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
Emotions-- A series of vignettes by MisbehavingMaiar
A study in sentiments over time; a collection of moments surrounding Melkor and Sauron, from the Spring of Arda to the fall of the Third Age.
| Major Characters: Ainur, Aulë, Celebrimbor, Fëanor, Finwë, Gil-galad, Idril, Maeglin, Melkor, Númenóreans, Saruman, Sauron, Tar-Míriel, Ungoliant |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, Experimental, General, Horror | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Character Death, Sexual Content (Mild), Violence (Graphic) |
| Chapters: 12 | Word Count: 25, 726 |
| Posted on 12 April 2014 | Updated on 12 April 2014 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Shadow Child by StarSpray
Featuring Lúthien, her power, and her choices.
| Major Characters: Beren, Lúthien Tinúviel, Melian, Melkor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 965 |
| Posted on 11 April 2014 | Updated on 11 April 2014 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Frozen Heart by Kaylee Arafinwiel
On the first day of winter, young Eärendil announces its arrival to his parents very early in the morning, and the chill of memories pierces Idril to the core.
| Major Characters: Eärendil, Idril, Tuor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 246 |
| Posted on 9 April 2014 | Updated on 9 April 2014 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
Spring in Imladris by Ysilme
At the evening before the Spring Festival Nost-na-Lothion, Erestor puts the twins to bed and tells them a bedtime story.
| Major Characters: Elladan, Elrohir, Erestor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: B2MeM 2014 |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 3, 829 |
| Posted on 9 April 2014 | Updated on 9 April 2014 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
L'ocarina by Dilly
Bonus de Noël pour "Maudits Silmarils". L'écuyer d'Ecthelion de la Fontaine lui offre un cadeau...
| Major Characters: Ecthelion of the Fountain, Eärendil, Original Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 509 |
| Posted on 6 April 2014 | Updated on 6 April 2014 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Necessity is the Mother of Invention by MisbehavingMaiar
The First Music goes off without a hitch; Arda is unmarred, and the Theme goes on and on without one dissonant voice in the choir.
| Major Characters: Ainur, Elves |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Alternate Universe | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 532 |
| Posted on 5 April 2014 | Updated on 5 April 2014 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
Houses of Might by MisbehavingMaiar
Melkor reflects upon his past dwelling places, and the lessons learned in failure.
| Major Characters: Melkor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Violence (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 673 |
| Posted on 4 April 2014 | Updated on 4 April 2014 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Time's Arrow by Russandol
Two elves of the Greenwood, a troubled warrior and a prince, confront the shadows from their past in the less than perfect paradise of Valinor. There, a tradition that has been kept every four long-years since the ancient days of the Great Journey is about to take place once more.
| Major Characters: Beleg, Elrond, Eönwë, Finrod Felagund, Galadriel, Gandalf, Ingwion, Legolas Greenleaf, Original Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, Romance, Slash/Femslash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Mature Themes, Sexual Content (Graphic), Violence (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 10 | Word Count: 41, 123 |
| Posted on 6 January 2014 | Updated on 4 April 2014 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (26) |
Bright and Terrible by zopyrus
Not everyone at Losgar is thrilled about burning the fleet. The captain of one of Fëanor's ships questions her orders.
| Major Characters: Curufin, Original Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Expletive Language |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 883 |
| Posted on 4 April 2014 | Updated on 4 April 2014 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
By the Margin of the Sea by StarSpray
After a very long journey, Elwing comes to Alqualondë.
| Major Characters: Elwing, Eärendil, Olwë, Original Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 559 |
| Posted on 3 April 2014 | Updated on 3 April 2014 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
First to Leave by Agelast
Fingon/Maedhros, a political PWP.
| Major Characters: Fingolfin, Fingon, Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, Slash/Femslash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Incest, Mature Themes |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 3, 466 |
| Posted on 2 April 2014 | Updated on 2 April 2014 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
Forging Arda: in the Beginning by MisbehavingMaiar
Mairon, maia of Aulë, is given a body, a purpose, his tools, and a warning.
| Major Characters: Ainur, Aulë, Melkor, Sauron |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Comic Strip | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 986 |
| Posted on 31 March 2014 | Updated on 31 March 2014 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (3) |
Snowed In by Keiliss
Gil-galad, his Herald and his SO (Senior Organiser?) are separated from their hunting party by a blizzard and are forced to spend the night in a cave.
| Major Characters: Elrond, Erestor, Gil-galad |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Adventure | Challenges: B2MeM 2014 |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 4, 369 |
| Posted on 30 March 2014 | Updated on 30 March 2014 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (7) |
Crowns of Holly by Kitt Otter
Gil-galad and Círdan attend mid-summer festivities in Eregion. An unwelcome guest crashes the party.
| Major Characters: Celebrimbor, Círdan, Gil-galad, Sauron |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: B2MeM 2014 |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 3, 415 |
| Posted on 30 March 2014 | Updated on 30 March 2014 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Nightingale by Agelast
Lúthien and Beren, their first springtime. Written for B2MeM 2014.
| Major Characters: Beren, Lúthien Tinúviel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Romance | Challenges: B2MeM 2014 |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Sexual Content (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 771 |
| Posted on 29 March 2014 | Updated on 29 March 2014 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
The Constant Gardener by Tehta
Running Yavanna’s errands in First Age Middle-earth is a tough job, but someone has to do it.
(Written for the B2MeM prompt, “Write or create art in which a character plants something.” Not a light-hearted humour fic. At all. A little quirky, though.)
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: B2MeM 2014 |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Character Death |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 3, 898 |
| Posted on 28 March 2014 | Updated on 28 March 2014 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (3) |
Vana's Day by Tehta
Some people are naturally good at romance. Others struggle with it, even when surrounded by flowers, love songs, and heart-shaped cakes. Guess which group is featured in this story?
(The usual caveat applies: these are my versions of these characters, and my version of Gondolin, and so might not be to everyone's taste.)
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Romance | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 2 | Word Count: 2, 582 |
| Posted on 27 March 2014 | Updated on 27 March 2014 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
Noise of Thunder by Astris
During the Dagor Bragollach, a captain of the Fëanorian soldiers in Lothlann finds herself caught in the flames.
| Major Characters: Original Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: B2MeM 2014 |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Character Death, Violence (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 3, 205 |
| Posted on 26 March 2014 | Updated on 26 March 2014 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Nothing in the World is Single by StarSpray
Befriending Elwing is not an easy task. Neither is trying to kiss her.
| Major Characters: Celeborn, Elves, Elwing, Eärendil, Galadriel, Idril, Tuor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Romance | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 5 | Word Count: 8, 567 |
| Posted on 4 November 2013 | Updated on 26 March 2014 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Carmina Brethilia by Robinka
Or an account of the battle in the forest of Brethil as seen by Beleg Cúthalion, told in two parts.
| Major Characters: Beleg, Elu Thingol, Haldir, Halmir, Huor, Húrin, Mablung, Original Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Expletive Language, Mature Themes, Violence (Graphic) |
| Chapters: 2 | Word Count: 18, 835 |
| Posted on 14 July 2011 | Updated on 24 March 2014 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (7) |
Mother of the Flame by Kaylee Arafinwiel
As the rebellious Noldor begin to destroy themselves, one fëa in Mandos is forced to watch the destruction, and to know its source.
| Major Characters: Fëanor, Mandos, Manwë, Míriel Serindë |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Character Death |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 410 |
| Posted on 23 March 2014 | Updated on 23 March 2014 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
The Old Eagle by Agelast
In Númenor, Elros tells his children a tale from his long-ago childhood. Written for B2MeM 2014.
| Major Characters: Elrond, Elros, Maedhros, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: B2MeM 2014 |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Violence (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 4, 946 |
| Posted on 23 March 2014 | Updated on 23 March 2014 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (1) |
A Sad Tale's Best for Winter by oshun, Dawn Felagund
Prompt: B2MeM 2014 - Write a story or create art about the midwinter holiday (Yule or another midwinter holiday of your choosing).
Elrond looks back on Yuletides past at two distinct periods in his life, nearly an Age and a half apart. “The famous saudade of the Portuguese is a vague and constant desire for something that does not and probably cannot exist, for something other than the present, a turning towards the past or towards the future; not an active discontent or poignant sadness but an indolent dreaming wistfulness.” (In Portugal, by AFG Bell, 1912.)
Artwork included is by Dawn Felagund. (Calligraphy and illumination of brief passages from the story. Artist's note: The calligraphy utilizes a script I developed based on Tolkien's own writing in the Tengwar of "Namárië" and "A Elbereth Gilthoniel." The illumination is based on a style used in the 15th-century Bible of Borso d'Este. Ink, acrylic, and gold leaf on Bristol vellum.)
| Major Characters: Celebrían, Elladan, Elrohir, Elrond, Elros, Erestor, Lindir |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, General, Slash/Femslash | Challenges: B2MeM 2014 |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 2 | Word Count: 6, 386 |
| Posted on 22 March 2014 | Updated on 22 March 2014 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (10) |
Night-time Encounters by Cirth
Finwë does not want Míriel's company. Drabble.
| Major Characters: Finwë, Míriel Serindë |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Mature Themes |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 98 |
| Posted on 22 March 2014 | Updated on 22 March 2014 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
Winter's Drums by pandemonium_213, Huinare
Story by pandemonium_213: The grisly banner having served its purpose, Sauron enlists the assistance of his soldiers and bodyguard to bear Celebrimbor's corpse to its final resting place in the foothills of the Misty Mountains while a snowstorm approaches from the southwest.
Note: Descriptions of torture and a deteriorating corpse may be too intense for some readers (roughly equivalent to MPAA R-rating or TV Ratings Mature Audience); some expletive language. Pandë!versecentric.
Illustrations by Huinárë: Title: 1. "Examining His Work" / 2. "Thundersnow" Pencil illustration / Construction paper collage. Rating: G
| Major Characters: Celebrimbor, Original Character(s), Sauron |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Torture, Character Death, Expletive Language, Mature Themes, Violence (Graphic) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 6, 166 |
| Posted on 22 March 2014 | Updated on 22 March 2014 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (12) |
