Now what?

Determing your content is the first step, obviously. But there's no reason you can't also start thinking about what you want your chap or zine to look like (and how much it will cost to produce), and we'll talk more about this next week with examples in front of us. If you're up for it, you might make a trip to JAM Paper & Envelope, Paper Access, or Kate's Paperie. Even Staples and Office Max offer a good selection of plain and specialty papers, cover stocks, and supplies--and they also have in-house copyshops. If you're planning to go the Kinko's route, stop in and take a look at their paper sample books, usually on the front counter.

JAM Paper & Envelope
611 Avenue of the Americas (6th Ave.) at 18th Street
Plain & specialty papers, card stocks, envelopes, etc. Good deals on remainders!

Paper Access
23 West 18th Street between 5th & 6th Aves.
Higher-end stuff, but some beautiful papers for fly leafs or collaging, plus all the basics in about a million colors and sizes. They also have other supplies like stencils, rubber stamps, binding materials, etc.

Kate's Paperie
Five locations in Manhattan (link to store locator)
Similar to Paper Access, but less practical perhaps, more boutiquey.

Kinko's
(link to store locator--enter your zip code)

Staples
(link to store locator--enter your zip code)
Office supply stores like Staples and Office Max usually carry basic papers and card stocks, saddle staplers, stencils, envelopes, mailing labels, etc.

Office Max
(link to store locator--enter your zip code)