First Shot!

     This is my first go at this so let's see if it works.  I am a writer working on a Post-Apocalyptic Fantasy series.  As of now the work will consist of several short stories interwoven telling the tale of the land.  This isn't your ordinary Post-Apocalyptic thriller nor is it your ordinary Fantasy novel.  I will leak passages and ideas surrounding the work in later posts.  I am a huge fan of fiction from Tolkein to Lucas I love it all.  That being said do not look to my characters, creatures, themes and overall feel of the stories being told to be anything like you have seen before.  I plan to take you into a new world entirely unique to itself.

     Now that you have a small idea on what I have planned I hope you find this exercise to be fun for both you and I.  I find that when writing a story the writer needs to be able to do three major things before developing the characters and plot lines the reader will fall in love with.

1. The writer needs to establish a clear understanding of the world they plan to portray.
2. The writer needs to establish a back story. This in my opinion is the writer's best tool. Establishing a solid back story for yourself when writing helps you understand and develop your characters properly.  This back story does not need to ever be published.  It is simply a tool to help the writer create deeper plots and character stories.    
3. This is my new one! Create a clear picture of what your main characters will look like.

Now here is what I am asking of you.  I am going to start with the name and description of two characters that run near and dear to my heart.  Both have been with me since I was 10 years old and have been present in many of my earlier projects.  After reading the descriptions of the characters I would like it if any artists out there could draw/create a portrait of each individual.  I will respond and work with anyone who posts.  If this experiment works and I am able to find a portrait that closely matches what I see in my mind then with your permission of course I would like to use the rendering in my current piece.  If chosen you will get full credit for the art and a mention in the work.  You will also be one of the first people to read it.  I hope this turns out to be a fun and helpful test run!  Thanks for even reading this far!


Old Man Gower (Human)
     Late in years Old Man Gower has already seen his best days.  His skin is wrinkled and covered with liver spots.  He is balding with a long white/grey beard that almost touches the ground because his back is hunched. He is so thin that you can see the outline of his bones showing through slightly.  He wears old tattered clothing and carries a cane.  The only ornate thing that stands out when you see Gower is the cane.  It is a hand carved wooden cane with an ivory top shaped as a three headed white wolf.  One with ruby eyes, one with obsidian eyes and one with emerald eyes.

Vigor Flintbeard (Dwarf)
     Vigor is an outsider when it comes to the strict teachings of the Orthodox Dwarven Culture practiced throughout the Dalbora Mountains.  Vigor's  brown braided beard falls to his waist and has silver bands holding the braids in place.  Instead of the traditional mid evil garb that the Dwarves wear Vigor dresses in common clothing of the people of Vanthmere (light airy clothing to compensate for the hot and humid temperatures).  He always carries his sawed-off shotgun and a menacing double headed ax.  In defiance to the "way of his people" Vigor has taken to shaving the top of his head bald and keeping his beard in prime condition.   

These are just two brief descriptions, which I will gladly elaborate on if anyone needs more to go off.  I hope you find these first two characters fun to create and hopefully we will have some good things to share!


- JoeMario