Challenges by Date

Jubilee

We always like to start the new year fresh and with creativity. To that end, we begin the year with an amnesty, allowing you to create a fanwork for any of the previous year’s challenges. To celebrate the SWG’s 20th anniversary year, we’re expanding that in our second ever Jubilee. (Yes, we know Jubilees are traditionally every 25 or 50 years. We’re not that patient, so we’re making our own Jubilee tradition—do one when it feels right.)

Any challenge from January 2017 onward is fair game for the amnesty this January! If there’s a challenge you’ve been eyeing that was before your time, or one you’ve been kicking yourself for missing, this is your moment. If you started a challenge response but never finished it, here’s your chance. Done them all? We are in awe. Also, you can create for any of them—just make sure you post to the Jubilee challenge to get your stamp.

If you’re all worn out from all 2024 threw at you but ready to go on a fanworks binge, the Jubilee includes commenting stamps.

During the Jubilee, you can collect any existing challenge stamp. The only new stamps we’ll be giving out are the Jubilee-specific ones.

There are a few caveats and mod requests:

• We will not be making new stamps for previous challenges - you can receive any existing challenge stamp.
• Challenges with mod-assigned prompts are now self-select, and the prompts can be found on the challenge page. That being said, if the fun of a challenge is having a prompt lobbed at you by the mods, you can contact us, let us know the challenge you want, and we'll choose for you.
• Please inform the mods if you need commenting stamps for prior challenges, and which stamps you need. (All challenges have commenter and 5 comment stamps, some challenges have stamps for 10 or higher numbers of comments.If you’re not sure, ask—the mods will be happy to tell you how high the comment count stamps go for a particular challenge.)
• Resolution challenge: Resolution stamps are not available. Please do not tag for the Resolution challenge.
• For bingo challenges, please let the mods know if you need any special bingo stamps:
  • For Potluck (2024), in addition to row, column, diagonal, and card blackout, there are commenter bingo cards—if you play comment bingo, let the mods know you need the appropriate comment bingo stamps. (Row, column, diagonal, or card blackout.) There is also a stamp for boardmakers; we will accept and post new boards through the Jubilee deadline.
  • For Roaring 20s (2023), there are row, column, diagonal, and card blackout bingo stamps; there are also stamps for each individual board, so specify in the notes or let the mods know which board(s) you played.
  • For Words of Wit and Wisdom (March 2021) or Vintage (May 2022) row, column, diagonal, and card blackout stamps are available.
  • For Crackuary (February 2020), row fill and blackout are available.
  • For Sitcom (September 2018) and Taboo (January 2017), row fill is available.
• For Matryoshka challenges:
  • If you need to email the moderators for prompts, please include the challenge name and date in the subject line. (For example: Hero's Journey May 2017.)
  • If you do a Matryoshka at the Difficult level, let the mods know - there is a special stamp.
  • For Meet & Greet (February 2024), only the first prompt was emailed to participants—the others had to be gathered through interaction with SWG members. There is a list on the challenge page of participating members.
• November/December challenges:
  • 30 Day Character Study (November/December 2017) - let the mods know if you qualify for 10, 20, or 30 prompt stamps
  • Holiday Feast (November/December 2018) - let the mods know which stamps you need (writing, art, reading, commenting, meta)
  • Postcards From Middle-earth (November/December 2020) - only digital cards are available.
  • Holiday Party (November/December 2021) - let the mods know if your fanwork is a Wish Fill - there is a special stamp.
  • Manwë's Mailbag (November/December 2022) - there are a few physical cards still available if you care to request one; we will not print any new physical cards. Cards can also be submitted for the cardmaker stamp, but will be digital-only.
  • Understory (November/December 2023) is a remix challenge—a list of creators who gave blanket permission for their work to be remixed OR who said contact them for permission is on the challenge page.
  • Potluck (November/December 2024) bingo boards may be submitted through the Jubilee deadline and will be posted as they are received.
• The following challenges have Live Event stamps, which may be collected by participating in Instadrabbling on January 18-19. Session 1 will be 3PM UTC January 18 (what time is that for me?); session 2 will be 6PM UTC January 19 (what time is that for me?).
  • Block Party (April 2020)
  • Holiday Party (November/December 2021)
  • Restoration and Rebuilding (August 2022)