This is a list for all the fangirls and fanboys. If you don't admit to being one of these, in any book, movie, or comic that you fell for, you didn't fall hard enough. But we know how it goes: a series ends, a book finishes, a show gets canceled, a comic goes down a dark and unreasonable path... (yeah, I mean the Death of Wolverine, people). But you can still have your Marvel love affair, your "Harry Potter" obsession, your crazy non-canonical fantasies.
So for my fellow fans who live a little too much in their imaginations, here are a few ways to keep the interest fresh and flourishing.
1. Participate in the conversation.
Just because it's over doesn't mean it's over. You choose to keep the story alive, by passing on the book, watching the movie with friends, or just debating about it. Thinking about it. How do you think classics become classics? A finished work never stops working on the minds of those affected by it.
2. Love fan art.
Artists love to render their own images of things that aren't visual, especially books that have no movie or no worthwhile movie *cough*"PercyJackson"*cough*. Many of these artists are unbelievably talented. Often, so talented not just the fans notice, but the original creators - Rainbow Rowell and Rick Riordan have been known to see and use the fan art of some in their own work. Deviantart.com is a great place to view all the artwork, and rest assured, it won't disappoint.
3. Discover the fanfiction.
Fanfiction has a bad rep, but it shouldn't. Yes, I will admit if you want to read something good you'll have to sift through a lot of s***ty writing, unedited crap and smutty things you should NEVER click, but often there are great stories that expand upon characters that maybe you've never gotten to explore because the author minimalized their role. Fanfiction is also great for those stories with purposefully open endings. In particular, I recommend fanfiction to explore the possibilities of the second generation in "Harry Potter."
4. Try out cosplay.
Cosplay = Costume Play. But not your average Halloween costume. I'm talking scarily accurate clothing, colors, makeup, hair, accessories and effects. You can work on a costume that's exact down to the last ornament, or modernize/simplify a cosplay to be a subtle, almost everyday look that is a blatant nod to a beloved character (that only a trained eye will spot). It's a great way to be creative, show off and be a fan. Especially if you want to go to a convention, then the only way to go is in cosplay!
5. Wear the memorabilia.
Pin some Disney pins on your bag. Wear tights with a silhouette of Sally and Jack on the legs. Get the t-shirt. Paint your nails. Wear clothing with the text of the book on it, or even jewelry. There are a ton of ways to represent, and a few sites that cater to it are below (WARNING: I take absolutely no responsibility for the emptiness of your wallet):
6. Travel like a fan.
Carry the book with you, bring a bit of your apparel. Or go on a fan-tour: find the location where your favorite scene of "Sherlock" was shot, and take a picture (preferably with you holding a reference shot of the scene). Go to Disney, or Universal's Wizarding World of Harry Potter. Any and every way, enjoy the global nature of your fandom.
7. Get interested in the makers.
Follow the authors, the directors, the actors and the artists. Get interested in their opus of work. Chances are, if they were involved in something you loved that much, they've done something else that you would be able to love, if not as much, then in an equally worthwhile way. Don't get stuck on one thing. Be passionate about a lot of things, and the people who created them.
8. Do it again.
Don't be afraid to rewatch, reread, just do it all again. I know you can never do it for the first time again, but hey, there's a reason you smiled like a jack o' lantern at the pages of "Percy Jackson," or screamed at the television during the entire Christmas episode of "Sherlock" (re: it was very very emotional for me - my family thought I was crazy).
Don't be afraid to geek out! It's okay, I freely admit my nerdiness, and I can safely say that you'll have too much fun to care if someone finds your cosplay weird. Stay fanatic.
