Knife's Edge is a nonprofit shuake horror zine scheduled to be in your hands around October of 2025. Charity TBD.Status: Contributor Applications are now OPEN! They will close on January 2nd, 2025 at 12PM PST.
Apply Here
Learn more about the zine specifics, and how we define 'horror' on our FAQ page
Tellonym answers are cross posted to the FAQ.
Contributor Applications Close:
SCHEDULE - GENERAL
Item | Date | Status |
---|---|---|
Moderation Applications | 11/14/24 - 11/29/24 | Completed |
Moderators Selected | 11/30/24 | Completed |
Contributor Applications | 12/6/24 - 1/2/25 | Apply Here! |
Contributors Selected/Notified | 1/9/25 | Upcoming |
Pre-Orders Open | 7/10/25 | Upcoming/Tentative |
Pre-Orders Close | 8/10/25 | Upcoming/Tentative |
Tellonym answers are cross posted to the FAQ.
Overall, we do not want to limit someone’s expression of horror, but we are invested in making sure that this zine can captivate a wider audience. The primary focus is still shuake and exploring their relationship.
See below for some more information on how we define horror, and what the limitations are for content. If you have any questions, please send them via our tellonym!
About Knife's Edge
This is a not-for-profit zine. This means that any profits from the physical and digital sale of the zine will be donated to a TBD charity.This zine is considered Safe For Work. When it comes to horror, the phrase "safe for work" may be defined a little differently. For us, it means:
No pornography
No excessive gore - think somewhere around a soft M rating in a video game (additional details in the section below)
How does knife's edge define horror?
We want to leave ‘horror’ up to interpretation - it is a very broad genre, and we want to include as much as possible so long as it exists within the “rating”. We’re talking kitschy to slasher. Here are some examples:
Shuake-fied recreation of an existing horror movie poster
Monsters/cryptids
Psychological horror - (for example, exploring the implications of semester 3/Mementos, or the Jail Scene ;) )
Body horror (within limitation - see below)
Paranormal
Slasher horror (within limitation - see below)
What are the limits & rules for content?
FOR POTENTIAL PARTICIPANTS:
If it appears in the game, it’s good to go (think: bullet wounds, knife wounds)
Symbolic viscera (like an anatomical heart) is okay, but disembowelment and amputation will require mod approval (the level of realism plays a role)
Participants will be asked upon acceptance to provide 3 pitches for what you'd like to draw or write. Moderators will select one pitch for the participant to move forward with. This is to make sure there is balance in content across the zine, and that resulting works fall within the rating we've designated.
During check-ins, ALL content shared will be required to be tagged with appropriate content warnings. Any images shared will be required to be spoilered. This allows each participant to moderate their own comfortability with horror elements.
Gore-related content being submitted during check-ins will be submitted in its own channel. Roles will be used for participants to opt-in to having visibility into the gore related channels.
FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN PURCHASING:
When the zine becomes available for purchase, all potential content warnings will be listed so you can decide for yourself if this zine is something for you
Who can participate in knife's edge?
AND WHAT WILL THE SELECTION PROCESS LOOK LIKE?
We will be selecting people blind. This means we will only look at the art and writing samples that are given to us without additional digging into the person’s social media presence or identity. We do not condone harassment or censorship of anyone who applies or is selected to participate.
Everyone who participates must be at least 18 years of age
Everyone who participates must have access to discord and be able to join the zine server for the sake of keeping everyone organized and informed in one place.
The applications will be open for about 1 month before participants will be selected. Please see the schedule on the main carrd page for details.
This zine will include art and writing
what will the format and extras be?
A5 size
This zine will be sold digitally, and we plan on a physical copy of the zine as well.
Additional TBD merch will also be available for purchase
tellonym questions & answers
Q: Does it have to be the actual Joker and Akechi or can it be a different version of them? (shadows, cognitives, shapeshifters, illusions, etc.)
It can absolutely be any of what you listed. As long as it is them, a representation of them, or an aspect of them.
Q: What does it mean when you said you don't condone censorship on the participants? And, an additional question, how much experience is required in both drawing and writing? As in, does it matter how long a person has made their works?
To put it simply, it means that we don't want any fandom discourse or headcanon judgement on any participant that is selected. Just a fancy way of saying be nice and respectful to the people you'll be working alongside for the zine :)
There is no prior experience or length of time creating requirements to apply.
Q: How many words do you want the writers app to be?
You're welcome to submit any existing fic you've written, and there is no requirement to write something for the application. We will be asking for 3 samples in total.
Word count is 300-3,000 (you are also welcome to provide a well-rounded snippet as opposed to an entire fic)
We will require that applicant samples have at least one example of horror or shuake!
Q: What is the art for an artist application judged on? Does the application need to include art with horror elements?
We ask that at least one of your examples is either shuake OR horror. This and the following rubric will be provided at the time of application as a reminder:
Overall Composition: Do all of the elements of their samples make sense together?
Color/Highlight/Shading: Does the artist understand basic color theory and have a good grasp on sources of light and shadow in their pieces?
Do they show horror quality: Does it seem like the artist will be able to perform within the theme of the zine?
Overall Quality: Did the artist clearly put effort and time into their pieces?
Q: Stance on NSFW sample pieces?
You may use NSFW sample pieces for your application. We ask that you also include SFW as well :)
When filling out the applicant form, please add any proper content warnings for links to NSFW sample pieces.
Q: Do artists have to draw what the writers wrote or vice versa?
No, artists and writers will be working and submitting independently of each other.
Q: If an artist/writer were to drop out, can we suggest a guest appearance?
If someone were to drop out, we wouldn't mind hearing of a possible willing replacement to fill the gap. However, there is no guarantee we would move forward with that replacement.
We ask that every applicant review the schedule (which is posted on our carrd) and only apply if they genuinely believe that they can meet the check ins and deadline. Of course, things happen outside of our control, but we want to limit number of potential drop outs as much as possible.
Q: Is the psychological horror associated with liminal spaces valid? / Is psychological horror okay OUTSIDE of the examples of mementos/3rd semester?
Absolutely!
Q: As writers, can we add more than 3 pieces to our portfolios? And, considering the applications are blind, are we allowed to mention our fic names and our handles when applying?
Unfortunately, we will not be allowing more than 3 pieces per writer as any more over that limit will be hard for us to read, score, and review in the short window of the application period. We appreciate your enthusiasm to share, though!
Regarding titles, it is okay to include those on your application if you so choose.
Finally, when it comes to handles do NOT include it on your writing sample. You will be asked to provide your handle elsewhere in your application that will be blocked from our view while reviewing samples.
Good luck to you when applying!
Q: How do we submit fics for the application? Is it a requirement to have posted them on AO3, or is google docs allowed?
When contributor applications open, you will definitely be able to submit google doc links of your work.
We are going to be reviewing all applicants works removed of personal identifying information and encourage our applicants to use google docs or something similar instead of published links to share their writing with us.
Please be sure that whatever link you share with us will have open access - we will not be requesting access upon review if it is not already granted.
Q: Will you be doing guest contributors?
Yes! We will have a limited number of guest contributors.
Q: Will there be someone able to assist with adjusting artwork colors for print/can the chosen printing service do that? My work tends to not print well due to dark colors, and there's probably going to be a lot of dark colors in a zine of this theme haha.
Yes, our merch and designer mods do have experience with this and will be keeping an eye out at each check-in period to be sure everything will print as true to color as possible.
Keep in mind we will be using a CMYK color format for the files to make printing and adjustments easier on everyone.
In the event that you are using Clip Studio Paint to create your art, you will be asked to use/save PSD files to have accurate CMYK preservation.
PSD Templates will be provided with proper bleed and formatting for everyone to use.
Q: As an artist, can I apply as a sport artist too? Would I have to send two applications?
When applying as an artist, you will have the option to select whether you are interested in doing spot art or not.
Choosing yes does not remove you from qualifying as a regular page artist, nor does it guarantee you will get a spot art position.
If you are ONLY interested in being a spot artist, please mention this on the application - there will be a freeform answer for any additional comments.
In the event that you would like to apply as both a merch and page artist, you can select both on a single application. Please keep in mind that if you are selected, you will only be selected for one role.
Learn more about the zine specifics, and how we define 'horror' on our FAQ page
Tellonym answers are cross posted to the FAQ.
MODERATORS
Name | Moderation | Socials | Experience |
---|---|---|---|
joshua | founder / merch moderation | twitter, tumblr, bluesky | zine experience can be found here (carrd) |
ghostsjogging | founder / general moderation, graphics & design. | twitter, tumblr bluesky | zine experience can be found here (carrd) |
zu | writing moderation | twitter, tumblr, bluesky | Every Universe, Every Lifetime Akeshuake AU Zine (Writer), Happily Ever After: A Fantasy Shuake Zine (Writing Mod) |
jiro | art moderation | bluesky | Has participated in a large number of zines but most recently moderated: Incandescent: A Magical Girl Zine (Art Mod), Happily Ever After: A Fantasy ShuAke Zine (Art Mod), and RE:Flect: A Persona 3 Tarot Deck (Head Mod). |
juniper | shipping & handling | twitter, bluesky | shipping & handling for Wolf's Head zine |
sam | social media moderation | twitter, tumblr, bluesky | handled social media for DSMP Live Action. Served as contributor in DRÖMSERVER - DSMP fashion zine and SAFEGUARD - DSMP Snowchester zine. |
saiko | writing intern | twitter, tumblr, bluesky | zine experience can be found here (carrd) |
tarrlok | graphics & design | N/A | Full time graphic designer for print since 2016. Design Mod for MDZS-junior zine: logo, print layout, social media graphics |
bel | graphics & design intern | twitter, tumblr, bluesky | Graphic design graduate. First zine experience. |
caro | finance moderation | twitter, tumblr, bluesky, instagram | finance moderator for Bloom Into You zine, Tarot Divinate zine, and VAGUE: Goro Akechi Fashion Zine. |
quill | general moderation | twitter, tumblr, bluesky | Coming Soon! |
Learn more about the zine specifics, and how we define 'horror' on our FAQ page
Tellonym answers are cross posted to the FAQ.
CONTRIBUTOR SCHEDULE
Item | Date | Details |
---|---|---|
Pitches | 1/14/2024 - 1/21/2024 | Artists / Merch Artists / Writers |
Pitches Selected | 1/27/2024 | Artists /Merch Artists / Writers |
Check-in 1 | 2/24/2024 | Artists / Merch Artists / Writers |
Check-in 2 | 3/25/2024 | Artists / Merch Artists / Writers / Spot Artists || Note: if writers are working with a spot artist, writer and spot artist must have 3 pitches at this check-in for what the artist will draw related to the writer's fic. Spot artists only have to help submit pitches at this check-in. |
Check-in 2.5 | 4/25/2024 | Spot Artists Only |
Check-in 3 | 5/25/2024 | Artists / Merch Artists / Writers / Spot Artists |
Final | 6/25/2024 | Artists / Merch Artists / Writers / Spot Artists |