The hardest part of DIY publishing is often choosing a topic. These prompts are the same ones we suggest at the start of our zine workshop — pick one, or combine two for a stranger result.
Story-led themes
- A favorite film or song — illustrate one scene or lyric per page
- A short biography of a hero or idol — mix portrait sketch with quotes
- Fan fiction about someone you admire — keep it playful, not precious
- Introduce your job, age, or gender — autobiography in 8 pages
Hanoi & travel prompts
- Sketch diary: coffee shop, lake walk, motorbike view from the balcony
- Phrase book zine — useful Vietnamese words with silly drawings
- Before / after: expectations vs. reality of living or visiting Hanoi
- Food map — stick-drawn bowls of phở, bún, and bánh mì with ratings
Visual-only zines
No words required: pattern pages, abstract color studies, or a collage of ticket stubs and tissue-paper textures. These work well when your group speaks different languages — the images carry the story.
Make a zine with us