To celebrate my first EVER subscription to deviantART, I'm hosting my first EVER contest. For those of you who don't know, I held a poll regarding what type of contest I should hold. The top three voted topics are listed from 1st to 3rd: an art inspired by literature contest, something to do with MY original characters, and some kind of literature challenge.

So, after much deliberating, I decided to make this contest a combination of all, making variations on ways to enter. (And since I got a special request to make a section where you didn't HAVE to use original characters, there is a theme for those of you who wish to avoid OCs too.) Since my subscription was thanks to a piece of writing I did over original characters, and since this contest is celebrating my subscription, I decided to just make this contest based on MY winning contest entry: Our Demons Of The Sea Part 1 and
Our Demons Of The Sea Part 2.

After winning, I recieved many requests to continue the story, and as most of you know, before you can continue, it takes a little bit more story-development. I began thinking over characters, who they would be and why they would treat others the way they did... and finally, I decided, that I would allow others (in this contest) to help me develop and thus create future characters in my Our Demons Of The Sea series. So without furthur ado, I present to you the 3 themes of my Character Development Contest. ENJOY!!!

***CONTEST THEME***
Visual Artists:
There are four characters people can choose from to base their entry on, Sariel, Lucifer, Abe, or Cassiel (all of which I have provided a character sheet in the Characters section). All of these characters are meant for my story, but this section of the contest can help me develop mainly their look, composure, and ultimate personality.

So, for your visual entries, people will have to come up with a basic concept or look of one of the characters. The catch is, they have to draw the developing character with either Aarysine or Manakel (the hero and heroine of the story). I will give you a basic layout of what I picture for the OC, such as basic hair color, personality, etc. It is your job to provide ME and the rest of the viewing public with a visual concept. Create the character's habits, he/she's usual stance, even their clothing of choice. My only wish is that you keep to the essence of the character and the basis of the story itself.

Literature Artists (with OCs):
For literature entries, people can come up with some sort of narration, re-telling of a past event, or even a narration of something I'VE written about from a certain character's OWN point of view. Basically, you can create a character's past (thus developing their personality), you can even create a "look" through the literature, and sort of create the character yourself too.

Literature Artists (without OCs):
Now this was a bit tricky, but I finally came up for a way to please all the non-OC using people. For this section, you must write a story based around the theme ( The Fall Of Lucifer )

Manakel (hero) and Sariel's (villian) whole story, background, and battle is based around that ONE event. Basically, I want a sort of re-telling of Lucifer's fall, and other angels falling with him. Maybe describe how they felt and such. Describe what it looked like, who stayed and who went, why they went, why some got caught in the middle, and why God let them go. People can go CRAZY with it. This, perhaps, can help develop Manakel's and Sariel's pasts without even meaning to. (Hopefully, this section is an easy to avoid OC area, as well.)

My suggestion for help on this section, read Manakel's, Sariel's, and Lucifer's character sheets. They describe what happened that day in my BASIC perspective. Perhaps you can draw some ideas from that.

***CHARACTERS***
-Sariel- [villian] Sariel -Character Sheet-

-Lucifer- [side character] Lucifer -Character Sheet-

-Abe- [help to hero] Abe -Character Sheet-

-Cassiel- [help to heroine] Cassiel -Character Sheet-

(For contestants including the hero and heroine of the story in their entry...)

-Manakel- [hero] Manakel -Character Sheet-

-Aarysine- [heroine] Aarysine -Character Sheet-

***RULES***
1. Your entry/entries must fall under atleast ONE of the categories, if not, it will be immeadiately disqualified.

2. All entries must be sent to *wolverine-fallen09 by note, with Development Competition as the subject.

3. You are allowed up to 5 entries, do to the variation of entry categories.

4. Your literature submissions can be poetry/prose. If prose, know that I do not limit the length, just don't write an entire book, ok? That's my job. ^^

5. Language/nudity is allowed, just understand that some of the judges MAY not want to see that, and it may jeopardize your chance of winning.

6. In the description you must make mention that your deviation is for THIS contest, and provide a link as well.

7. Also in your description, be sure to mention which category you are entering the deviation in.

8. ALL ENTRIES MUST MUST MUST BE NEW DEVIATIONS!!! It must be YOUR original work, and MUST be submitted here on deviantART AFTER Sep. 23, 2007.

9. Last but not least, the copyright rules. To enter, you must give me permission to use all ideas/concepts you use in the making of your entry for my future work. You of course will be credited, and I, of course, will not take credit for the time you have put into your entry. Be sure to mention in your description that you in fact DO allow me to do this.

***JUDGES***
(and the list keeps growing.)

***PRIZES***

Prizes are awarded as over-all, from BOTH literature and visual.

1st Place
~ 3 month subscription - *LockeLamora
~ Amazon.com gift card $20 - *wolverine-fallen09
~ Request sketch (with color) of up to 3 characters - *wolverine-fallen09
~ Journal feature - *wolverine-fallen09, ~smexywitch, and =touchedvenus
~ Request drawing - ~smexywitch and ~Blue-Eyed-Snidget

2nd Place
~ 1 month subscription - *LockeLamora
~ Amazon.com gift card $10 - *wolverine-fallen09
~ Request sketch (with color) of up to 2 characters - *wolverine-fallen09
~ Journal feature - *wolverine-fallen09 and ~smexywitch
~ Request drawing - ~smexywitch and ~Blue-Eyed-Snidget

3rd Place
~ Amazon.com gift card $10 - *wolverine-fallen09
~ Request sketch (with color) of 1 character - *wolverine-fallen09
~ Request Drawing - ~Blue-Eyed-Snidget
~ Journal feature - *wolverine-fallen09

5 Honerable Mentions
Each will get:
~ Request sketch of 1 character - *wolverine-fallen09
~ Request drawing by - ~Blue-Eyed-Snidget
~ Journal feature - *wolverine-fallen09 and ~will-blake-fan
My Favorite Choice of these will ALSO get:
~ Amazon.com gift card $5 - *wolverine-fallen09
People's Favorite Choice of these will ALSO get:
~ Amazon.com gift card $5 - *wolverine-fallen09

***PRIZES STILL DESIRED***
~ Some type of print from someone.
(I would REALLY like to see atleast ONE print as a prize.)
~ Something from a winner's wishlist.
(NOW THIS WOULD BE REALLY GENEROUS!!! And it's ALWAYS welcome.)
~ Possibly some more gift cards to websites.
(Can never have enough. ^^)

(Subcripstion, journal features, and request art is always welcome as well. The things listed are just things IIII would like to see more of.)

***DEADLINES***

Begins: Sep. 24, 2007

Ends: Nov. 22, 2007

Judging Complete: Nov. 30, 2007 (If not sooner...)

WANT TO SPONSOR A PRIZE OR BE A JUDGE???
If you are feeling generous and would like to sponsor ANY sort of prize, please note *wolverine-fallen09 with Prize Sponsor as the subject, and describe the prize you're offering.

If you would like to be a judge in this contest, please note *wolverine-fallen09 with Contest Judge as the subject and make your request.

All sponsors and judges will be featured in my journal with atleast 3 of my favorite of their deviations.

THANK YOU ALL!!! AND GOOD LUCK WITH YOUR ENTRIES!!!

Check out my journal for updates on prizes, entries, and new judges.