  Mystery
This week: Masters of disguise Edited by: Arakun the twisted raccoon  
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Quote for the week: We are so accustomed to disguise ourselves to others that in the end we become disguised to ourselves.
~ Francois de La Rochefoucauld
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How do you catch a killer who never looks the same twice. Even the best eyewitness description means nothing if the killer knows how to change his appearance. While the police waste their time looking for a dark haired man, the real killer, a blonde woman, is laughing at them. If your characters do change their appearance, make sure they do it in realistic ways. Here are some steps a character might take to look like anyone except himself:
Makeover: Altering your appearance doesn't have to be complicated. With the right haircut, color change, makeup, and clothing, you might not even recognize yourself! Simple changes might actually be the most effective, because they can be done quickly without spending a lot of money, and can be changed again in a short time. The trick is to make the change look real and natural. Glasses and a fake nose, for example, will definitely alter your appearance, but everyone will know it is a disguise.
Theatrical makeup: Skilled makeup artists can radically change a subject's appearance. Remember Robin Williams in "Mrs. Doubtfire?" However this type of makeup takes hours to apply and a great deal of skill to make it look realistic. It also can be quite uncomfortable if worn for long periods of time. If your characters do use facial prosthetics and body paint, make sure you give them the time and expertise to apply it.
Cosmetic surgery: Plastic surgery is the ultimate appearance change, because it is permanent. A fugitive with a well known face might resort to surgically altering his appearance, but it will be expensive and can't be done overnight. The underlying bone structure may also limit the changes that can be made. Radical changes such as those that John Travolta and Nicolas Cage underwent in the movie "Face Off" are not possible in the real world. Also, plastic surgery takes time to heal, so the patient may not be able to go out in public for a long time.
Blend in to the background: If nobody sees you, you won't need to change your appearance. That might mean wearing dark clothing and slinking around in the shadows, or just being the type of person who is never noticed. The trick is to slip this character past the reader as well.
Look innocent: The most effective disguise might be no disguise at all, but a way of behaving. Some people seem so innocent that it is hard to believe they are guilty, even with evidence.
Something to try: Write a story where the villain hides in plain sight in disguise |
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Mystery: March 25, 2015 Issue [#6894]
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