One Piece OC Guidebook

A free SFW zine celebrating the original characters of the One Piece fandom
Zine will be sign ups, not applications or invites, so all who meet our minimum requirements will be accepted.SCHEDULE
Interest Check: March 12 - April 9, 2025
Mod Apps: March 19 - April 2, 2025
Sign Ups: April 23 - May 21, 2025
Onboarding: June 2025
Creation Period: June 13, 2025 - January 9, 2026
Formatting: February 2026
Release: TBAContact Us:
[email protected]

OP OC Guidebook
About

The One Piece OC Guidebook (or the OOG, as the mods call it) is a free, safe for work zine celebrating original characters for One Piece. It will be digital and in the style of a guidebook magazine.OCs by various creators will be spotlit in a number of ways, including but not limited to: general profile pages, original devil fruits, original islands, fashion across arcs, articles, and artwork.Participants may contribute to as many or as few sections of the zine as they want, as long as they minimum do the basic profile page and finish work they commit to.Due to this, as well as the large number of sections planned for the zine, this project will have a longer than standard creation period and a slightly non-traditional workflow.There are three types of contributors we will be accepting, and it is a little different than a standard zine:Standard:
This is what most of the contributors will fall under. They will be doing most of the artwork and writing for their own OCs. As the writing in this zine is not fic style, everyone is capable of this!Writing ranges from purely informational to more creative articles, but it will be up to the contributor what they want to do. If you need help with your written parts, you may ask for help in the help channels!Artwork ranges from small spot arts to full illustrations, depending on what you want to create!Writer ONLY:
This role is for folks with OCs who are writers but don’t draw! You get to do all the written info for your OC and will probably be more information and article focused than other contributors.Writers will be paired with spot artists to make sure everyone who wants art of their OC can get it, plus anyone may offer extra Art if they so choose.Spot artists:
This is a bit of a unique role in this zine! Spot artists will be artists who maybe don’t have an OC of their own or aren’t ready to share theirs but still want to participate. Spot artists will be helping other contributors add artwork to their various articles and segments, such as drawing a devil fruit for someone who needs help with that!This is a fully voluntary position, nobody will be forced to draw content for other people’s OCs. (standard contributors may also contribute to the “spot art,” but people with the spot artist role are exclusively doing this.)NOTE: Spot artists will be paired with a writer and must complete minimum two pieces for their OC. You may create more for this OC or others, but you must prioritize the one you are paired with!"Spot" Writers
In the interest check, people showed interest in signing up as "spot writers," contributor with no OC of their own but who want to help write for others' OCs! Same as spot artists, spot writers will be paired with other contributors to help create for their OCs. They will be able to create for multiple OCs, but must complete at minimum the work for their pairing!

Guidelines & Expectations

Contributors will be expected to follow all zine and server rules, as well as meet the following requirements:Be at least 18 by the time sign ups closeKeep an open line of communication with the mods.Have or create a discord account, and join the discord server upon onboardingKeep it PG-13 and civilHave at least one One Piece OC!Follow creation specs provided by the modsBe okay with oc x canon ship “sharing.” Non-sharing is not allowed in this space due to the nature of the project, and if mods find that you have harassed people over such ships, you will be removed from the project.For traditional artists:
We ask that if you intend to do traditional art for this zine, you have the ability to take clear, high quality scans or photos of your artwork.During signs ups we will ask that traditional artists show us that they can meet this requirement, and if they cannot we will have to turn them away or ask that they accept a writer only position---All contributors will be expected to complete, at minimum, a character profile page for their OC using the guidelines provided by the Mods as well as two additional sections.Spot artists do not have to do this, but will be asked to complete minimum two pieces of spot art for other contributor's OCs.All participants may contribute to as many of the other sections of the zine as they desire, as long as they complete their work.

Mods

HANNAH SPOONS
Head & Art Mod
@hannahspoonsart
Sanji Art Collab (Head Mod)
Beastly, a Beast Pirates Zine (Art Mod)
From the Edge of Hope; Pacific Rim 10th Anniversary Zine (Cover & Page Artist)
Full Zine & Project History Here

ABYSS
Formatting & Art Mod
@abysstylwyth
Surgeon of Death Collab (Head Mod)
The One Piece Art Collab (Six-time Contributor)
One Piece Secret Santa (Graphics Mod)
Sun-Kissed Pages: A KobyLu Zine (Page Artist)

GIL
Social Media & Art Mod
@fumiiigation
DRN (OC) Project RP (Mod, Art Mod)
Corazon Art Collab (Head Mod)
Law, Sanji, Sabo, Admirals Collabs (Artist)

KITSCH
Graphics & Bonus Formatting Mod
@kitschclown
Fragments of Fate (Ghost Trick Zine, Head & Graphics Mod)
Mea Culpa (Ace Attorney Zine, Graphics & Formatting Mod)
Astralis (Ace Attorney Ship Zine, Graphics & Formatting Mod)
Full Zine & Project History Here

FILLYBOY
Writing Mod
@FillyBoy19
Happy Endings Zine (Chainsaw Man, Writing Mod)
Maker's Dozen Zine (TriGun, Writing Mod)
Subjugate Zine (TriGun, Writing Mod)

JANINA
Writing Mod
@beautyinfiction
Smokescreen (Head & Writing Mod)
Scales of Gold (Writing Mod)
Friend-Shaped (Writing Mod)
Full Zine & Project History Here

FAQ

Is this zine physical or digital?
Digital! It will be distributed on itch.ioPaid or Free?
Free! Both the zine and any digital merch will be available at no cost.Is there an age requirement to participate in the zine?
Yes, we ask that all contributors be at least 18 by the end of the application period.What will the zine’s rating be?
It will be PG-13! We will be following more or less what is allowed in One Piece itself, and there will be no NSFW content.I’ve never participated in a zine before, can I still join?
Absolutely! As long as you meet our minimum requirements to participate, all are welcome!Does my OC have to be for One Piece? Are OCs for other media or original stories allowed?
Your OC must be a One Piece OC! If you use them for multiple fandoms, that is fine, as long as one of those is One Piece and you create exclusively One Piece content for the zine.Will mods be monitoring my social media?
No, we will not. However, if we find out that you are participating in harmful behaviors such as harassment or bigotry, you will be removed from the project.I don’t do art, can I still join?
Yes! We have a “writer only” role for those who don’t draw. We will have spot artists working to help create art for folks who are only writers.I’m not a writer, can I still join?
Yes! Most of the writing you will be asked to do is purely informational, so anyone can do it. Mods will help with spelling, grammar, and such. Additionally, contributors do not have to do the more creative writing (such as articles) if they don't want to, and may always ask for help and advice in the server.I don’t have an OC but still want to participate, can I?
Yes! We have the special spot artist role for folks who want to help create artwork for other people’s OCs in the zine!Why is the creation period so long?
This zine has a unique format and allows people to create for a number of sections, and so mods wanted to allot extra time for everyone to get things done!Can I use AI?
Absolutely NOT. Generative AI may not be used at any point in your process, and if Mods find out you have been using it, you will be removed from the zine and blacklisted from any future projects by this mod team.Can I use commissioned art or picrews in the zine?
No, we ask that all the artwork in the zine be created by the contributors. The only exception to the no commissions rule is if 1. the artist is IN the zine AND 2. you get permission from them to include the work!How many OCs can I feature?
Just the one!!! This is a huge project with a lot of participants, so each contributor will be limited to one OC. It is okay if additional OCs come up within the writing and art, but they will not be the featured character and will not get a profile page.Does artwork have to be in color? What level of finish do you want?
Artwork can be color or black and white. Most art will need to be considered "finished," such as lined, colored, and rendered, but we will allow some leeway in certain areas with line only or sketch art. This will be on a case by case basis and discussed with mods.Can I share my work outside the zine server?
No! Any new work created for this zine MUST stay inside the zine's discord server until the mods give the go ahead after the release. Until then, no outside sharing!

Zine Sections

The One Piece OC Guidebook (OOG), is kind of a unique zine! It will not have the standard art + fic format that most zines have, and will instead have a number of different sections to contribute different types of art and writing to. Below are descriptions of the primary sections of the OOG.Once onboarding happens, and our contributors are all ready to go, everyone will have access to a document with a more detailed breakdown of what we need for each element.OC Profiles
This is the main section of the zine! Everyone who wants their OC featured must fill out a basic profile for them. Can and will include art you create specifically for the profile or things you intend to feature elsewhere in the zine, such as a devil fruit or snail phone. There will be a template for the information needed.Crew Spotlights
Have an entire crew? Here’s where to spotlight them! Crew pages will have a table with some quick info on all the members, as well as a description of the crew and any other important info. Art may be included of members, the ship, their adventures, etc etc etc.Devil Fruits
Have an original Devil Fruit? Here’s an entire section about them! Follow the template for some basic info and feel free to include art of the fruit itself or its powers in use!Islands
Where is your OC from? If it's a place you created, you can show it off! Fill out some basic information and include art such as a map, or perhaps different locations on the island.Weapons
Our intrepid reporter has asked Tashigi to write a column on the different weapons used by this zine’s subjects! Please write any weapons spotlights as if you were Tashigi writing about the weapons! You can also just fill out the basic info about it and ask for help with writing it out as Tashigi. May include art of the weapons, as well as it in use!Wanted Posters
Self explanatory. Includes Cross Guild marine wanted posters!Ships (Boat)
This section will be a collage of art of any original ships with their names and the crew name, as well as any other info deemed necessary. Of course, if you have more detailed drawings, such as of various interior spaces the way Oda has for the Merry and Sunny, we can do a whole spotlight page.Fashion
Highlight your OCs fashion choices arc by arc here. Feel free to make a dress up doll type base to reuse for each arc, or draw a unique work each time! Will also include opportunities to draw outfits that are not related to canon events.Gossip Column
This is the spot for romance! OC x OC and OC x Canon are both allowed. Feel free to write gossipy articles or interviews, draw art of them, etc. Your intrepid reporter is very interested in the love lives of your characters.(Note: this is a "sharing" space. Non-sharing will not be allowed)Advertisements
Written or image based advertisements in universe, like the Soul King poster in canon. Some examples include ads for a restaurant, concert, shipwright, etc. Whatever you can think of, as long as you get it approved!Classifieds
Looking to hire someone? Sell an apartment? Meet that missed connection? Submit a small personal ad here! Not sure what to submit? Think of little craigslist ads. There will not be images in this section.Found Papers
Recipe cards, grocery lists, letters, invitations, arrest records, whatever you can think of that might be a loose paper a nosey reporter could find.Journal Pages
Does your OC keep a journal or sketchbook? Feature a page or two! Can be a write up of an entry or an image of the page itself, however you would like to do it. Just run it by the mods first!Snails
What would your OCs personalized snail phone look like? Like the ships, this will be a collage of all the snails together with names of who they belong to.Candid Photos
Create artwork that looks like candid photos a reporter or nosey citizen may have taken! Non-candid “photo” art is welcome as well. These will either be tied to articles or their own collaged section of the zineInterviews
Write an interview with or about your character! Feel free to have our reporter be the one doing the interviewing, or pick another character to do it. Alternatively, maybe your character is the one interviewing someone!Autographs
What’s your character’s autograph look like?Other Articles & Art
Anything else you can think of? Ask a mod and we might be able to include it. Some miscellaneous ideas include “dear Abby” style columns, where someone writes in with a question, personality quizzes, horoscope, anything you can think of that would go in a newspaper, guidebook, or magazine! Just make sure to get it approved by the mods first.