Soft Publishing Fall 2026 / Soft Publishing Assignments

Week 1

1. Answer the ten Soft Manifesto questions
2. Visit a local book collection (new or used bookstore, corporate or indie, library, archive) and observe the direct and indirect values on display
3. Inspired by your visit, add an eleventh question to the Are.na channel, and prepare an answer to it to share with the class

Week 2

Write a brief publishing manifesto informed by your Soft Manifesto answers, readings, and lectures.

Week 3

Using physical mediums and the resources available to you, publish a small printed artifact.

1. Select a portion of your work that you feel would be best represented in a printed format and that best aligns with your publishing manifesto.
2. You can use this template that turns a single piece of paper into a multi-page zine through a series of folds and cutting. You can explore other formats.
3. Create a prototype and prepare to present it, and the reasons and values represented in the prototype, to the class.

Week 4

Using digital mediums and resources available to you, publish a small digital artifact.

1. First, select a reason from “95 reasons for having your own website” from Bell Kiosk (Elliott Cost) that also aligns best with your publishing manifesto.

2. Explore the tools in the Soft Publishing Tools channel on Are.na. Use one that will best represent your reason for having a website and the content you wish to publish on it. You can explore other tools not included in the channel.

3. Create a prototype. Prepare to present it, the reasons, and the values represented in the prototype, to the class.

Week 5 – 8

The last four classes are dedicated to planning and completing the collective publication. To ensure the publication is on track for the end of the year-long program, this will involve in-class planning in which groups of 2-3 people will self-assign weekly jobs to accomplish before the next class.

• Group 1: Planning, Drafting, Review
• Group 2: Editing, Copyediting, Proofreading
• Group 3: Design, Production, Metadata
• Group 4: Distribution, Marketing, Publicity