I don't know if this is how it goes for all cosplayers, but this is how it goes for me. I have modified the Seven Stages of Grief for cosplay contest purposes. I'd like to share with you some major feels you can except when you enter a cosplay contest rather it be online or in person. Hopefully, my guide will help some of you shy souls. Hopefully you'll realize it's worth it to take a shot and enter a contest.

1) Hope

Oddly, this list starts with hope of all things. I feel hopeful that the people involved in judging my costume will see the hard work thrown into it. So hopeful that I'm going to walk myself on a stage in front of folks to show off the work. If you're entering a contest at a con you will need to prepare your poses, or in some cases your skit. Do what's comfortable. If you're submitted for an online contest for magazine insertion make sure your photo meets the requirements of the contest.

(Photo credit RavenEye Imagery taken at WVPopCon 2016)

2) Reflection

This happens as soon as you walk away from the judges in ways of a con. Or, as soon as you click submit on that email for an online contest. You're going to kinda freak out. "OMG I could have added this detail here! AHH Why did I submit THAT picture?!" You're going to reflect on every mistake you think that you've made. But, what you may view as an imperfection in your costume judges may think it's a unique quirk.

3) Bargaining

This one is so much worse when submitting online to magazine. In November I entered a contest for the cover of CosplayZine and found out that I needed a to get "likes" after making it past the first round. The bargaining got real. At this point you need to reach out to friends, family members, and groups to "like" your photo like no tomorrow. "Hey people I don't know in this group, go like my picture and I'll like your cosplay page (nervous laughter)." That's basically how it goes.

(The photo I submitted to cosplayzine taken by Covington Studios)

4) Acceptance

You start to do the math. You see how many other awesome cosplayers have entered the contest. You realize that even though you're good at a skill, so are they. You accept that your chances of winning are slim. I almost got really discouraged at this stage. Don't. Even if you don't win you now have a new experience. You now have a handle on how to do this in the future and you can only get better with knowledge and experience.

5) Nervous Excitement

The time has come. The judges have made their final choices. You're going to be going back and forth in your mind of things you could have done to improve things. You're going to be wondering if you could have done cooler things on stage. You're basically going to be the harshest cosplay judge that you ever face. Then a few centuries later you'll hear the results and hopefully you've won! If you didn't win, keep trying. Talk to the winners and ask them about their techniques if it's something you have interest in.

I was lucky enough to win a couple of contests this year. If you want to try putting your name in the cosplay contest hat I highly recommend following cosplayzine on facebook and instagram. Cosplayzine is a great publication that features nothing but cosplay (obviously). I was lucky enough to make it to 4th place and grace the cover of their November issue. You can purchase this issue as well as others by clicking here.