Patreon

Today I launched my own Patreon. This will be another avenue I use on my writing journey along with this website and my new Discord sever. This is the groundwork that will contribute to my writing career, however that may look like.

Elwin's Haven | Writing Fantasy | Patreon

April 2024 Writing Journey Update

A lot has happened since I started this adventure back in 2018. I wrote a first draft for book 1 of a series and most of the first draft for book 2 before pausing. I wrote the short story Elwin’s Banishment in 2019 that became the origin story for my magic system in the main series I have envisioned. I was inspired to write Windweaver after creating a character for the 2nd book telling the story of the elf that became soul bound to a weapon.

Around the end of 2020 I stepped away from writing leaving my current projects on pause. In December of 2023 I decided I was ready to finish the 2nd part to Elwin’s Banishment. Using the website Channillo again, I decided to post a chapter a week for 24 weeks like I did before. it has been 14 weeks so far and I have already written more the completed part 1 Elwin’s Banishment. At this point, Elwin’s Last Stand will be the length of a novelette, around 50k works.

After finishing Elwin’s Last Stand, I want to go back to Windweaver and finish that before looking at the main series again.

Concept Art: Part 3

The concept art has been complete. The artist requested an extension to the deadline, which I gladly excepted. Since I do not have any deadlines, it is better for me not to rush the process so I can get the best work possible. The most notable difference between the base color sketch and the final product is the blood moon with the hooded figure. Instead of being layered on top, they integrated it in a way that appears as if the figure is pushing out of the moon.

I had to request one revision because they didn’t provide enough contrast between the light of the moon and the eyes. They made the correction and submitted it again within 24 hours, which I was thankful for.

Lyra, Tinesi, and Nasir will be the primary POV for the WIP with Lyra as the main character. Kailu is Tinesi’s partner. I am excited to explore the world I have created with these characters.

Lyra and her spirit fox Ruven

Tinesi

Kailu

Nasir

Moon prior to the revision

Concept Art: Part 2

On September 21st, the artist showed me the rough sketch so I could make changes before she went into the next stage. The monster on the left and the shadow of another on the right were exactly what I was looking for. The stances for the elves matched what I envisioned. At first I pictured the elf holding the sword up to be more centered, but after seeing the work, I preferred it this way. This is one benefit of working with the same artist. They learn what you're looking for and there is trust in reaching a satisfactory product regardless if they need a time extension or not. It’s important to remember that with this freelance website, most of them have full-time jobs and these commissions are all done on their free time.

The main issue I had with the initial drawing was the two elves on the left. They had their backs to the attacking monster instead of facing the threat. On September 28th she finished the base coloring with the modifications. The elf covered up with the two magic blades can drain magical aura with one and use that energy to attack with the other, allowing him the ability to save his own strength and magical reserves. The blood moon with the mysterious villain came out just like I had envisioned it. I am excited to see what it looks like finished. The spirit fox with the flame tail and the fireball spell look very promising. The mountain backdrop came from the artist to create a more epic scene and have variety.

This concept art is not an actual scene in the book, but it gives a good representation with the three POV characters, side character and main villain. October 20 is the next potential delivery date for the finished product. After I ask for any potential revisions and get the completed work, I will post the 3rd and final part in the concept art series.

Initial sketch.

Base color after sketch revision.

Concept Art: Part 1

With the recent launch of my author website and the blog I have started, I wanted to share the process I go through developing the character concept art that has become a highlight for the content I am bringing to the site.

After shifting gears toward the new story as my first focused effort at a debut title, my desire for new concept art has demanded new content. Over the next 1-2 months, or however long it takes the artist I work with to complete the project, I am creating a mini-series following the progress from conception to completion.

On August 23, 2020, I drew a very rough sketch for the picture I wanted to create. Instead of recreating a scene from the novel I want to write, I am looking to construct an image that represents the essence of what the book is about. If you navigate to page four in under the art tap (current as of September 2020), you will find the conceptual design representing what book 2 in the series I am also working on, but being put on hiatus for the moment. I placed a lot of symbolism into their actions and emotions that will translate into the story itself.

The artist replied to my message and notified me she was out of town and could not start till September. Today she notified me of her potential work schedule, starting from the rough sketch, to the basic shading and digital painting in the full details.

This project will include four full size elf’s, a fox, magical beast, a shadow of another magical beast and a blood moon large and in the middle of the image in the sky with the head of a hooded man filling up most of the moons surface with only his orange fire eyes showing.

During this last part of the initial phase, I will send the artist a document describing the different characters/aspects of the design and provide images to use as reference if possible.

I like to give the artist creative flexibility, so I look at image results for armor, body, facial features, and weapons that can be used. If there are alterations from the reference, I state so in the written description for each.

Here is the written information I initially provided the artist:

Lyra: She is the same elf that you created in the last project. I provided a new armor setup, but I would like you to use the same colors from before (how you do so is up to you) Her body proportions, hair, skin color is all the same.

Ruven: Lyra’s magical fox companion. I provided an example. What makes him magical is that I want you to turn his tail into a flame tail that is always burning but catches nothing on fire. He is not there to fight with her, only support and be friendly. If you want to have some fun, you can add small flames come from the tips of the ears and paws.

Tinesi is a pro at tracking prey in the wilderness and is an excellent marksman with a bow. I provided an image for her armor and the elf features in a separate image. She has the same skin tone as Lyra/Windweaver from the previous project. You can use the same bow design for her from the head ref image, or design one on your own.

Kailu: This is Tinesi’s partner. They tortured him for many years and now prefer to keep everything covered up but his eyes. I like the weapons in the ref image, but instead of the black smoke, they give off a small glow around the edge of the blades/different color for each blade (one is red, and the other is blue). You can have fun with the design of the weapons, as long as the length is the same. He has gorgeous blue eyes.

Kivessin: He is the villain and you can only see him in a hood with his orange flame eyes showing from inside with the backdrop the blood moon.

Monster on the left: Think of it this way. An elf grew a lot of muscle, hair and claws and became a magical beast on 4 legs. I provided a ref to get an idea of what I am looking for. It’s alright if you only have half of its body in the frame so you can make it larger. It needs to look like it is charging 

Monster on the right: This is only the shadow of the monster, but I provided an example so you could think about what kind of shadow it would provide. Since it is nighttime and the moon is in the sky in the center, there is no natural light source that would explain the shadow being shown towards them, so Lyra has tossed at least one fire ball already that missed and set the forest behind the monster creating a light source.

Nasir: well built and fit, tallest out of everyone in the image. Kind of guy in love with himself. I have 2 ref images. One showing full body that is the armor and weapon he has. The other shows his face/hair and skin color. I want him in the middle, directly under the moon, looking up with his sword raised in the air.

When I get the rough sketch, I will provide an update to this mini-series.

My Journey So Far

In 2013, I was inspired to write a novel after reading Terry Brooks Shannara series. I have been an avid reader most of my life, but at this point in time, fresh out of college, I wanted to explore this new path. As an amateur writer, I became obsessed with perfecting the first chapter, and after six months, I burned out and gave up. It would be five years before I felt the desire to write and follow that dream again.

On May 29, 2018, I came up with a new story idea for a novel and started writing the first chapter that day. By the end of my first year into this writing project, I had completed the first draft of book one at 75k words and started the first draft of book two. I knew early on that I wanted to write a twelve book series comprised of four trilogies. I wanted to make sure books 1-3 could stand on their own while building off the one before it. Knowing this, I decided to write the first draft only for the entire first trilogy before going back to edit book one.

In the middle of drafting book two’s first draft, the website channillo asked if I would like to write and post a story to their website and I agreed. I took out one of my story idea’s and with the help of a fellow writer who helped edit each week, I spent the next six months posting Elwin’s Banishment in a web series format. This story would become the origin of my fantasy world born from the series I started working on. I plan on writing a sequel that dives into the creation of magic and the human race.

I’m now into my third year with a few chapters left to write in book two’s first draft. In order to give this series the best chance of success, I need to build up my skills and knowledge as an author and writer. Once my current draft is complete, I have decided to put the series on hold and write a stand-alone novel in the same fantasy world as the series between the events of Elwin’s Banishment and the series itself.

In my next post I will be diving into the beginning of my journey writing Windweaver, the book I want to use as my first attempt at becoming a debut author.