A look into Wasted Ink's monthly event exploring old fashioned tools, with new fashioned thinkingBY Gib Manrique  Oh, typewriters. What a curious look into writings of the past, and a wonderful companion in any book or coffee shop. Now, I am not sure how many people reading this have ever even written something with a typewriter before. I have only done it twice, once at a zine making event promoting harvesting rainwater, and then again at a display at Powell’s Books in Portland, Oregon. These are two very likely places for typewriters to be. But if you don’t find yourself in Portland or you don’t have any rainwater harvesting experience, your experience with a typewriter may be very different. It may be limited to watching older films or looking at someone’s aesthetic Instagram account. These kinds of machines can be expensive, so it is not usually the most feasible piece to get your hands on. If you have any interest in this world of “old fashioned” machinery, you may be interested in Wasted Ink’s Monthly Type-In event. Dawn May, a retail intern and zinestress, helps run the program. I was able to have a conversation with Dawn via email about what this event is all about, and how you can get involved! “It's about getting together and being creative with help of some old-fashioned tools!” Dawn wrote. “There's no set rules or theme, just experiment with whichever machine calls you and type to your heart's content.”  WIZD Type-In Night in July, 2025. WIZD has been hosting typewriter events for over seven years with different iterations, and this new event feels right. Like most events within the WIZD space, Type-In exists to serve the Phoenix community, and helps to foster an environment where people feel comfortable to try something new. Both writers and typists alike can join each other somewhere cozy, that is a space away from the noise that comes along with living in such a lively place that we do. “One of my favorite parts is teaching newcomers about the typewriters,” Dawn wrote. “They're fascinating little machines and I love to see people's reactions when they discover just how much some of them are actually capable of.” The idea of those newer to the scene learning as they go on is encouraged. This is a very accessible way for those that may not be able to afford interacting with a typewriter are able to take advantage of. It’s a special part in all writer’s histories, and follows a long lineage of human’s finding different ways to express themselves to a wide audience. Dawn also explained that the way she came about hosting these events is a funny one. She explained that she started off as a participant at one of the first Type-In nights at WIZD’s new location. “I ended up info-dumping about typewriters to James, our usual events host and coordinator, who said ‘You should be the one hosting these!’” Dawn wrote. This all led Dawn to the position she’s in today, which is our very own typewriting host and expert. She wrote to me that while she is passionate about typewriters, it delves deeper than just machinery. Her more affordable passion is the arts, and she hopes to help cultivate a community that represents that. Join Wasted Ink Zine Distro's monthly Type-In to learn all about typewriters and use one for yourself! Check our Events Calendar to learn about upcoming events. Many people ask us where we get our typewriters serviced and we love to share that we've been having Bill from Mesa Typewriter Exchange service our machines for many years! Gib Manrique (he/they) is a writer poet and journalist occupying a space in the Arts District of Downtown Phoenix. He has written for several student news publications and independently published his own work. He also refers to himself as transgendermexican4000, as a lot of his work is related to those identities within his life.
You can follow him on his social media with @gib.nky and listen to his comedic queer history podcast on Spotify titled “That’s Gay!” Gib is an intern with Wasted Ink Zine Distro and will be writing monthly for our blog through 2025 and into 2026.
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