I have an OC that fits the criteria, would I still be able to apply?
Yes, of course you will be able to apply! We only ask for the content you make for the zine is STEAM-related, such as your OC.

applications

Thanks for your interest in applying to Full Steam Ahead! Please make sure to read application guidelines carefully before applying as well as the zine schedule and FAQ. Please don't hesitate to reach out to the mods for any questions you have!Results will be sent no later than February 5.

Are you some other creative person like a chef, musician, game developer, animator, cosplayer, or so on? We'd love to see your work as well in the zine! Come apply below:

Artist Expectations

Page artists will be allotted two (2) pages in the zine. They will have the choice to do one (1) page illustration, two (2) separate page illustrations, or a full-page spread. If wanting to do a comic, you will have up to four (4) pages to work with.Cover artists will be tasked to illustrate the zine's cover and have the choice to illustrate a separate page in the zine as well but it is not required.Page artists have the choice to do one piece of merch as well. Merch artists may do up to two pieces of merch. Please see the FAQ for our determined merchandise list. Artists will be able to suggest other merch they would like to do that's not on the list!The application form will require a minimum 1 pitch and allows space for additional pitches.

Building Your Portfolio

For Full Steam Ahead, you will need to submit a portfolio which is a collection of some of your best pieces that showcase your range, along with three selected samples that serve as your “first impression” and are considered your best pieces.You may link your portfolio website (e.g. Carrd, Wix, Weebly, etc.); a curated Google Drive, Google Photos, Dropbox, etc. folder that WE CAN ACCESS; or other sites like ArtStation and DeviantArt where your art is easily viewable and accessible. If linking a social media account, be sure to provide us with a specific means of viewing your work (e.g. an art tag on Tumblr, a Moment on Twitter, etc.) If your portfolio is too difficult to navigate, or we cannot open your links, your application may be disqualified.In general, please make sure your portfolio and samples are accessible, easy to view, and showcase only your art.We recommend curating your portfolio around your pitch idea. If you are interested in page illustrations, include illustrations you've made. If interested in comics, include some samples of comics you've drawn. If applying for merch, please show some merch examples, whether as mockups or photos/videos of produced merch.

Application Requirements

General Guidelines
- Your portfolio and samples may contain not-safe-for-work (NSFW) content, but the content you create for the zine, if accepted, must be safe-for-work (SFW) as the zine is intended for all ages.
- Your portfolio must contain 4–10 pieces that show your current style and skill and contain pieces no older than two (2) years old.
- Your portfolio may contain your selected samples.
- Traditional art is welcome as long as it’s scanned in high quality, at least 300 dpi or higher.
- 3D art (digital and traditional, such as sculpture) is welcome as long as it’s entirely original (i.e. no copyrighted assets and textures, etc.).
- Pixel art is welcome as long as it's viewable.
- STEAM-related art and original art are not required but HIGHLY recommended.Page Artist Recommendations
- Strong understanding of technical art skills (understanding of anatomy, structure, volume, color, value, etc.)
- Character-driven artwork, pieces that show characters interacting with other characters, props, and the environment
- Compelling and interesting compositions, story-driven artwork
- Detailed backgrounds, a good understanding of perspective, and depth
- Expresses own art style well and is original; art is consistentMerch Artist Recommendations
- Strong understanding of technical art skills (understanding of anatomy, structure, volume, color, value, etc.)
- Ability to translate art into well-made merch (e.g. simplified details, strong silhouettes, good use of limited colors, good use of line weight, etc.)
- Appealing and purposeful expressions and body language for character art
- Expresses own art style well and is original; art is consistent
- Previous merch production experience not required, but HIGHLY recommended

Writer Expectations

Writers will be allocated a certain number of pages in the zine, to be determined based on the number of accepted writers, but expect somewhere around 3-8 pages. Individual writers will have the freedom to fill these pages how they wish, e.g. short stories, fake newspaper articles, how-to/lab guides.The application form will require a minimum 1 pitch and allows space for additional pitches.Writers do not need to demonstrate formatting, illustrative or similar skills. During the creation period, Full Steam Ahead Zine mods will be on hand for formatting and other visual/presentation assistance.Writers will have the option to indicate an interest in collaborating with an artist on the application form. The exact details would be determined between collaboration pair-ups after acceptance, with Full Steam Ahead Zine mods available to facilitate if that is desired.

Building Your Portfolio

For Full Steam Ahead, you will need to submit a portfolio, a collection of some of your best pieces that showcase your range, along with three selected samples that serve as your “first impression” and are considered your most relevant pieces.You may link your portfolio website (e.g. Carrd, Wix, Weebly, etc.); a curated Google Drive, Google Photos, Dropbox, etc. folder that WE CAN ACCESS; or other sites like Archive Of Our Own or Medium where your writing is easily viewable and accessible. If linking a social media account, be sure to provide us with a specific means of viewing your work (e.g. a writing tag on Tumblr, a Moment on Twitter, etc.) If your portfolio is too difficult to navigate, or we cannot open your links, your application may be disqualified.In general, please make sure your portfolio and samples are accessible, easy to view, and showcase your writing examples.We recommend curating your portfolio around your pitch. If you are interested in fiction, include some short story examples. If interested in non-fiction works, include some examples of non-fiction that you have previously written. Since we are a book around STEAM, artifacts such as lab reports, concept development, or technical write-ups are welcome! (We are supporters of cyber security: please redact where necessary if there is any sensitive information.)

Application Requirements

Given that we are a zine for female and non-binary OCs in STEAM, we envision pieces in the final book to be:
- Character-focused
- Inclusive
- Non-judgemental
- Brimming with love for STEAMWe will be looking to showcase under-represented and culturally diverse viewpoints. Feel free to exercise your creativity!Depending on your pitch, we might be looking for:
- An interesting hook
- Technical understanding of genre-specific writing principles
- Compelling narrative voice
- A unique, original style, setting, or perspective
- Depictions of setting
- Clarity and application of language, accessibility
- Ability to work to a theme.Portfolios and samples containing not-safe-for-work (NSFW) material will be allowed but ultimately, your contribution to the zine, if accepted, must be safe-for-work (SFW) as the zine is intended for all ages.

Do you want to join Full Steam Ahead as a creative but don’t fit exactly as a visual artist and/or writer? Then apply here, whether you’re a chef, a musician, a game developer, a cosplayer, or something else! We’d love to see what you make!

Contributor Expectations

What you wish to create for the zine will depend on your medium. You may be allotted a few pages in the zine (2–4 pages, more or less if needed) or what you make may be considered digital merchandise (e.g. music, games, animations). If accepted, you will be able to discuss with the mods the exact expectations.

Portfolio/Samples of Your Work

For Full Steam Ahead, you will need to submit a portfolio, a collection of some of your best pieces that showcase your range, along with three selected samples that serve as your “first impression” and are considered your best pieces.Please submit what you think is enough to give a good impression of your work and range, along with what you’d want to make for the zine. This can range from original recipes (as a chef), games you’ve created (as a game developer), or a collection of your original music (as a musician). Don’t feel afraid to reach out if you have any questions about this process!In general, please make sure your portfolio and samples are accessible, easy to view, and showcase only your work.

Application Requirements

- Your portfolio and samples may contain not-safe-for-work (NSFW) content, but the content you create for the zine, if accepted, must be safe-for-work (SFW) as the zine is intended for all ages.
- Your portfolio may contain your selected samples
- Please be ready to explain what you do and what you’d like to make for the zine.
- STEAM-related work is not required but HIGHLY recommended

Previews & Pre-orders

Pre-orders open June 18, 10 am PDT! Stay tuned for more!