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
Pride
Create a fanwork using a prompt from an LGBTQIA+ person, choosing from music, art, poetry, and quotations. 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
The Manly-hearted Woman by oshun
This is a story of Haleth. The challenge it meets requires that one write a story based upon one of the SWG bios about a character one has never written before. I owe many writers for my inspiration, but mainly those who have written Caranthir/Haleth stories I have read and enjoyed over the long years I have been reading Silmarillion fanfiction. I did write the original SWG bio of Haleth, but I wrote it so many years ago that I thought someone else might have written it, until I opened it to consult it for source material (it’s definitely one of mine). This is a story complete in itself, but I do reserve the right to add an epilogue.
And once again, I must thank IgnobleBard for his Beta read at the last minute!
| Major Characters: Caranthir, Haleth, Nerdanel, Original Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, Romance | Challenges: New Directions |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 4, 373 |
| Posted on 15 July 2017 | Updated on 15 July 2017 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (15) |
For Those Who Hold a Silmaril In Their Hands by LadyBrooke
Erellont is young when Finrod leaves, and his uncle goes with him.
| Major Characters: Erellont |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: New Directions |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 172 |
| Posted on 15 July 2017 | Updated on 15 July 2017 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (6) |
Of Huor of the House of Hador by StarSpray
Six moments in the life of Huor son of Galdor
| Major Characters: Huor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet, General | Challenges: New Directions |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 997 |
| Posted on 15 July 2017 | Updated on 15 July 2017 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (6) |
Of Voronwe's Parents by Himring
Two vignettes featuring the parents of Voronwe of Gondolin.
Inspired by Oshun's bio of Voronwe's father Aranwe, which is here.
| Major Characters: Aranwë, Original Female Character(s), Turgon, Voronwë |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: New Directions |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Character Death, Violence (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 150 |
| Posted on 15 July 2017 | Updated on 15 July 2017 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (6) |
A Second Chance by Grundy
"She whom he had loved was Amárië of the Vanyar, and she was not permitted to go with him into exile."
| Major Characters: Amarië, Eärwen, Finarfin, Finrod Felagund |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: New Directions |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 574 |
| Posted on 13 July 2017 | Updated on 13 July 2017 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (10) |
Sunset to Sunrise by Tyelca
A quiet night at home for Arien, Bearer of the Sun.
| Major Characters: Arien, Eärendil, Nerdanel, Tilion |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, General | Challenges: New Directions |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 360 |
| Posted on 10 July 2017 | Updated on 10 July 2017 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (8) |
The Road Not Taken by Tomour
Tuor and Veronwë reach the old road, and find Orcs block the way.
| Major Characters: Tuor, Voronwë |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 455 |
| Posted on 7 July 2017 | Updated on 7 July 2017 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Annael's Reunion by Kaylee Arafinwiel
After far too long, Annael of the Grey-elves reunites with one he thought lost.
| Major Characters: Annael, Eärendil, Idril, Tuor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: New Directions |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 335 |
| Posted on 7 July 2017 | Updated on 7 July 2017 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
Dancing in the Shadows by Zdenka
While dancing at night in the woods, Lúthien meets a shadowy stranger. (Lúthien/Thuringwethil)
| Major Characters: Lúthien Tinúviel, Thuringwethil |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet, Slash/Femslash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Sexual Content (Mild), Violence (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 6, 063 |
| Posted on 5 July 2017 | Updated on 5 July 2017 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
New Directions by hennethgalad
The friends of Eärendil, returning from Valinor.
With a surprise visitor.
| Major Characters: Aerandir, Erellont, Falathar |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: New Directions |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 512 |
| Posted on 4 July 2017 | Updated on 4 July 2017 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
Messengers of Light and Dark by Zdenka
Varda's handmaiden and Sauron's messenger encounter each other in the night. (Ilmarë/Thuringwethil)
| Major Characters: Ilmarë, Thuringwethil |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet, Slash/Femslash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Violence (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 371 |
| Posted on 3 July 2017 | Updated on 3 July 2017 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Across so Wide a Sea by bunn
Elrond, having arrived in Valinor at the end of the Third Age, goes to meet his mother, Elwing. Taking Maglor with him.
“Hmph. I suppose we can’t have him being beaten bloody on my doorstep.” Elwing said, unenthusiastically “Or killing someone.” Apparently Maglor was considered a random killer, like a biting dog. “Come in then, if you must.”
| Major Characters: Elrond, Elwing, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 577 |
| Posted on 29 June 2017 | Updated on 29 June 2017 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
A Tale of Two Lirillos by Kaylee Arafinwiel
Lirillo the prince and Lirillo the Maia - an adventure of Alqualonde's youngest prince, coming of age during a time after the Trees, just before the sun and moon. Will the grandson of Olwe prove a match for Ulmo's servant, or will the Maia be up to the task of shepherding his young namesake into this new world intact?
| Major Characters: Ingwë, Maiar, Olwë, Original Character(s), Original Female Character(s), Original Male Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Adventure | Challenges: Hero's Journey |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 2 | Word Count: 2, 014 |
| Posted on 3 June 2017 | Updated on 26 June 2017 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Curumo, slices of vice. by Chiara Cadrich
The sad fate of a talented wizard.
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 5 | Word Count: 1, 215 |
| Posted on 25 May 2017 | Updated on 25 June 2017 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Let us Sing Together by StarSpray
There are strange things dwelling in the forests of Eriador
| Major Characters: Celebrimbor, Dwarves, Elrond, Elves, Goldberry, Original Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Adventure | Challenges: Hero's Journey |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Violence (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 368 |
| Posted on 24 June 2017 | Updated on 24 June 2017 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
In The Darkest Days by LadyBrooke
Elu has gone to Valinor with Finwë and Ingwë, and those left behind are forced to make up for their absences, no matter how young the ones left behind are or if they have to find their own families.
| Major Characters: Celeborn, Elmo, Indis, Míriel Serindë, Olwë |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: Hero's Journey |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Violence (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 4, 251 |
| Posted on 24 June 2017 | Updated on 24 June 2017 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Water Music by Ysilme
As he walks, water is bringing back memories.
| Major Characters: Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 646 |
| Posted on 24 June 2017 | Updated on 24 June 2017 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
A Hero of the Day by Robinka
Just an ordinary day out there on the Northern Marches of Doriath. Or maybe not so much…? Featuring your tall, strong, and handsome, not to mention favorite, wardens and some surprises. Written for the Matrioszka/Matrioshka challenge.
| Major Characters: Beleg, Mablung, Original Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: Hero's Journey |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 3, 295 |
| Posted on 24 June 2017 | Updated on 24 June 2017 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (6) |
Companions on a Quest by oshun
Basically a story of Fëanor and Nerdanel meeting and beginning to fall for one another. But, secondarily, a story of Mahtan's household and his relationship with his apprentices, featuring his wife also.
Hero’s Journey Challenge – May-June 2017 – submitting this one to meet the deadline, although I would very much like to expand and continue the story. It should have been much longer, but I met all of the required prompts. I've enjoyed working in this world I have begun to build. I love the characters and the backstory I created, seventy percent of which I am not able to use in this short story--due to lack of time and organizational skills(!! we won't talk about chronic writers' block). I hope readers can enjoy it as a stand-alone, but I definitely will return! I am (maddeningly perhaps) leaving my full cast at the end of the story as a teaser.
Many thanks to IgnobleBard for his careful Beta and putting up with a formidable amount of b.s. and dysfunctionality!
| Major Characters: Fëanor, Mahtan, Nerdanel, Noldor, Original Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, Het, Romance | Challenges: Hero's Journey |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 5, 519 |
| Posted on 24 June 2017 | Updated on 24 June 2017 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (14) |
Safety Net by Fernstrike
The year is 502 of the First Age. Doriath has already seen the Shadow seeping into its borders - and for Oropher, one of Thingol's chief counsels, it will not be long before it pierces into the vibrant heart of the realm.
| Major Characters: Celeborn, Elu Thingol, Original Character(s), Oropher, Thranduil |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: Hero's Journey |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Character Death, Violence (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 691 |
| Posted on 23 June 2017 | Updated on 23 June 2017 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (1) |
Like a Shadow of Shifting Silver by Kimberleighe
The backstory to Waiting for the Thunder. A story of Anairë and Fingolfin.
Chapter 9 posted! As the Games grow closer, there's tension rising among the Eldar.
| Major Characters: Anairë, Eärwen, Fëanor, Finarfin, Findis, Fingolfin, Finwë, Indis, Maedhros, Nerdanel, Noldor, Olwë, Original Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Adventure, Drama, General, Het, Romance, Slash/Femslash | Challenges: B2MeM 2012 |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Sexual Content (Mild) |
| Chapters: 9 | Word Count: 32, 815 |
| Posted on 18 March 2012 | Updated on 20 June 2017 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (10) |
Before The Dawn by Grundy
Though all seems bright in Gondolin, Idril is troubled.
| Major Characters: Elves, Idril, Maeglin |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: Hero's Journey |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 3 | Word Count: 508 |
| Posted on 19 June 2017 | Updated on 19 June 2017 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
The Shape of Things To Come by Grundy
Eärendil would not realize it until years later, but the whole of his future unfolded before him the day they finally reached the Havens of Sirion.
| Major Characters: Elwing, Eärendil |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 99 |
| Posted on 11 June 2017 | Updated on 11 June 2017 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
The Crownless Queen by Tyelca
She is a Queen without a crown and he is a shining opportunity.
Or, how Ungoliant and Melkor poisoned the Trees and stole the Silmarils.
| Major Characters: Melkor, Ungoliant |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, General | Challenges: Hero's Journey |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Violence (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 99 |
| Posted on 10 June 2017 | Updated on 10 June 2017 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (8) |
A Different Kind Of Peace by Tyelca
During various moments in his life, Celebrimbor is forced to reconsider the meaning of peace.
| Major Characters: Celebrimbor, Curufin, Narvi, Orodreth, Sauron |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, General | Challenges: Revolution |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Torture, Character Death |
| Chapters: 13 | Word Count: 29, 318 |
| Posted on 3 March 2017 | Updated on 8 June 2017 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (28) |
