Wednesdays: July 8*, 15, 29, August 5; 9am–12pm CT
Format and print fan fiction or a classic novel of your choice, then create a hardcover binding for your book, in this in-person workshop.
This practical and immersive binding workshop provides a solid workflow and a strong foundation for binding fan fiction and novels.
The first session of this four-part workshop will take place at the Workshop for Independent Publishing (WIP) where participants will print their novel or fan fiction pages. You’ll receive instructions ahead of the workshop to help you create a print file of your book pages. No software is required beyond your word processor and Spectrolite, a free and intuitive formatting app for making books.
Sessions two-four will take place at Minnesota Center for Book Arts where you will bind your book. Fold, press, trim, and punch sections of your book during session two, then sew your book at home (using a video tutorial for support). In session 3, you’ll learn how to round your book spine, prepare the spine for the hardcover binding, and start building a full cloth case. Finish your case and learn how to attach your text block (book pages) to your case to complete your binding in the final session.
The materials fee covers paper, board, and most other bindery materials and tools needed for this workshop. Participants are asked to purchase their own bookcloth and endsheets, in order to have creative choice in the design of their book. Options for sourcing bookcloth and endsheet paper will be shared during the first session of the workshop. Participants will also need to pay printing costs for their book at WIP. To provide a sense of price, black and white copies for a 250-page novel cost $12.50.
This workshop requires independent work-time outside of workshop time. Participants are welcome to participate in Bookbinding Labs in between workshop sessions and after the workshop ends to access MCBA's studios and binding equipment.
Note: This workshop is a new iteration of India Johnson’s Intermediate Hand Bookbinding workshop. Individuals who participated in Intermediate Hand Bookbinding are welcome to participate in this workshop and should know that there is overlap in the content of these two workshops.
*The first session of this workshop, Wednesday, July 8, will take place at Workshop for Independent Publishing (WIP), 900 West 50th Street, Minneapolis, MN 55419. Subsequent sessions will take place at Minnesota Center for Book Arts, 1011 Washington Avenue South, Minneapolis, MN 55415.
Level: Beginner. Previous bookbinding experience is helpful, but not required to participate in this workshop.
Certificate: 12 hours, Category B or C
Pricing
$294 | $147 Scholarship | $441 Pay-It-Forward
$25 materials fee
Scholarships are available for individuals facing adversity as it relates to identity, income/wealth, and lack of access to arts resources. The Pay-It-Forward rate (tuition, plus 50%) supports MCBA’s efforts to make scholarships available. We leave it to you to choose the rate that is meaningful to you based on your income, wealth, and privilege status. MCBA members receive a 10% discount on tuition.
