(同人誌, , in English also often transliterated as "Doujinshi"[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]) are self-published [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] or English works, usually manga or novels. They are often the work of amateurs, though some professional artists participate as a way to publish material outside the regular industry. The term dōjinshi is derived from [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] (同人, [Only registered and activated users can see links. ][Only registered and activated users can see links. ] coterie), literally "same person", used to refer to a person or persons with whom one shares a common goal or interest) and shi (誌, shi[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]), a contraction of zasshi, meaning "[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]"). Dōjinshi are part of a wider category of [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] including but not limited to art collections, [Only registered and activated users can see links. ], [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] and [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]. Groups of dōjinshi artists refer to themselves as a circle (サークル, sākuru[Only registered and activated users can see links. ]). A number of such groups actually consist of a single artist: they are sometimes called kojin circles (個人サークル, kojin circles[Only registered and activated users can see links. ] personal circles). Dōjinshi are made by artists or writers who prefer to publish their own materials. Avid fans of dōjinshi attend regular dōjinshi conventions, the largest of which is called [Only registered and activated users can see links. ] (short for "Comic Market") held in the summer and winter in [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]'s [Only registered and activated users can see links. ]. Here, over 20 acres of dōjinshi are bought, sold, and traded by attendees. Dōjinshi creators who based their materials on other creators' works normally publish in small numbers to maintain a low profile from litigation. This makes a talented creator's or circle's dōjinshi a coveted commodity as only the fast or the lucky will be able to get them before they sell out.
Over the last decade, the practice of creating dōjinshi has expanded significantly, attracting thousands of creators and fans alike. Advances in personal publishing technology have also fueled this expansion by making it easier for dōjinshi creators to write, draw, promote, publish, and distribute their works. For example, some dōjinshi are now published on digital media. Furthermore, many dōjinshi creators are moving to online download and print-on-demand services, while others are beginning to distribute their works through American channels such as anime shop websites and specialized online direct distribution sites.