One of my favorite things to do for each main
character I put in a book is turn them into a paper doll. No, not literally
(though I totally would if I had the drawing skills). Instead, I create a
fashion set that highlights their personality and general wardrobe sense.
Penelope Blue: Jewel thief, cat burglar, breaker of laws |
I will admit that this sounds a lot more
like a way to procrastinate than anything else – and to some extent, that’s
true – but there’s something about the visual component that helps to make a
character seem more three-dimensional.
Also, it’s fun to play dress up—virtually
or otherwise.
Lots of authors I know do this on Pinterest
or by “assigning” celebrity doubles to their characters, but I prefer to do my
visualization on a website called Polyvore. It’s more of a fashion tool than a
writing one, but the general idea is that you can create magazine-style pages
of your favorite outfits and trends and then share them with the world. (The idea is also that you’ll then click on one of the outfits and spend a
gazillion dollars buying it for yourself, but everyone’s gotta make
money somehow, right?)
From a visually artistic standpoint, I’m
pretty lacking as a human being. I can’t draw, I don’t do interior design, and
my own fashion sense is pretty much yoga pants and t-shirts. I can’t even make
those cute, colorful journal planners that everyone’s doing these days—and believe
me, it’s not for lack of trying.
I think that’s why I love the idea of
dressing up my characters so much. Even *I* have the ability to rifle through a well-stocked
wardrobe and pick out the best outfit, especially since I don’t have to pay
attention to things like price tags and fit. It’s like being a costumier for a
play—a job I’ve always thought might be a nice backup plan if this whole author
thing doesn’t work out.
Plus, it's fun to show people exactly how they,
too, can dress like a sexy cat burglar who's married to an FBI agent. Next year's Halloween, anyone?
♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥♥
Visit Tamara online at:
Find out how THOUSAND of people like YOU are making a LIVING online and are fulfilling their wildest dreams right NOW.
ReplyDeleteCLICK HERE TO FIND OUT