“Purple bunny fluffle blast!” I yell as I aim my wand and toss a handful of 3D-printed purple rabbits in the game room at my friend’s Halloween party.
The collection of plastic purple rabbits clatter across the table like dice to the amusement of those around. My friend always hosts themed Halloween parties, and this year I’ve chosen to go as Princess Star Butterfly from Star vs. the Forces of Evil. Which proved to be an interesting challenge.
Let me explain.
Despite being a delightful 3 season animated short-form comedy where Star uses a wide variety of eclectic magical blasts to fight the titular Forces of Evil and get up to a hilarious amount of Ferris Bueller-level teenage shenanigans, Disney made shockingly zero merch for the show. Aside from a single book. So would-be cosplayers have had to get…creative. Hand-painting dresses, having things shipped from overseas, 3D-printing props, spray-painting boots.
My costume came together in the 11th hour. Well, it was more like the 3am hour but… Let’s just say it’s not something I’d feel comfortable cosplaying in for more than a few hours, that’s for sure.
Now if you’re wondering what exactly is cosplay, here’s the gist, Reader. Cosplay is a performance art form that originated in Japan and is the shortened form of the words “costumed play.”
It started as a small counter-culture hobby that has now grown to be a worldwide phenomenon. It’s basically when you dress up as a character from a movie, book, or TV show you’re a fan of.
But for clarification, promotional items and cosplay are not necessarily the same thing. For example, wearing a shirt with your book name or cover is not cosplay. Unless, of course, you’re intentionally trying to be meta like in Supernatural when they go to a convention for a book series based on their lives. (They also have an in-universe musical based on them.)
If you’re unfamiliar with the phenomenon that is cosplay, you may be wondering: How on earth is dressing up going to help me engage with readers?
Well, Reader, here’s 4 ways to engage with readers through cosplay:
We’re All Geeks Here
Back in the before times, before my illnesses took such a physical toll on my body, I used to go to plenty of live events. Most of which were anime- and comic-related. I adored dressing in cosplay because it offered me a fun way to share in the fandom with others.
It was a great way to break the ice with attendees and an easy way to bridge that, What do I say? gap with those on the other side of the table.
That being said, I’m fully aware that not everyone is as extroverted as I am, Reader. Hell, I talk to random strangers in lines just so I don't have to deal with the silence.
So if you’re on the shyer side, Reader, here are a few simple steps to ease into cosplaying at live events.
- Pick your favorite currently airing TV show and cosplay as one of those characters.
- When someone comes to your table, you two can gush about a recent episode instead of feeling like you have to launch into a pitch for your own books.
- Pretty soon you’ll start to feel less anxious about talking to readers. And when you do mention your books, it will feel more like chatting with a friend than pitching a product.
Meet you in Cyberspace
If even the idea of heading to a convention gives you hives, worry not, Reader, I’ve got you covered. Cosplay can still offer huge opportunities for reader engagement.
You could run a cosplay contest in which readers can cosplay as something from your story world. Or if you’re just starting out, you could have them cosplay something from their favorite book world.
Or you could dress as a character or denizen of your storyverse and do fake product, news, or book reviews as entertaining reader content. If you’re at a loss for ideas, you can check out what others are doing in the fan communities you belong to.
Cosplay, It’s Not Just for Spec Fic
Even if your story isn’t populated by the supernatural and the supertech, there are still ways you can incorporate cosplay into your live event toolkit.
If your characters wear a piece of jewelry, have a tattoo, or a uniform (cough Heated Rivalry), you can have it manufactured for personal use or sale at your table. Or you can have something associated with your books as a table prop or decoration.
Fan Service
Now, the easiest way for your readership to play along and cosplay your characters is to provide them with the necessary info to actually pull it off.
This could be a page on your website with complete descriptions of your characters and storyverse. Or this could be downloadable specs to 3D print their own set of daemon horns or magic wand.
No matter how deep into character you dive, Reader, adding a little whimsy and flair can go a long way when engaging with readers. Until next time, this is your friendly neighborhood storytelling Kat wishing you a wonderfully creative week.
Your cohort in storytelling,
Kat Vancil
🐱
PS 👉 Have you ever done cosplay from one of your own story worlds? What about from another creator’s? Hit reply and share!
PPS 👉 If you’d like an example of storyverse & character content for readers, check out what I provide for my ExSpelled webnovel.
Did your friend, co-worker, or some rando you met at a con forward this email to you? First off, they have good taste.
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Sarah Marie Page
Heart-pounding YA and NA fantasy
Hi! I'm Sarah! I'm a YA and NA fantasy author. 🔥🌹 If you like A Court of Thorns and Roses and the Fourth Wing, you would LOVE my books. Wanna check one out? I'll send you my short story, Rapacity! Here's what it's about:
"18-year-old Catalina has one purpose: marry her fiance, then murder him. But all bets are off when she strikes a bargain with the trickster demon prince and discovers her fiance is planning to murder her too." |
