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] 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…
[Artwork] Map of Valinor by Aprilertuile
My newly drawn map of Aman, as complete as I could make it.
Current Challenge
Bollywood
Prompts this month are films, songs, and tropes from India's dazzling film industry, Bollywood. Read more ...
Random Challenge
Plot Thickens
Create a fanwork that depicts characters in the act of plotting something. 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
Flickers by Meril
Drabbles of varying multiples focused on Nerdanel, Feanor, their family and their lives.
| Major Characters: Elves, Fëanor, Nerdanel, Sons of Fëanor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 11 | Word Count: 1, 111 |
| Posted on 10 August 2010 | Updated on 10 August 2010 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Shiny Little Things by Meril
My Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales-based drabbles.
| Major Characters: Dwarves, Elves, Men |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 10 | Word Count: 1, 598 |
| Posted on 10 August 2010 | Updated on 10 August 2010 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
A Dragon Tale by Pearl Took
Where did the Dragons come from?
| Major Characters: Glaurung, Melkor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: Fifth Birthday Celebration |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 450 |
| Posted on 10 August 2010 | Updated on 10 August 2010 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Song of Summer by pandemonium_213
While visiting Imladris during the 20th year of the Fourth Age, Radagast overhears an elf-woman singing in the kitchen gardens of the House of Elrond. There he finds Mélamírë bending to pull weeds, but when she stands straight by a row of tomatoes, she sings a song in Radagast's mother tongue. When the wizard observes that she has used a Song of Making, she informs him of her purpose and priorities.
Inspired by a peculiar confluence of recent discussion of Lúthien on The Heretic Loremaster and ripe New Jersey tomatoes.
MEFA 2011 Winner. First Place, Ficlet, Later Age Elves
| Major Characters: Original Character(s), Radagast |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 797 |
| Posted on 9 August 2010 | Updated on 9 August 2010 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (15) |
A Walk by the River by Elfique
The grief of Finduilas and Gwindor, as each considers the loss of the other.
| Major Characters: Finduilas, Gwindor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 439 |
| Posted on 7 August 2010 | Updated on 7 August 2010 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (3) |
The Jinn by pandemonium_213
While leading his tribe into the deep desert to escape the inevitable war between the Zigûr and the Sea-kings, Sharif finds a woman — injured and unconscious — among the rocks. He discovers this is not a mortal woman, but one of the immortal demons of the north. He is ready to kill her, but the tribe's priestess stays his hand, warning him that slaying the jinn would bring terrible misfortune to his tribe. His wives care for the jinn, who recovers and aids the tribe as they journey to the East in search of a mysterious land where they hope to find sanctuary, the jinn no less than Sharif and his tribe as they flee from the Zigûr and the Sea-Kings.
| Major Characters: Original Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Adventure, Crossover, Drama | Challenges: Strangers in Strange Lands |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Expletive Language, Sexual Content (Mild), Violence (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 4, 237 |
| Posted on 7 August 2010 | Updated on 7 August 2010 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (14) |
Vairë's Tapestries by Fiondil
A collection of my short stories originally published on Stories of Arda. Most of the stories are rated for Teens, but any stories that have an "R" rating will be duly noted. Thanks go to Alassiel for the beta.
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 6 | Word Count: 17, 405 |
| Posted on 25 July 2010 | Updated on 5 August 2010 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Amandil by Russandol
Amandil - During Akallabêth in August we feature Amandil, the patriarch of the founders of the realms of Men in Middle-earth. Russandol addresses what the stories tell of Amandil, his evolution as the texts developed, and prompts unanswered questions for inspiration and debate. Originally featured August 2010.
Racing Down the Mindon by Himring
As tensions are rising between the factions of Feanor and Fingolfin in Tirion, Celegorm comes to see his brother Maedhros at the palace.
Very kindly nominated for the MEFAs 2011 by Angelica; it won Third Place in the category: "Character Study: House of Finwë".
| Major Characters: Celegorm, Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Expletive Language |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 337 |
| Posted on 31 July 2010 | Updated on 31 July 2010 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
The Findaráto Diaries by Fiondil
A hundred years before Glorfindel was released from Mandos, Finrod Felagund, once King of Nargothrond, was reborn to walk with his father in Eldamar. This is his story. A companion tale to Elf, Interrupted. As always, my sincerest thanks go to Alassiel for the beta.
| Major Characters: Ainur, Amarië, Eärwen, Finarfin, Finrod Felagund, Gandalf, Ingwë, Maiar, Original Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 38 | Word Count: 124, 940 |
| Posted on 25 July 2010 | Updated on 25 July 2010 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
Elf Academy by Fiondil
Desperate for employment, six Elves who never left Middle-earth, decide to apply for the one position that is ready-made for them — being Elves. There’s just one catch. My thanks to Alassiel as always for the beta.
| Major Characters: Ainur, Daeron, Elves, Glorfindel, Original Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Alternate Universe | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 20 | Word Count: 91, 478 |
| Posted on 25 July 2010 | Updated on 25 July 2010 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
The Silmarillion Gospel by Araloth the Random
What happens when a group of clueless fangirls try to "translate" The Silmarillion into Biblical English? Utter chaos, of course!
Nominated for MEFA 2010, with many thanks to elfscribe!
| Major Characters: Dwarves, Elves, Maiar, Sons of Fëanor, Valar |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Humor | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Expletive Language, Sexual Content (Mild) |
| Chapters: 5 | Word Count: 4, 261 |
| Posted on 22 December 2009 | Updated on 25 July 2010 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (68) |
Diptych by Himring
Maedhros looks back from Mithrim, remembering his time on Thangorodrim and in the dungeons of Angband.
| Major Characters: Maedhros, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Torture, Mature Themes |
| Chapters: 2 | Word Count: 962 |
| Posted on 24 July 2010 | Updated on 24 July 2010 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Heirs of the Past by clotho123
Gil-galad, Celebrimbor and a ring. Not the one you think.
| Major Characters: Celebrimbor, Gil-galad |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: Trinkets and Treasures |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 228 |
| Posted on 18 July 2010 | Updated on 18 July 2010 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (1) |
It Seems You Do by Himring
Setting: A fortified manor in the south of Hithlum. Time: Before the Nirnaeth Arnoediad.
Maedhros arrives from Dorthonion to find out how Fingon's negotiations with Orodreth are progressing. Proceedings that evening are only slightly disrupted by the machinations of a pair of cats and a lot of weather. However, when Orodreth's final answer eventually arrives, his refusal to join the alliance represents a more serious challenge.
(Maedhros/Fingon)
| Major Characters: Fingon, Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General, Romance, Slash/Femslash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Mature Themes, Sexual Content (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 2 | Word Count: 4, 043 |
| Posted on 17 July 2010 | Updated on 17 July 2010 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Fire and Smoke by Marta
"Thereafter the fire and smoke went up without ceasing; for the power of Sauron daily increased, and in that temple, with spilling of blood and torment and great wickedness, men made sacrifice to Melkor." (Akallabeth)
| Major Characters: Original Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 2 | Word Count: 1, 384 |
| Posted on 15 July 2010 | Updated on 15 July 2010 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (1) |
An Intense Dislike of Elves by Himring
Amlach seems to be the only one of the early Edain who is explicitly said to have entered the service of Maedhros, so he may have been the first of Men to do so and he may have gone to Himring alone. This story imagines the feelings of an Adan who originally opposed the Eldar and now finds himself spending his life among them, all on his own.
It also tries to answer the question why he picked Maedhros specifically as his prospective leader and whether Maedhros fulfilled his expectations.
I decided it might just about fit the Follow the Leader challenge.
| Major Characters: Amlach, Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: Follow the Leader |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Violence (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 5 | Word Count: 6, 385 |
| Posted on 11 July 2010 | Updated on 11 July 2010 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (10) |
Master of Mischief by Kitt Otter
Círdan gives a commentary on the Noldor princes, Lúthien has an idea, and Thingol throws pillows.
| Major Characters: Círdan, Elu Thingol, Lúthien Tinúviel, Melian |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 879 |
| Posted on 5 July 2010 | Updated on 5 July 2010 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Voiceless by Noliel
A young Fëanor is called from sleep by a voice he's almost sure was real. Almost a double-drabble, posted in honour of Míriel Serindë's bio this month.
| Major Characters: Fëanor, Míriel Serindë |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 218 |
| Posted on 4 July 2010 | Updated on 4 July 2010 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
The Colors of Elvish: A Linguistic Exploration by Fiondil
Color is a basic category of language. Every culture has terminology denoting color, but they do not all 'see' the same colors. This is a look at the color terms that Tolkien translated into Quenya and Sindarin and what might be the sociolinguistic implications for these.
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Nonfiction/Meta | Challenges: Color of ... |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 3, 709 |
| Posted on 3 July 2010 | Updated on 3 July 2010 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (1) |
Spherical by Himring
Whether it was a vision, a dream or a flight of lunacy—its significance seems to Maedhros too obvious to need discussion. But that is not quite how it is...
Maedhros/Fingon
Intended for last month's revisited Challenge but I was a bit slow.
| Major Characters: Fingon, Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General, Romance, Slash/Femslash | Challenges: Olórë Mallë |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 344 |
| Posted on 3 July 2010 | Updated on 3 July 2010 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Cost by grey_gazania
In the aftermath of the Fifth Battle, Maedhros reaches a conclusion about his brothers, but the Second Kinslaying forces him to reconsider. A triple drabble
| Major Characters: Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Creator Chooses Not to Rate | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 293 |
| Posted on 19 June 2010 | Updated on 19 June 2010 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
Ulmo’s Palace by oshun
Written for the prompts: Curufin and Ulmo's Palace; for the Probably AU Genfic Swap at Elffetish. One of those cute 'lil elfing stories which contains dark undertones and/or is blasphemous to the Valar.
| Major Characters: Celebrimbor, Curufin, Original Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: Ankle Biters, Canon with a Twist, Sea Voyages |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 2 | Word Count: 2, 516 |
| Posted on 14 June 2010 | Updated on 19 June 2010 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (7) |
Red Wool by Elfique
"It was her labour to see it recorded, and so she would see it done." Vairë weaves the Battle of Unnumbered Tears.
| Major Characters: Vairë |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Violence (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 325 |
| Posted on 19 June 2010 | Updated on 19 June 2010 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
The OTHER Lays of Beleriand by Aiwen
The Lays JRR Tolkien did not write for very good reasons. Part Eight: The Harp and other poems. MEFA 2010 nominee.
| Major Characters: Celebrimbor, Glorfindel, Sauron |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Humor, Poetry | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 8 | Word Count: 1, 414 |
| Posted on 23 March 2009 | Updated on 18 June 2010 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (38) |
