New Challenge: Bollywood
This month's challenge offers songs, films, and tropes from Bollywood, the world's largest film industry based out of India, as prompts for fanworks.
SWG News
Cultus Dispatches: Fandom Chocolate … or Authors Love Comments
Tolkien Fanfiction Survey data provides insight into how comments benefit authors and which authors are most impacted by a lack of comments, with a digression on authors' perspectives one-click feedback like kudos.
A Sense of History: Passing Ships
As Tolkien's characters in various texts gaze out to the sea, what do they see? What is brought by the ships coming out of the West?
Beta-Reader List Now Available
The beta-reader list and profiles have been moved into our new system and are available again.
New & Updated Fanworks
[Writing] No Time Have I by Flora-lass
A Silmarillion acrostic.
[Writing] An exercise in music... And patience by Aprilertuile
Makalaurë was sitting at the harp in his music room. He was holding a dark blindfold in his hands and was looking at it with much scepticism.
[Writing] I called it Fate that I should fail by AdmirableMonster
Nimruzimir, a natural philosopher recently out of his apprenticeship, hardly considers himself very important to anyone, least of all his colleagues. When his strange, prophetic fits bring him to the attention of the High Priest, however, he may find that his existence is less superfluous than…
[Writing] All of you by chrissystriped
Elrond and Celebrían celebrate their anniversary with their family.
[Writing] Lament for the Singer by daughterofshadows
A short thing about Maglor, death and grieving.
[Writing] Cosmological Poems of Arda by AaronAzrael
I would like to share my revelations of Tolkien's Universe in the form of narrative and emotional poems.
[Writing] Eä's Redemption by AaronAzrael
This is my new poetical attempt to add my own interpretation to Tolkien's Cosmology as to Eru's Creation and the Valar's minds and behind-the-scene providence reasons and mechanisms.. I often review Eä as part of our own world, just in another dimension, this is why I have always seriously…
Current Challenge
Bollywood
Prompts this month are films, songs, and tropes from India's dazzling film industry, Bollywood. Read more ...
Random Challenge
Restoration and Rebuilding
Create a fanwork around a prompt focused on the theme of rebuilding and restoration. Read more ...
New in References
Fandom Chocolate … or Authors Love Comments by Dawn Walls-Thumma
[]Tolkien Fanfiction Survey data shows that authors view comments as driving their motivation to create fanfiction. However, perception of comments by authors is part of a larger shift in fandom around how and how often fans interact with each other.
Passing Ships by Simon J. Cook
[]The arrival and departure of ships across the Great Sea carries mythic significance for the peoples of Middle-earth. The image of ships crossing out of and back into a mysterious West appears as well in Beowulf and is alluded to in Tolkien's tower analogy in his lecture "Beowulf: The Monsters and the Critics," where the tower allows those who climb it to observe the passage of the ships.
Fanfiction and the Serious Business of Writer's Craft by Dawn Walls-Thumma
[]Tolkien Fanfiction Survey data shows that while most authors self-identify as taking their craft seriously, a growing subset of authors may be pushing that norm.
Beyond the Silmarillion
[Writing] Staging a Battle by StarSpray
[]He and Diamond were visiting, though Pippin had been disappearing every afternoon, and taking Frodo and Elanor and most other lads and lasses in the neighborhood with him—though why they couldn’t use Pippin’s own pony, Sam couldn’t imagine.
[Writing] From whose bourn no traveller returns by losselen
[]So gathered they were to Bree, what lieutenants who could be spared, from their scattered watches west and east, for their chieftain had returned from his long sojourn in lands godless and mountains strange.
Aragorn returns from the South to tells his tales. Halbarad listens.
[Writing] Sand Sorcery by StarSpray
[]It is well known that Psamathos does not leave his cove. He does not like to get his feet wet, and prefers to spend his days dozing under the sun.
Around the World and Web
Fellowship of the Fics: Summer Stories 2024
Fellowship of the Fics offers four weeks of summer-themed prompts during the month of July.
July challenge at tolkienshortfanworks posted
The tolkienshortfanworks challenge for July has been posted to the Dreamwidth community. The thematic challenge is: original character or unnamed canon character; the formal challenge: fixed length of multiple of 50 words. New participants welcome.
July 2024 Call for Papers and Proposals
Conferences and publications that have open calls for papers and proposals in July 2024.
Teitho June/July Challenge: Mentor
The June/July prompt for the Teitho challenge is "mentor" and invites fanworks about this relationship in Tolkien's works.
Scribbles & Drabbles 2024
A chill Tolkien event, where artists make art, and authors write little stories in response. Begins in June and ends in November.
New and Updated Fanworks
Include Beyond the Silmarillion Fanworks
F*ck Me When the War Is Done, and Other Poems by Ninnachel by Elwin Fortuna
A series of poems written by Ninnachel, mostly dealing with love and war.
| Major Characters: Original Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Poetry | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Expletive Language, Mature Themes, Sexual Content (Moderate), Violence (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 4 | Word Count: 481 |
| Posted on 24 July 2018 | Updated on 24 July 2018 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Children of Ilúvatar. by hennethgalad
Fingolfin meets Hador Lórindol, and Gildis.
| Major Characters: Fingolfin, Hador, Lalwen |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Erotica | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Sexual Content (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 18, 734 |
| Posted on 23 July 2018 | Updated on 23 July 2018 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Flowers and Fathers by LadyBrooke
Nimloth doesn't want her father or Lúthien's to know they're together.
It's not because they would disapprove.
| Major Characters: Lúthien Tinúviel, Nimloth |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Slash/Femslash | Challenges: Teen Spirit |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 292 |
| Posted on 22 July 2018 | Updated on 22 July 2018 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
The Decidedly Unpleasant Wake-Up Call And The Disastrous Events That Followed by Tyelca
Deep under the earth, a balrog is sleeping. It doesn't take kindly to being wakened. Crack?
| Major Characters: Gandalf, Legendary/Mythical Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Humor | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 134 |
| Posted on 20 July 2018 | Updated on 20 July 2018 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Song for the Morning by Narya
In which Tyelkormo has a hangover, Findaráto gets a black eye, and Turukáno has some big news.
| Major Characters: Aegnor, Amras, Amrod, Angrod, Aredhel, Caranthir, Celegorm, Curufin, Fingon, Finrod Felagund, Galadriel, Glorfindel, Indis, Maedhros, Maglor, Original Female Character(s), Original Male Character(s), Turgon |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General, Humor | Challenges: B2MeM 2018 |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 511 |
| Posted on 18 July 2018 | Updated on 18 July 2018 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
A Solitary Star by Grundy
A short glimpse into the life of Arwen Undomiel, Queen of the Reunited Kingdom, in the early Fourth Age. (Writter to a Tumblr prompt.)
| Major Characters: Arwen |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 109 |
| Posted on 18 July 2018 | Updated on 18 July 2018 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
Silver and Stone by Zdenka
Three moments between Narvi and Celebrimbor: first meeting, under the mountain, the Doors of Durin. (Drabble sequence.)
| Major Characters: Celebrimbor, Narvi |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet, Romance, Slash/Femslash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 301 |
| Posted on 16 July 2018 | Updated on 16 July 2018 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
The Making of Angrist by Zdenka
The great Dwarvish smith Telchar makes the knife Angrist for Curufin, and Curufin contemplates the new weapon. (Alliterative verse.)
| Major Characters: Curufin, Telchar |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet, General, Poetry | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 102 |
| Posted on 16 July 2018 | Updated on 16 July 2018 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Song to the Evening Star by Zdenka
As evening falls, Tar-Míriel's faithful handmaiden awaits her return in her chambers. (Sapphic verse. Tar-Míriel/OFC.)
| Major Characters: Original Female Character(s), Tar-Míriel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet, Poetry, Romance, Slash/Femslash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Sexual Content (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 200 |
| Posted on 16 July 2018 | Updated on 16 July 2018 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
In the Eye of the Beholder by Lotrfan
Finrod takes a trip north to visit his cousins, taking a notable piece of jewelry with him and imparting some interesting revelations regarding the customs of the Dwarves.
| Major Characters: Caranthir, Finrod Felagund, Maedhros, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 3, 470 |
| Posted on 16 July 2018 | Updated on 16 July 2018 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
The Influence of Tinfang by LadyBrooke
Tinfang is accounted one of the greatest minstrels, along with Maglor and Daeron.
In spite of this, the musical abilities of all three outside of sheer performance skills are described in less detail in The Silmarillion than other characters like Finrod. This essay attempts to gather the quotes that suggest Tinfang's degree of power and influence over objects and people in his original context.
| Major Characters: Tinfang |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Nonfiction/Meta | Challenges: Analysing Arda |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 825 |
| Posted on 16 July 2018 | Updated on 16 July 2018 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
The great dying: JRR Tolkien’s missing mothers by Idrils Scribe
In the 'real' Middle Ages women died in childbirth in droves. In Tolkien's world motherhood is even more deadly, but in a narrative sense rather than an obstetrical one.
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Nonfiction/Meta | Challenges: Analysing Arda |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 220 |
| Posted on 15 July 2018 | Updated on 15 July 2018 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (6) |
The Silver Mare by anthropologyarda
This is a legend told regarding Marhwini, first Lord of the Eothéod, by the women of that people during Rohan's founding.
| Major Characters: Marhwini, Original Female Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 957 |
| Posted on 15 July 2018 | Updated on 15 July 2018 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
memories we bury or live by by Astris
Forgiveness takes time. Healing takes longer.
| Major Characters: Anairë, Eärwen |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Slash/Femslash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Sexual Content (Mild), Violence (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 433 |
| Posted on 15 July 2018 | Updated on 15 July 2018 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
An Examination of Thingol as King by Grundy
A critical examination of Thingol as a leader in The Silmarillion.
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Nonfiction/Meta | Challenges: Analysing Arda |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 2 | Word Count: 8, 007 |
| Posted on 13 July 2018 | Updated on 13 July 2018 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (12) |
Spider Silk by Nibeneth
“I am not going to… to use you,” he protested. “I could not!”
“Then tie me lovingly and command me gently, if that suits you better,” Fingon said. “But the crown I wear is heavy, and for once I want someone else,” he curled his fingers in Maedhros’ hair, “to decide where I will go and what I will do.”
| Major Characters: Fingon, Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Erotica, Romance, Slash/Femslash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Sexual Content (Graphic) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 010 |
| Posted on 11 July 2018 | Updated on 11 July 2018 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
To Sleep by feanorusrex
"The dead call to Rían and she answers them, not wholly willingly, like a parent, roused in the night by the cries of her child, knowing that, should she ignore it, the consequences will be much worse." How she died.
| Major Characters: Rían |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 039 |
| Posted on 8 July 2018 | Updated on 8 July 2018 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
The Inequality Prototype: Gender, Inequality, and the Valar in Tolkien's Silmarillion by Dawn Felagund
The Valar present an interesting case study of sexism in Tolkien's legendarium because they occupy a prototypical role, representing Iluvatar's intentions on how the universe should operate. My research shows that the female Valar not only appear far less frequently in The Silmarillion than the male Valar but are less involved, less assertive, and speak less.
| Major Characters: Nienna, Valar, Varda, Yavanna |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Nonfiction/Meta | Challenges: Analysing Arda |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 5, 059 |
| Posted on 8 July 2018 | Updated on 8 July 2018 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
The Threads We Weave by Ulan
Their story might not be as great as the ones that make it into legends, but Glorfindel would still not have any other.
| Major Characters: Erestor, Glorfindel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, Romance, Slash/Femslash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Mature Themes, Sexual Content (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 7, 008 |
| Posted on 8 July 2018 | Updated on 8 July 2018 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (1) |
Middle-earth is Our Earth by Independence1776
A collection of quotes dealing with the fact that Tolkien explicitly set Middle-earth in our world from the very beginning of his Legendarium.
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Nonfiction/Meta | Challenges: Analysing Arda |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 2 | Word Count: 7, 408 |
| Posted on 6 July 2018 | Updated on 6 July 2018 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (16) |
The Peril (and Potential) of Unleashing Lightning in a Fishbowl by Dawn Felagund
Caranthir is a socially awkward public servant and Amarië is a politically radical performance artist when a prestigious battle of the bards entices them to come together in an unexpected friendship that produces an even less-expected new musical genre. Part of the Republic of Tirion series but you don't have to be familiar with the other stories to understand this one. Also featuring the printing press, underground nightclubs, an electric guitar, and Caranthir's bitchy resting face.
| Major Characters: Amarië, Caranthir, Nerdanel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, General | Challenges: Competition |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Sexual Content (Mild), Violence (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 11, 955 |
| Posted on 5 July 2018 | Updated on 5 July 2018 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (12) |
What REALLY Happened; A Falling-out Among Thieves; or Get It In Writing by Cee Cee
Summary
That old villain Melkor, Ungoliant in tow, had plagued Valinor, vandalizing trees, swiping jewels—oh, yes, and killing poor Finwe—then done a bunk.
In this bit, we join them in Middle-earth to observe the end of a not-so-beautiful friendship…ah…partnership.
| Major Characters: Melkor, Ungoliant |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Humor | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 473 |
| Posted on 10 May 2018 | Updated on 4 July 2018 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
First Impressions by Grundy
Thingol trusts his kin above all others. When he receives word from Finrod, it is his young kin he sends to meet the representatives of the Noldor.
| Major Characters: Elu Thingol, Original Female Character(s), Oropher |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: Breaking Boundaries, Middle-earth Museum |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 3 | Word Count: 2, 994 |
| Posted on 15 March 2018 | Updated on 1 July 2018 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
9 Popular Misconceptions About Elf Sex (And What Tolkien Actually Wrote On The Matter) by Lyra
There are various recurring convictions concerning the matter of love, sex and marriage among the Eldar. We've probably all encountered them at some point. But a closer look at Tolkien's writings shows that matters aren't as simple as fanon tends to believe.
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Nonfiction/Meta | Challenges: Analysing Arda |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Rape/Nonconsensual Sex, Character Death, Sexual Content (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 6, 277 |
| Posted on 30 June 2018 | Updated on 30 June 2018 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (16) |
Somehow they’ll find their way home by Himring
There are some elves out there who still need to find their way home: Maglor, Daeron, Mithrellas.
Somehow, they will.
| Major Characters: Daeron, Maglor, Mithrellas |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Poetry | Challenges: B2MeM 2018 |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 191 |
| Posted on 30 June 2018 | Updated on 30 June 2018 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
