March 25, 2009

Plug

This is from a friend of a friend/100AP contributor.

I am calling out, looking for an artist who loves fantasy line art in the
late '70s, early '80s style. There is no money involved, but as a portfolio
builder for the artist, I am seeking to populate fantasy game modules I am
writing in a retro-clone fashion that delivers an appeal and inspiration
similar to that of the original TSR modules for the dungeons & dragons game
as written by E. Gary Gygax.

There is a new "old school" movement in gaming, and the OSRIC 2.0 system is
free for use. It clones the original game. As such, this year I will be
writing modules with an eye toward selling them. But adventure modules need
compelling art. Are you, or do you know any fantasy pen and ink/line artist
who might be interested in building their portfolio while helping me start
this business?

The art style can be found in the new retro-clone document, downloadable
here, entitled OSRIC 2.0. (sorry, I am unable to email a file that large
from work). Thanks for considering.

Thank you,
Tom Grzep

You can get in touch with tom here.

March 13, 2009

Clarification

If you've stumbled onto the 100AP thanks to an email or a link from a web site or from seeing the various groups around the net, it may seem confusing. I admit that the whole endeavor is a bit loose and having 217 sites trying to drum up interest may not help. Different sites only allow for certain ways of disseminating information and sometimes the facts are overlooked.

Here's how it all started.

At first there was interest in doing the project, but only from a handful of people I knew from a message board. I couldn't decide on which cause to help (Hero or CBLDF) and thought it would be easy to split proceeds. It was and there wasn't a problem.

It was apparent I was limiting the project by only having people send in artwork. Quite a few people thought a traveling sketchbook was a great idea. But, I knew that would take forever and might get lost. So to ensure we did SOMETHING, I had everyone who wanted to participate, mail in a piece of art. This was the way to sign up: You send in something, you get on the list for the sketchbook.

We got 100 pieces and published them all and also auctioned off all the original art. But the sketchbook is still traveling (actually, I have it and will be mailing it this weekend.) Technically it's still going to all the original people who signed up by mailing something in.

The trouble is, it's been a few years now and a lot of these people have moved on and don't want to participate any more, have blocked my email address, are too popular and busy or aren't into art any more, so out of the 100 original artists maybe 50 will still get the sketchbook. This might mean that everyone who signed up on the "round two" push will be in line for that sketchbook as well which may take a LONG time in getting to them. It's either that or get a SECOND sketchbook and start mailing that right away.

So Round Two starts up and it gets a few people signing up but very little art sent in. The project dies off for a few months. Now it's back in business and I'm sure all the people who "signed up" have forgotten about it. Out of 25 people signed up, three have sent in art. The percentage is the same across the other projects. No Youth project art, 2 digital pieces, four stories. I'm worried whoever gets the moleskine or sketchbook will just never work on it. I recently emailed nearly 100 people who'd filled out the sign up form saying we're still working on it and to get your work in and we got two responses.

Is it because the project is confusing? I hope not. As of now we still need as many people actually contributing as possible. I'll be contacting people and asking if they still want to receive the sketchbook and get that rolling again, as well as the moleskine, but if you've signed up for something to mail in, please do so. And please tell people about the project.

But if it is confusing, please contact me. I've had a second pair of eyes looking at it and we'll make some changes. (For instance, the 100AP Youth project is for under 18, not 18 and under.) But if you're not sure what to do, what we're doing or where to find the information, please don't hesitate to ask by emailing, commenting here or on any of the networking sites we have set up.

100artists@gmail.com

Facebook

Remember, it's all volunteer so signing up doesn't mean you're legally required to do anything. But if you like the project, the only way it will succeed is if its volunteers are able to contribute. I'm doing my best with it, now it's your turn.

Thanks!

March 06, 2009

Writing Teaser

Reader suggested we do some writing samples to get interest going. I'm also testing to see if our Facebook page picks this up or if I have to do more finagling.

Reminder, the 100AP does have a writing project.

  • 100 Artists Writers - 20 writers. Up to 3,500 word short stories supporting The Office of Letters and Light. 2,500 words at roughly 250 a page would be 10 pages. Formatting may alter that. Please don't go over 2,500. Feel free, however to remain well under that. Any type of short story is ok but it'd be especially cool to have some good science fiction, horror, or mystery. Oh yes, please stick to fiction. I won't necessarily turned down quantum physics papers or poetry but I'd rather get some good speculative fiction.


So here's one of the first submissions. It's just a few paragraphs, for the rest you'll have to eventually buy a copy of the book. :) It's by Trey Wickwire, someone I should have more contact with. He's a fellow Texan and we've sadly spoken only a handful of times, but he seems like a good fellow.

DNR
By Trey Wickwire

Today. Would today be the day? The day that it all ended. The thoughts ran through the knight’s mind as they had everyday for as long as he could remember. The pale dawn light filtered through the trees and he pulled his dark cloak tighter around his shoulders. It did little to keep the chill from his bones. Sir Thomas suspected the fires of hell couldn’t warm his bones.

Standing, Sir Thomas reached out for the large rock he had sheltered behind during the night. Sitting in the lee of the stone had kept most of the wind off of him and the thick wool of his cloak had kept him, if not pleasant, then at least comfortable enough to sleep. Groaning, he stretched the kinks out of his joints. Sleeping sitting up next to a rock in full armor wasn’t the most relaxing of things, still, it was necessary.

The knight’s head whipped around at the sound of a twig snapping, instantly alert. The sound had come from the far side of the boulder. Quickly, Sir Thomas threw his cloak over his shoulder, revealing the gleaming silver armor underneath and freeing the sword at his side for easy retrieval. With a whisper the heavy blade was out of its sheath and ready in the knight’s strong hand.

Sir Thomas carefully examined the gleaming blade. In the dull light of dawn it still shined with the reflected light from the rising sun, but reflection was all it was. The tell tale glow that signaled danger was nowhere to be seen. Slowly, he peeked over the stone. A fox was peering back, unhappy with the human interruption of its morning foraging.

Another snap of a twig sent the fox bounding away. Sir Thomas dropped to one knee and swung the now brightly glowing sword. The bright metal sliced through the rotting flesh of the zombie creeping up behind the knight. Dry husks spilled out of the body cavity like the winter dead leaves of ancient oaks.

Taking the sword in two hands, Sir Thomas struck again, upward from on bended knee. The blade struck the long dead man in the arm pit and slide upward, meeting little resistance. The head and one shoulder fell off the creature, landing in the soft grass as quietly as the zombie had crept up on the knight.

March 03, 2009

Who Is It?

So I'm trying to find who sent in a piece of work. All I have is the return address and the signature. The person's name on the envelope is...

B ! L L

...and the city and state is Weirton, WV. I'll put the piece up once it's scanned, but if you are this person, could you please contact us and let us know who you are and a good email to keep in contact with you? There was nothing in the recent emails that matched the address so someone must have just sent in the artwork.

Thank you.

Cause Page - Project Revving Up

I've got some assistance for the 100AP and they'll be doing a lot of PR work. To start, we now have a Cause page on Facebook.

http://apps.facebook.com/causes/235738?m=362bcdf2

I don't know how these Cause pages work, but make sure to check it out and if you have any information, let me know.

Cheers.