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
Holiday Party
No matter if you're in the Northern or Southern hemisphere, it's a time of year to think about holidays. Whether you're bundling up in blankets or slipping a swimsuit into your suitcase, we invite you to an SWG holiday party! 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
Into Exile by Aiwen
Elendil's arrival in Middle Earth, and his first meeting with the Elves.
| Major Characters: Elendil, Elrond |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 878 |
| Posted on 10 April 2009 | Updated on 10 April 2009 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
The Good, the Bad, and the Queen by Robinka
Shortly after the council in Mithrim, a lone messenger enters Doriath, seeking a privilege of King Elwë's audience. Is he another talebearer? Or perhaps he does play a main role in the Noldor's diplomacy.
A "what-if" story written for the challenge "Many meetings", also for Back to Middle Earth Month, Day 24th: Favorite quote. Inspired by the challenge "And if they'd had a chat" at Open Scrolls Archive.
| Major Characters: Elu Thingol, Maedhros, Melian |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: B2MeM 2009, Many Meetings |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 4, 693 |
| Posted on 5 April 2009 | Updated on 5 April 2009 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (16) |
Gentlemen's Night Out by oshun
The Hangover Redux set at the victory celebration at the Fields of Cormallen following the Battle of the Morannon, starring Legolas, Elladan, Elrohir, and Prince Erchirion of Dol Amroth. No, seriously, it is a consideration of Laws and Customs of the Eldar, Morgoth’s Ring, Volume 12, History of Middle-earth, with particular attention given to Noldorin, Sindarin, Silvan and Gondorian interpretations of that essay. (Actually, it is really not very serious.)
| Major Characters: Elrond, Legolas Greenleaf, Thranduil |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Humor | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Mature Themes |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 3, 016 |
| Posted on 4 April 2009 | Updated on 4 April 2009 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (5) |
A Bird in the Hand by Marta
In the Fourth Age, Gondor grapples with the legacy of Numenor that was. (Updated February 2013)
| Major Characters: Barahir (Fourth Age) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: B2MeM 2009 |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Violence (Mild) |
| Chapters: 2 | Word Count: 2, 816 |
| Posted on 4 April 2009 | Updated on 4 April 2009 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
The Burden of Truth by Rhapsody
As she faces the concequences of her sons and husband's actions daily, Nerdanel must make a decision how to face tomorrow.
~ MEFA 2009: First Place in Genres: Drama: House of Finwë
| Major Characters: Nerdanel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: B2MeM 2009, New Beginnings, Strong Women |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Mature Themes |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 783 |
| Posted on 31 March 2009 | Updated on 31 March 2009 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (14) |
Illuminations by Dawn Felagund
For Back to Middle-earth Month 2009: scenes from the life of young Pengolodh, the loremaster of Gondolin whose writings brought us The Silmarillion.
Updated:
Truth for Day Eight: Beauty/Ugliness
The Mountains and the Sea, for Day Nine: Anti-Heroes
| Major Characters: Celebrimbor, Original Character(s), Pengolodh |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Experimental, General, Poetry | Challenges: B2MeM 2009 |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 9 | Word Count: 8, 971 |
| Posted on 2 March 2009 | Updated on 28 March 2009 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (76) |
The Huntsman and the Lady by Sulriel
Galadriel walked away from the laws and ideals of the Valar so she could rule her own land in her own way, but faced with choices in these wild lands, is she really ready to abandon her upbringing to return to the old ways of her Avari forefathers?
| Major Characters: Celeborn, Galadriel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Erotica, Het, Romance | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Sexual Content (Graphic) |
| Chapters: 4 | Word Count: 5, 315 |
| Posted on 27 March 2009 | Updated on 27 March 2009 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (5) |
A Ponderous Tome by oshun
A short character study of a youthful Elrond and a reflection on an aspect of his relationship with Maedhros and Maglor; in response to Day 26 of the B2MeM challenge. The prompt is: “a teacher who played a key role . . . . write a character who educated his people in some way.”
MEFA 2009, Third Place - First Age and Prior:
Featuring Maedhros or Maglor
Tree and Flower Awards 2013, First Place
Favorite Characerization of Elrond
| Major Characters: Elrond, Elros, Maedhros, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: Ankle Biters, B2MeM 2009 |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 082 |
| Posted on 26 March 2009 | Updated on 26 March 2009 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (13) |
Heresy by Marta
"The cruel servants of Celegorm seized his young sons and left them to starve in the forest. Of this Maedhros indeed repented, and sought for them long in the woods of Doriath."
| Major Characters: Celegorm, Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: B2MeM 2009 |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Character Death, Violence (Mild) |
| Chapters: 2 | Word Count: 965 |
| Posted on 23 March 2009 | Updated on 23 March 2009 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Survivors of the Downfall by SurgicalSteel
Sailors from Umbar realize that Numenor is no more.
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 256 |
| Posted on 22 March 2009 | Updated on 22 March 2009 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (12) |
In the Beginning by Marta
A professor, a typewriter, a rainstorm... and a beginning. (Triple-drabble.)
| Major Characters: J.R.R. Tolkien |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: B2MeM 2009 |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 298 |
| Posted on 22 March 2009 | Updated on 22 March 2009 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (5) |
Uinen’s Revenge by oshun
Back to Middle-earth Month Challenge, Day 21 – The Prompt: Describe a big storm . . . place it in Tolkien's world. A fixed-length ficlet of 125 words (counted by MS Word). “But Uinen wept for the mariners of the Teleri; and the sea rose in wrath against the slayers, so that many of the ships were wrecked and those in them drowned.” (The Silmarillion, “The Flight of the Noldor.”)
| Major Characters: Fëanor, Maedhros, Uinen |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Adventure, Drama | Challenges: B2MeM 2009 |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 119 |
| Posted on 21 March 2009 | Updated on 21 March 2009 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (10) |
The Bar Joke by oshun
Day 19 SWG Back to Middle-earth Month entry. The prompt: "If you could pass on three pieces of wisdom to future generations, what would they be?"
Summary: "Four guys were sitting in a bar . . . " (the Fab Four of the Finwean Cousins). A drabble and a half (150 words as counted by MS Word and the author). G-rated, but with warnings for extreme irreverence.
| Major Characters: Fingon, Finrod Felagund, Maedhros, Turgon |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Humor | Challenges: B2MeM 2009 |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 154 |
| Posted on 19 March 2009 | Updated on 19 March 2009 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (15) |
Like Mother, Like Son by oshun
Day 18 of the Back to Middle-earth Month challenge. Prompt: “your character is in bed and he or she awakes to a future leader, heir, or current leader standing outside the window, staring into your character's face with a giant smile.”
Summary: Fëanor is in the dog house, but his heir does not mind. A double drabble (200 words as counted by MS Word).
| Major Characters: Fëanor, Maedhros, Nerdanel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: B2MeM 2009 |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 191 |
| Posted on 18 March 2009 | Updated on 18 March 2009 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (14) |
Letter to Fingon by oshun
SWG Back to Middle-earth Month prompt: A stereotype is a generalization, usually exaggerated or oversimplified . . . . Write a story… where characters break stereotypes. Summary: Maedhros writes a letter to Fingon questioning his strategy behind his attack on the dragon Glaurung. (I hope that the format is legible. I would have written it in Quenya (yeah, right!) and used Tengwar, but then no one would have been able to read it.) Thank you, IgnobleBard, for Beta reading this ficlet.
| Major Characters: Fingon, Glaurung, Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Humor, Romance | Challenges: B2MeM 2009 |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Expletive Language, Mature Themes |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 958 |
| Posted on 18 March 2009 | Updated on 18 March 2009 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (12) |
Sporting Woods by IgnobleBard
Namo takes a stroll through Lórien.
| Major Characters: Mandos |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Humor | Challenges: B2MeM 2009 |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 531 |
| Posted on 16 March 2009 | Updated on 16 March 2009 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (15) |
Walking Down Narrow Streets by Marta
What if Tolkien's writings really were translations rather than original creations? Late one night, a certain professor wanders around Oxford, searching for answers.
| Major Characters: J.R.R. Tolkien |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: B2MeM 2009 |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Mature Themes, Sexual Content (Mild) |
| Chapters: 2 | Word Count: 2, 913 |
| Posted on 16 March 2009 | Updated on 16 March 2009 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (11) |
The Threat of Spring by oshun
My entry for day 14 of the SWG Back to Middle-earth Month challenge. The prompt is: What is your favourite season? . . . . how your character would appreciate (or not) the same things.
A ficlet wherein a grumpy Fingon faces spring, once his favorite season. (Fingon/Maedhros)
| Major Characters: Fingon, Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Romance | Challenges: B2MeM 2009 |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 384 |
| Posted on 15 March 2009 | Updated on 15 March 2009 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (12) |
Till Fire Purge All Things New by pandemonium_213
Sauron has a moment of doubt in the Sammath Naur.
For B2MeM 2009: Day 15 -- The Ides of March: "Do I dare disturb the universe?"
MEFA 2009: First Place in Genres: Ficlets: General
Update! Illustration by the fabulous Robinka now added to the story!
| Major Characters: Sauron |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: B2MeM 2009 |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 196 |
| Posted on 15 March 2009 | Updated on 15 March 2009 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (25) |
My Greatest Fear by oshun
A ficlet in which Fingon visits Maedhros at Himring Hill and they confess their greatest fears to one another. (Fingon/Maedhros: soft R, at the highest.)
My entry for day 13 of the SWG Back to Middle-earth Month challenge. The prompt: Write a story where the characters have to confront their greatest fears.
| Major Characters: Fingon, Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Romance | Challenges: B2MeM 2009 |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Mature Themes |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 606 |
| Posted on 14 March 2009 | Updated on 14 March 2009 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (12) |
That's Not Funny! by oshun
In their youth in Valinor, Maedhros has a secret crush on Fingon, his younger half-cousin, and Maglor loves to tease him about it.
A ficlet of 550 words in response to the SWG Back to Middle-earth Month challenge, day 11, humor misunderstood. (R-rated for language and implication only.) Also, translation of Quenya names at the bottom for those who want them.
| Major Characters: Celegorm, Fingon, Maedhros, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Humor | Challenges: B2MeM 2009 |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Mature Themes |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 550 |
| Posted on 11 March 2009 | Updated on 11 March 2009 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (16) |
If I were a wood elf... by Robinka
A poem in response to the 2009 Back to Middle Earth Month, Day Seventh: "In the woods".
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Poetry | Challenges: B2MeM 2009 |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 104 |
| Posted on 11 March 2009 | Updated on 11 March 2009 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (10) |
The Far Side of the World by SurgicalSteel
During the reign of Tar-Ancalimë, a group of Númenórean mariners find something that surprises and alarms them in their explorations.
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Adventure | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 434 |
| Posted on 8 March 2009 | Updated on 8 March 2009 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (24) |
A Real Beauty by oshun
A double-drabble in response to the SWG Back to Middle-earth Month challenge, day 8, “contrast beauty/ugliness.”
It’s a story of young Finwean firebrands in love (Aredhel/Celegorm). I knew I would eventually get around to writing something like this. I’ve always imagined that Aredhel and Celegorm shared a youthful romance in Valinor.
| Major Characters: Aredhel, Celegorm |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Romance | Challenges: B2MeM 2009 |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 201 |
| Posted on 7 March 2009 | Updated on 7 March 2009 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (6) |
As Little Might Be Thought by Marta
"For Maglor took pity upon Elros and Elrond, and he cherished them, and love grew after between them, as little might be thought; but Maglor's heart was sick and weary with the burden of the dreadful oath."
| Major Characters: Elrond, Elros, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: B2MeM 2009 |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 878 |
| Posted on 7 March 2009 | Updated on 7 March 2009 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
