Ladies and gentlemen, it is my great pleasure to announce the imminent return of the wildly popular Characters in Costume Challenges.
I know you have all been eagerly anticipating this day. At least I have. It’s always so exciting to step into my character’s shoes (literally) and walk around as someone else for a day. It helps me dig deeper into my characters and into my story world.
And it’s lots of fun.
So, if you’re interested in joining the September edition of the Characters in Costume Challenge, we will be doing Obstacle Characters.
What is an obstacle character?
What an excellent question. I’m so glad you asked.
An obstacle character is any character who stands in the way of the protagonist as he/she moves toward his/her goal. Obstacle characters are generally not the main antagonist, but could be anyone from a villain’s minion to a random stranger in the street to the protagonist’s best friend. Regardless of who the obstacle character is, his/her beliefs or own desires or goals set him/her in the protagonist’s way.
Still confused? I found an excellent description of obstacle characters here at Fiction Factor: Casting your Characters.
So for this challenge, we will be focusing on obstacle characters. Dig out your manuscript and hunt down those pesky — I mean lovable — obstacle characters and costume them.
The Obstacle Characters Challenge is due Tuesday, September 10th.
(Normally, we try to do our CIC challenges on the second Friday of every month, but I will be attending a conference that weekend and should probably keep my gadding about in costume to a minimum — one does like to at least appear professional.)
Challenge Guidelines:
It’s quite simple, really.
Pick one of your obstacle characters. Or, if you’re not a writer, or not currently writing a story, feel free to choose an obstacle character from one of your favorite books.
Find a costume that fits your character and take a picture of yourself in said costume (and in character – i.e. if your character is prone to scowling, don’t smile in the picture.)
Feel free to write a little bit about your character too, or if it’s a character from someone else’s book, tell us why you chose that character!
Be sure to share this challenge with all your writing/reading friends. The more people who participate, the more fun it is!
Please make sure that you will be able to post your picture on the challenge day when you sign up. :)
To find out more, check out the Characters in Costume Challenge page.
ElizabethLiberty says
Ohhhh – this looks like fun. I missed the last one… but most of the obstacle characters I can think of are male, and I'm not sure how doable these costumes are going to be…still, I will try to think of one.
Gillian Adams says
Oh but male characters are so much fun to do, if you can find a costume of course! ;) You just have to have a good sense of humor … and some stage makeup.
(http://ofbattlesdragonsandswordsofadamant.blogspot.com/2012/10/character-costume-reveal.html)
I'll probably end up doing one of my male characters as well. It's high time he got his share of the limelight.
Molly says
YESYESYES ILOVETHISSOMUCHTHANKYOUFORDOINGITAGAIN
I mean, hey, I'll do this on my Sassy Sister! http://thesassysister9.blogspot.com/
Thanks!!!
:D
Gillian Adams says
Yay! Glad you're going to join in! :)
Hannah says
YAY! At first I was a bit bemused on who to do. But I came up with a character! I'll participate!
http://williamshsj.blogspot.com/
Blessings!
Gillian Adams says
It's definitely one you have to think about a wee bit. But one of my characters has been pressuring me to do him for the challenge … which is how I settled on "obstacle characters" in the first place.
Kaycee says
Ohhh this sounds so cool! I'm joining!
http://www.thepinkcave.blogspot.com
Glad your back on the blogosphere, by the way! :)
Gillian Adams says
Why thankee. It's good to be back! :)
Maria Rod. says
Whoopee! CIC is back! This is one of the highlights of my month : )
I'll see what I can scrounge up – I'm going to have fun doing this one.
http://amoretbellum.blogspot.com/
Gillian Adams says
Aw, I'm glad you enjoy it. I always have way too much fun doing this. :)
highpattern says
Good idea, my bad guy is named Rasha!
Kendra E. Ardnek says
I shall try to find a good obstacle character whose costume I can manage! This shall be fun!
knittedbygodsplan.blgospot.com
highpattern says
http://highpattern.wordpress.com/2012/07/26/chapter-3-an-interrupted-feast/
Okay, my bad guy is a gargoyle. His picture is halfway down through the chapter. What do you think? (This was drawn for me by a friend)