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] 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] No Time Have I by Flora-lass
A Silmarillion acrostic.
[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
Dear Irmo
Historians trace the first advice column to 1690, and in the three centuries hence, the heartsore, woebegone, and perpetually puzzled have turned to these "agony aunts" (and uncles) to solve their most debilitating dilemmas about family, work, and of course, love. Choose one of our real advice columns, tweaked just slightly, for your prompt. 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.
Elrond Week 2024
Elrond Week is a fandom event dedicated to Elrond Peredhel that will run from July 10th to July 16th on Tumblr.
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.
New and Updated Fanworks
Include Beyond the Silmarillion Fanworks
Wandering Light by Saelind
Elrond and Elros return to Sirion, take up sailing lessons with Círdan in Balar, and are forced to confront aspects of their past they’d both rather avoid.
| Major Characters: Círdan, Elrond, Elros, Gil-galad |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Adventure, Drama, General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 140 |
| Posted on 10 June 2014 | Updated on 10 June 2014 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
A Season to Love by Seren Lyall
Elrond and Celebrían lived together for many happy years before the tragic incident in the Redhorn Pass. Through all seasons–winter and spring, hardship and ease, dark and light–they were forever side-by-side, to guide and protect, to love and cherish. This is just a small glimpse at their years together; a small window into their lives and their infinite love for one another.
| Major Characters: Celebrían, Elrond, Glorfindel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Romance | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 7, 197 |
| Posted on 30 May 2014 | Updated on 30 May 2014 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
The Importance of Family by zopyrus
At the Mereth Aderthad, Lalwen wants all her family members to behave. Fingon wants them to actually like each other. Either way, will the House of Finwë ever pull it together enough to impress Doriath? (Pairings: Fingon/Maedhros and Lalwen/OFC)
| Major Characters: Aranwë, Aredhel, Círdan, Eldalótë, Fingolfin, Fingon, Idril, Lalwen, Maedhros, Original Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, Slash/Femslash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 245 |
| Posted on 23 May 2014 | Updated on 23 May 2014 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (3) |
Caught in the Running Flames (The Damned Kind Remix) by Elleth
A Remix Redux fic for Astris' Noise of Thunder: The Dagor Bragollach... from the other side, and a brief crossing of paths.
| Major Characters: Elves, Orcs, Original Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 926 |
| Posted on 22 May 2014 | Updated on 22 May 2014 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Give Your Heart (The Cold Hard Earth Remix) by Agelast
Five ghost stories about Maedhros.
| Major Characters: Fingon, Maedhros, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Horror, Slash/Femslash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Mature Themes |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 683 |
| Posted on 18 May 2014 | Updated on 18 May 2014 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
The Death of Fëanáro by Dawn Felagund
Fëanor's death and its aftermath, as told by the Fëanorian bards and as it truly happened. A free-verse poem.
| Major Characters: Fëanor, Maedhros, Maglor, Mandos |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Poetry | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Character Death |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 882 |
| Posted on 12 May 2014 | Updated on 12 May 2014 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (8) |
In His Memory by Elisif
After his abdication, Maedhros has one final gift for Fingolfin
| Major Characters: Fingolfin, Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Mature Themes |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 124 |
| Posted on 12 May 2014 | Updated on 12 May 2014 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (1) |
Lift Her Brow Toward Morning by Elleth
In the early years of the First Age, Lalwen, Idril and Aredhel participate in a festival of the Mithrim Sindar and find, unexpectedly, some healing of the griefs of Helcaraxë.
| Major Characters: Aredhel, Idril, Lalwen |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 578 |
| Posted on 11 May 2014 | Updated on 11 May 2014 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (3) |
Of Anbor And Azruphel by gamil-zirak
A tale of romance between a wild man of Middle earth and a lady of Numenor, told with the epic backdrop of the last 2 years of Numenor. A study in the politics and relations of the time. Hope you enjoy it!
| Major Characters: Ar-Pharazôn, Númenóreans, Original Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Adventure, Drama, Romance | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Torture, Mature Themes, Violence (Mild) |
| Chapters: 4 | Word Count: 28, 174 |
| Posted on 8 March 2012 | Updated on 5 May 2014 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (5) |
On Carven Throne by Innin
The court of Menegroth has moved into the forest for the summer, leaving the throne room empty - and just the right place for Lúthien and Galadriel's games.
| Major Characters: Galadriel, Lúthien Tinúviel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Slash/Femslash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Sexual Content (Graphic) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 498 |
| Posted on 3 May 2014 | Updated on 3 May 2014 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
The Lantern-Maker by Elleth
Spending a spring day with Elenwë reveals a surprising gift for Írissë.
| Major Characters: Aredhel, Elenwë |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Romance, Slash/Femslash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 273 |
| Posted on 3 May 2014 | Updated on 3 May 2014 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Sauron Applies For His Job by Himring
Before the throne of Angband, Sauron makes his application for the job of lieutenant to Morgoth, the Dark Lord. For reasons unknown and unexplained (possibly just to make things appropriately hellishly difficult) the application has to be made in rhyme...
| Major Characters: Melkor, Sauron |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Humor, Poetry | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 146 |
| Posted on 2 May 2014 | Updated on 2 May 2014 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (8) |
No Resemblance by Elisif
Nolofinwë struggles to recognise his nephew after his rescue from Angband.
| Major Characters: Fingolfin, Fingon, Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Violence (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 637 |
| Posted on 30 April 2014 | Updated on 30 April 2014 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (1) |
Strength by Independence1776
Nerdanel visits Celebrían after her arrival on Tol Eressëa.
| Major Characters: Celebrían, Nerdanel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 462 |
| Posted on 30 April 2014 | Updated on 30 April 2014 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
If You Go into the Woods Today by oshun
Coming-of-age ficlet about sexual experimentation, but more fundamentally about acceptance and friendship. A Finwean cousins' camping trip. Many thanks to Ignoble Bard for the quick Beta.
For the Legendarium Ladies April challenge on Tumblr.
| Major Characters: Aredhel, Galadriel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General, Slash/Femslash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 308 |
| Posted on 29 April 2014 | Updated on 29 April 2014 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
Before the Great Music: An Account Before the Ainulindale by Alcarin
Melkor, the greatest and most powerful of the Ainur, becomes the first of his divine kindred to depart from the Light –– and to embrace the Darkness, thereby becoming its first and greatest manifestation.
| Major Characters: Melkor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Experimental | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 5 | Word Count: 15, 425 |
| Posted on 16 April 2014 | Updated on 23 April 2014 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (5) |
Red As Blood by The Wavesinger
Maedhros never recovered; he just coped.
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: B2MeM 2013 |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Violence (Graphic) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 750 |
| Posted on 23 April 2014 | Updated on 23 April 2014 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Lily of the Valley by Elleth
Rían departs from Mithrim to seek Huor on the Hill of the Slain, but her journey is intercepted.
| Major Characters: Original Character(s), Rían |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Alternate Universe, General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Mature Themes |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 3, 201 |
| Posted on 23 April 2014 | Updated on 23 April 2014 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
To Freely Choose by StarSpray
Eärendil and Elwing are summoned back to the Valar, and given a choice.
| Major Characters: Elwing, Eärendil, Valar |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 3, 300 |
| Posted on 21 April 2014 | Updated on 21 April 2014 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (1) |
The Anatomy of Orcs by MisbehavingMaiar
An academic essay composed by an unnamed Numenorian naturalist; (an open-minded lady of the court of Ar-Adûnakhôr) concerning the biology and habits of Orcs. (Illustrated)
| Major Characters: Númenóreans, Orcs, Original Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Experimental, General, Science Fiction | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Mature Themes, Sexual Content (Moderate), Violence (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 7, 223 |
| Posted on 19 April 2014 | Updated on 19 April 2014 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
The Cruel by MisbehavingMaiar
In the age before the sun, new creatures grow and hunt and are hunted in turn. A Maia who chose his own master now chooses a new, more suitable name. (Pictures Included!)
| Major Characters: Maiar, Melkor, Orcs, Original Character(s), Oromë, Sauron |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, General, Horror | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Character Death, Mature Themes, Violence (Graphic) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 5, 353 |
| Posted on 19 April 2014 | Updated on 19 April 2014 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
A Kindred Heart by oshun
Indis meets Nerdanel and responds to her. References to: Noldorin society in Valinor during the Years of the Trees, sons, husbands, art, family dynamics and dysfunctionality, even a brief mention (non-graphic) of childbirth/labor. Started a while ago, but finished at this time in response to the legendarium ladies april event on Tumblr.
| Major Characters: Fëanor, Finwë, Indis, Maedhros, Míriel Serindë, Nerdanel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, General | Challenges: Family Matters |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 3, 868 |
| Posted on 17 April 2014 | Updated on 17 April 2014 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (6) |
Of Morgoth and Men by Chilled in Hithlum
A short essay for the fun of it.
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 406 |
| Posted on 12 April 2014 | Updated on 12 April 2014 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (7) |
Yavanna's Dream by MisbehavingMaiar
"I multiply. I diversify. I evade. I grow. And if you would subdue me, Gorthaur, you must catch me first."
Yavanna has a nightmare about her sister, Vana, confronting Sauron and the (allegorical) rise of industry.
| Major Characters: Sauron, Vána, Yavanna |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: Back to Nature |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Violence (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 768 |
| Posted on 12 April 2014 | Updated on 12 April 2014 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
Giver of Freedom by MisbehavingMaiar
A short poem and a portrait of Melkor.
| Major Characters: Melkor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Poetry | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 319 |
| Posted on 12 April 2014 | Updated on 12 April 2014 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
