Applications | New Home: An Undertale Fanzine

Application Requirements and

Composition of the Zine

Our zine centers around the trope of Found Family in Undertale. For example:
- What sort of things might Frisk experience post-Pacifist with their newfound home with Toriel?
- Who exactly raised Undyne?
- Which monsters come together after the human travels the Underground and leaves dust behind?
- Do the lab monsters consider themselves family?

The answers to these questions (and more!) would fit the theme of the zine.

We hope to accept between 9-13 contributors (including 1-2 merch artists).
- Illustrators, digital merch artists, and writers are welcome to apply.
- Each contributor must produce a minimum of one (1) piece and may create up to two (2) pieces.
- Writers and illustrators may opt to apply as a pair if they wish to work with each other on an illustrated fanfiction or a comic. (See last section on this page).
Alternate Universes (AUs) are not allowed, but interpretations of canon and Universe Alterations (UAs) are permitted.
Canon ships only, though this zine is placing an emphasis on gen content. However, we want to emphasize that ship-shaming/ship hate will not be tolerated as part of this project.
SFW pieces only.

General Requirements

You must be 18 years old or older to apply and participate.
Racism, transphobia, homophobia, queerphobia, ableism, shipshaming (of any kind. Yes, even the ones you hate and think are immoral), bullying, harassment, or any other repugnant behavior will not be tolerated. If you are actively engaging in this type of behavior, you will be removed from the zine. We will check for this behavior during the application process.
Each applicant will submit a portfolio of their work (details below).
We will consider your ability to complete tasks in a timely manner.
We will also consider your ability to collaborate with others.
Incomplete applications will be disqualified.
- Failure to follow the application rules may hinder your chances of being accepted, so please take care to read the application questions/rules carefully.
We are aiming to have a selection of both known and lesser-known artists/writers.
- Even if your portfolio is spectacular, because of the limited number of slots, we may take this into consideration.

For Illustrators

Your portfolio should contain between 3 and 5 fully complete pieces.
- These pieces should be your best work (employ good use of color, composition, style, etc.).
- You should demonstrate your ability to draw the theme of our zine.
- Although an Undertale piece isn't required, preference will be given to those who can demonstrate their ability to draw Undertale characters.
  - Note: If you have drawn an Undertale character in an incomplete piece, you may provide that as one of your samples, so long as you have at least 3 other complete pieces.
You should have an idea of what you'd like to draw when applying.
- Your participation in the zine is contingent upon drawing the idea you have pitched.

Your final zine piece(s) must fulfill the following requirements:
- 210 x 297 mm (or 2480 x 3508 pixels) canvas size (no bleed [aka excess size] requirement, as this will not be printed.)
  (EDIT: On April 5, 2021, this requirement changed from Letter size (8.5 x 11 inches) to A4 size (210 x 297 mm).)
- 300dpi
- RGB
- Must submit both a PNG and unflattened PSD (with signature on separate layer)
You must submit one complete piece.
- For a higher share of the profits, you may complete two pieces. (See FAQs for more info.)

For Merch Artists

Your portfolio should contain between 3 and 5 fully complete pieces.
- These pieces should highlight your ability to produce your proposed digital merchandise idea.
- Show your best work (for example, if visual art, it employs good use of color, composition, style, etc.).
- You should demonstrate your ability to produce an item with the theme of our zine.
- If your merch idea involves visual art, preference will be given to those who can demonstrate their ability to draw Undertale characters.
  - Note: If you have drawn an Undertale character in an incomplete piece, you may provide that as one of your samples, so long as you have at least 3 other complete pieces.
You should have an idea of what you'd like to produce when applying.
- Your participation in the zine is contingent upon drawing the idea you have pitched.

Your merch must be available digitally. It will be added onto the zine as a bonus/bundle option.
What you produce is up to your imagination!
Some ideas for merch:
- Phone home/lock screen wallpapers
- Desktop wallpaper
- Discord emotes/emojis
- Twitter/Discord icons
- Printable coloring book pages
- Illustrated recipe cards
Please be specific in what you'd like to produce. Do not simply put "I want to make Twitter icons."
- For example, you could put "I want to draw 4 Twitter icons - one of Sans playing a trick on Papyrus, one of Undyne doing x...", etc.
The technical requirements will depend on the idea you have. Message us on Tumblr or CuriousCat if you have questions!
You must submit one complete merch set (for example, a set of Discord icons would qualify as one set).
- For a higher share of the profits, you may complete two merch sets. (See FAQs for more info.)

For Writers

Your portfolio should contain between 1 and 3 complete pieces.
- Please submit at least one sample piece of up to 4,000 words.
  - If you submit any other samples (up to 3 total), none of them may exceed 4,000 words.
  - Any that exceed that limit will not be considered for the application.
- Pieces should highlight your ability to write the theme of our zine.
- No multichaptered fics unless they highlight our theme particularly well (and you may only link up to 3 chapters).
- Although an Undertale piece isn't required, preference will be given to those who can demonstrate their ability to write Undertale characters.
You should have an idea of what you'd like to write when applying.
- Your participation in the zine is contingent upon writing the idea you have pitched.
If you want to create a non-prose piece, please contact us directly before applying.

Your final zine piece(s) must fulfill the following requirements:
- For base participation: One piece between 2,000 - 3,000 words.
- For a higher share of the profits, you may either complete:
  - two pieces at 2,000 - 3,000 words; OR
  - one piece at 5,000 - 6,000 words.
Writers will need to edit their own work or select their own beta editor. The mods will briefly review your work near the end of the zine, but pieces should be near final at that stage.

Paired Writers/Artists

But wait! What if you want to partner with another contributor to create an illustrated fanfiction or a comic?

If you are an illustrator hoping to draw for someone's fanfiction or a writer hoping to work with an artist (either for fanfiction or a comic), you must apply as a pair.
We will not be pairing any artists/fanfic writers together who have not already agreed to do so upfront.
If you and your friend want to apply together you are more than welcome to do so!
All pairs applying must fulfill the requirements set forth in the terms above.
If you want to apply as both a pair and an individual, you may do so.
- However, you will only be selected as either an individual or as a pair, not both.

Ready to Apply?