Hello, glad to have you here Bethelarien! We have several discussions about writing going right now that you may be interested in. First check out
Are You Writing Serious Fantasy II and then go to
Writer's Out There - What About Gender? . Oh, and don't forget about roleplaying! Start at The Green Dragon in The Shire.
As for an Avatar, check out the
FAQ Page. For a good LOTR one, try
www.lordoftherings.net. You can have any type you want though.
Hope you enjoy being dead!