So You want to make a book is an 8 week evening course aimed at those interested in self publishing. Whether you have a project ready to go or are just starting to think about making a book this 8 week evening class will help you form a foundation for turning that idea into a reality. You will learn to make a range of basic book structures, then have 5 weeks to lay out, print, bind and finish your book in a supportive enviroment using a binding structure learnt on the course.

You will come away from this course with the knowledge on how to make a publication suited for your practice.

Participants will not be required to have access too a laptop, Indesign (or an equivalent design software) as the course wont be totally focussed on digital work but having access to one to will get you the best out of the course, we will be demonstrating how to design and layout books using Indesign.

Youll need to have a project, whether its a series of photos, artwork, poems, writing (anything that may suit the book) 8 or 16 are good number for the amount of images, poems, work you should have for a project.

Youll come away from the course with a publication, a small edition of books with the ability to go bigger if needs be (outside of the course).

Week 1, book structures and pamphlet bindings workshop

Week 2, book structures and foldings workshop, dos a dos bindings and more

week 3, multi section swiss bindings

week 4. Projects presentation. Partipants are asked to bring in there work they intend to publish. Class will as a group collaborate to form individual plans for publications structure and design.

week 5 . Design, layout and prepare physical proofs

week 6. print

week 7. Binding and finishing

week 8. finish off projects, photograph and assess with drinks in the conservatory.

The aim of the course will be able to get you to a point where you can carry on producing your own books, either yourself or with other book makers and with the knowledge and ability to describe what it is you want.

Youll be taught by Fraser Carr Miles director of bracken books bookbindery and print studio. He has been making books for publishers, artists, galleries and other individuals for the last 12 years and been in business since 2018. With his own publishing house Bracken Books he has published a wide range of work from photography, art, poetry, illustration and writing alonside his own photography practice.

Youll be working inside a professional bookbindery and print studio every week, all tools and materials will be provided. Tea coffee biscuits and pastries will be available to you every evening. Our studio is not wheelchair friendly and we have no disabled toilets (something were trying to change) For any special requirements or needs we ask you let us know and we will do our best to accomodate you.

There is plenty of parking in the yard at night and we are a 15 minute walk from Hastings train station.

We have a kitchen a small kitchen area for teas and coffees and an outside seating area for meals / smoking.

So you want to make a zinepublicationbook