Colliding Lines publish and promote experimental literature, interactive art objects and self-made items of many shapes and sizes. Our zine store is the place to find small creations from eclectic makers, post-ready packages of poetry, collage, typography and text. We are interested in graphic writing, concrete poetry, asemic and ergodic work, and all things which celebrate the printed format in novel and creative ways. If this sounds like you, we would love to hear from you.

All items are available to buy directly through our current online store, hosted at our online store. Click the photos for a look inside each item.

Zines

Prints and Broadsides

Alongside zines, we publish small-run letterpress and risograph prints, each developed in close dialogue with the poet or artist. Broadside editions are usually limited to between twenty and fifty copies, numbered by hand and signed where the maker wishes. Recent titles include a two-colour riso setting of an erasure poem on 250g recycled stock, a folded A2 map-poem designed to be opened in four stages, and a letterpress poster of a concrete sonnet printed from hand-set type.

Prints are shipped flat in board-backed envelopes or rolled in sturdy tubes for larger sheets. We favour uncoated papers that hold ink with a slight tooth, and we list the exact stock, ink colours and printed area on every product page. If you would like to frame a piece, ask us about removing the edition number for display copies or about mounting advice.

Because broadsides are printed in short runs, each one carries the small irregularities of the press. We think of these as part of the work rather than flaws, and we photograph representative copies rather than a single ideal image so that buyers can see the true character of the paper.

Objects and Multiples

Some works do not sit neatly on a shelf, and we carry a changing range of interactive objects and multiples. These include matchbox map-poems, instructional score card sets, stamped tags, and small handmade chapbooks that double as games or kits. Each object is assembled by hand in small batches, so slight variations between copies are part of the edition.

We are particularly drawn to pieces that invite a reader to rearrange, perform or complete them. An object might ask you to unfold a route, shuffle a set of ending cards, or rub away a printed layer to reveal a second text beneath. If you make work that uses text as a physical material, we would like to see it.

Multiples are priced to remain affordable, and we aim to describe their size, weight and handling clearly before purchase. For fragile or unusually shaped pieces, we include a short care note with the parcel so that the work arrives safely and can be stored or displayed without damage.

How We Make and Pack

Every item is checked before dispatch and wrapped in recycled tissue or glassine, then placed in a rigid mailer. Zines and prints are protected with a backing board to prevent bending in transit. Where possible we use paper tape and avoid plastic sleeves, though fragile pieces may be sealed in compostable film.

We print locally, usually in London, and choose vegetable-based inks and FSC-certified papers where the budget allows. Edition sizes are kept small so that unsold copies do not sit in storage, and we reprint only when a title has sold through and the maker agrees. This keeps the catalogue lively and allows us to list exact stock and condition.

Postage is calculated at checkout. We post once a week, normally on Fridays, and send a confirmation with each parcel. If an item arrives damaged, contact us within fourteen days and we will arrange a replacement or refund. For tracked or signed-for delivery, choose the relevant option before paying.

Submit Your Work

We are open to proposals for zines, broadsides, small objects and audio-visual text pieces. Submissions should include a short description of the work, a few sample images or a link, and an idea of the materials and format. There is no fee to submit, and we reply to every proposal within four to six weeks.

We are especially interested in:

• Graphic writing and concrete poetry that treats the page as a space
• Asemic and ergodic texts that ask for unusual reading paths
• Works that combine print with simple instructions or performance scores
• Collaborations between writers and visual artists
• Small editions that can be made without specialist equipment

Send your proposal by email with “Colliding Lines submission” in the subject line. If your work is a good fit, we will discuss print costs, edition size and consignment terms with you before anything goes to press. We also consider ready-made editions for the online store, though we prefer to see the finished object or a full set of proofs first.