Lots of gamers go to conventions and see cosplayers and think, “I wish I could cosplay  too, but I don’t even know where to get started.” MAGFest is coming up next week and while I was thinking about which cosplay I will be doing, I found some articles that can help you start brainstorming and preparing your first costume!

The first article I found is actually a video made by Kris Kittie for All That’s Cosplay titled, “Epic Cosplay Video: Cosplay Planning Made Easy.” Kris Kittie explains how budgeting your time is vital, and it’s important to know your capabilities and allow time for troubleshooting when creating your costume. Being organized will help you greatly, and always collect lots of reference images. She also stressed that waiting until the last minute usually causes cosplayers lots of anxiety, and costumes can sometimes start falling apart if built at the last minute!

My first cosplay was Villager from the Animal Crossing series at Nintendo World Store in New York City.

The second article I found was from Observation Deck – an in-depth overview called “Cosplay 1.01 – A Beginner’s Introduction to Cosplay” written by Variable. This post was very comprehensive and discussed how anyone can be a cosplayer, as long as you know your limits and plan ahead. Compiling reference images from every angle is recommended, and keep a realistic schedule leading up to a convention. She discussed how going to cons can be a lot of fun and you can make a lot of friends, but be aware that there are still some issues with harassment… remember, cosplay is supposed to be fun for everyone!

If you’re looking to get started in cosplay and are choosing a character, keep these 3 important tips in mind:

1. Budget Your Time – Plan ahead, create a realistic schedule for yourself, and remember that ordering props from overseas can result in long shipping times, so start working on a cosplay months before the convention starts!
2. Use References – If you want to be proud of your work and have an authentic cosplay, it’s extremely important to have reference images from every angle (including front, back, side and prop details) to be sure you are making the best choices when buying materials.
3. Know Your Capabilities – Cosplay beginners probably shouldn’t choose a character with complicated body armor; stick to what you know you can make, and choose a character that you will feel comfortable portraying.

It’s pretty clear that being organized and planning ahead is the best strategy when starting to create a new cosplay character. But the most important thing to remember is that cosplay is for everyone and the main goal is to HAVE FUN!

Gluxbox is my codename and gamertag! I’m a cosplayer, gamer and blogger. This article was written mostly for fun, but also because I’m taking a course called Engagement & Nurture Marketing at Coursera.org and this was an assignment! If you want to contact me, you can find me @gluxbox on Twitter!