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] Unforgotten by daughterofshadows
Carrying the Silmaril for millennia has consequences.
[Series] The Light and the Sea (Steampunk Númenor) by AdmirableMonster
Largely focused on Númenor, its fall, and the aftermath, as seen from the perspective of two Mannish scientists, bit players in some ways, but who nonetheless cast their shadows across the history of Middle Earth.
[Writing] Reflections by AdmirableMonster
A story of three friends in Númenor, one of whom attracts the attention of the High Priest. What does friendship mean in the shadow of the Black Temple?
[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.
Current Challenge
Bollywood
Prompts this month are films, songs, and tropes from India's dazzling film industry, Bollywood. Read more ...
Random Challenge
Turgon's Rock Opera
On the anniversary of the publication of "The Silmarillion," we’re reflecting on the importance of music in Arda with prompts that come from rock songs. 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
Beyond the Mist of Words by polutropos
None came there–but the breath that filled the pipes wailing through the air was as real as his own, which he now inhaled in shallow gasps.
Lómion is drawn by a haunting music in the depths of Nan Elmoth.
| Major Characters: Daeron, Maeglin |
| Major Relationships: Daeron/Maeglin |
| Genres: Alternate Universe, Slash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Sexual Content (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 149 |
| Posted on 6 March 2022 | Updated on 21 June 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Not the Choice of Lúthien by polutropos
Lindir is too good at music to be a nobody and young Arwen has a confused Lúthien complex. Crackship treated seriously.
| Major Characters: Arwen, Daeron |
| Major Relationships: Arwen/Daeron |
| Genres: General, Het | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Sexual Content (Mild) |
| Chapters: 2 | Word Count: 2, 309 |
| Posted on 15 March 2022 | Updated on 21 June 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
She Whom He Had Loved by polutropos
Finrod's first kiss and what Amarië thinks about it.
| Major Characters: Amarië, Finrod Felagund, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: Finrod/Maglor, Amarië/Finrod |
| Genres: Fluff, Het, Slash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Sexual Content (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 3, 371 |
| Posted on 15 February 2022 | Updated on 20 June 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Rematch by I_did_not_mean_to
A short crime-story that is a direct continuation of a Drabble written for B2MEM (Match).
Detective Aredhel and her second-in-command Haleth find the burned corpse of a boy. They now have to investigate men they had thought firmly and safely relegated to the past.
Can they be guilty of a crime so heinous? Why won't anybody in that dark, foreboding house cooperate when the women clearly toil to save their reputations and lives?
| Major Characters: Aredhel, Caranthir, Celegorm, Haleth |
| Major Relationships: Aredhel/Celegorm, Caranthir/Haleth, Aredhel & Haleth |
| Genres: Alternate Universe | Challenges: Secret Gate |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Character Death, Expletive Language, Sexual Content (Mild), Violence (Mild) |
| Chapters: 3 | Word Count: 6, 371 |
| Posted on 20 June 2023 | Updated on 20 June 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (5) |
What nourishes me, destroys me by yletylyf
Celebrimbor and Annatar are ready to eject Galadriel from their city. But they get distracted, and Galadriel takes advantage.
| Major Characters: Celebrimbor, Galadriel, Sauron |
| Major Relationships: Celebrimbor/Galadriel/Sauron |
| Genres: Erotica, Poly | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings, Mature Themes, Sexual Content (Graphic) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 4, 702 |
| Posted on 19 June 2023 | Updated on 20 June 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
A language he speaks by yletylyf
Celebrían takes a no-nonsense approach when she learns of the danger Celebrimbor is in. Under her leadership - and brooking no opposition, especially not from Celebrimbor himself - she forms an alliance of elves, dwarves, and men to confront Sauron before he reaches Ost-in-Edhil.
| Major Characters: Celebrían, Celebrimbor |
| Major Relationships: Celebrían & Celebrimbor |
| Genres: Alternate Universe, Family | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 11, 782 |
| Posted on 19 June 2023 | Updated on 20 June 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
A Far Green Country by StarSpray
"And then it seemed to him that as in his dream in the house of Bombadil the grey rain-curtain turned all to silver glass and was rolled back, and he beheld white shores and beyond them a far green country under a swift sunrise." - The Return of the King
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Artwork Type: Fiber/Textile Art |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on 19 June 2023 | Updated on 19 June 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (7) |
A Crack in the Ice by yletylyf
Irissë crosses the ice, loses a sister and a brother, and battles her way towards a reunion with the cousin who deserted her.
| Major Characters: Aredhel, Celegorm |
| Major Relationships: Aredhel/Celegorm |
| Genres: Adventure, Hurt/Comfort, Romance | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 3, 927 |
| Posted on 19 June 2023 | Updated on 19 June 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
The first moonrise by yletylyf
Angband is not what Maedhros expected.
In which Mairon uses charm to get what he wants, Maedhros learns a great deal about the Enemy, Melkor eventually loses his patience, and Fingon is vailant.
(mostly featuring Maedhros & Sauron, but with Melkor/Mairon and Maedhros/Fingon as well)
| Major Characters: Maedhros, Sauron |
| Major Relationships: Maedhros & Sauron |
| Genres: Hurt/Comfort | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Mature Themes, Torture, Violence (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 4 | Word Count: 26, 508 |
| Posted on 19 June 2023 | Updated on 19 June 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Hanno by dalliansss
Ficlets exploring the brotherly bond and dynamics of Finrod and Aegnor, and the beginnings of the lifelong friendship of Aegnor and Fingon.
| Major Characters: Historical Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: Aegnor & Finrod, Aegnor & Fingon |
| Genres: Alternate Universe, Family, Ficlet, Fluff, General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 4 | Word Count: 10, 758 |
| Posted on 8 June 2023 | Updated on 18 June 2023 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Guilt-Stricken, Sobbing by Elwin Fortuna
Turin, just after killing Beleg, sinks into despair.
| Major Characters: Túrin |
| Major Relationships: Beleg/Túrin |
| Genres: Drama, Ficlet | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Character Death |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 422 |
| Posted on 18 June 2023 | Updated on 18 June 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (1) |
Affirmational Fandom, Transformational Fandom, and Two Old Tolkien Fanfics by Dawn Walls-Thumma
The two oldest known Tolkien-based fanfiction works illustrate the concepts of transformational and affirmational fandom and how both approaches are vital to Tolkien fanworks fandom.
Fandom Voices: Defining Canon and Using Canon in Fanworks by Dawn Walls-Thumma
Fan responses show how complex is the understanding of the concept of "canon" within the Tolkien fandom. The first part analyzes responses around how fans navigate the complicated issue of Tolkien's canon. Update: Added responses from three additional fans.
Archives of Beleriand by Ermingarden
Letters, poems, and other documents left behind by the civilizations of Beleriand.
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Warnings: No warnings apply | |
| Posted on 13 October 2022 | Updated on 17 June 2023 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (0) |
The Shadow of Wings by Ermingarden
Two artifacts from the Minas Tirith Museum of Art's Beleriandic collection.
| Major Characters: Manwë |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Creator Chooses Not to Rate | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 2 | Word Count: 608 |
| Posted on 17 June 2023 | Updated on 17 June 2023 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
The Earliest Years of the Sun by Ermingarden
A Gondorian academic in the Fourth Age explores the development of a solar calendar system among the Noldor in Beleriand.
| 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, 295 |
| Posted on 17 June 2023 | Updated on 17 June 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
sorrow for sea-fare by Ermingarden
And it came to pass, while the wood of Nimloth burned, that Tar-Míriel – who had ever loved the night-blossoming Tree – slipped from the palace, and came in secret to the westward shore.
| Major Characters: Tar-Míriel, Uinen |
| Major Relationships: Tar-Míriel/Uinen |
| Genres: Experimental, Femslash, Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 634 |
| Posted on 17 June 2023 | Updated on 17 June 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
That were yet to be by ohboromir
Prompt from @melestasflight: Idril and "shadows of things that were yet to be"
| Major Characters: Idril |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Ficlet | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 136 |
| Posted on 2 June 2023 | Updated on 16 June 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Cranesbill by Chestnut_pod
As the bells began to ring alarms at another five black-sailed Corsair ships hoving into view, Ulloth’s mind and pen alighted upon the pelargoloth, her namesake, the common and beloved flower of the city’s balconies and courtyards, just opening its scarlet petals with the dawn of the the Second Siege of Pelargir.
| Major Characters: Original Female Character(s), Elanor Gardner |
| Major Relationships: Original Character & Original Character, Elanor Gardner & Original Character |
| Genres: Drama, General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: In-Universe Racism/Ethnocentrism, Violence (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 14, 062 |
| Posted on 15 June 2023 | Updated on 16 June 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Feast by ohboromir
As they prepare for a grand celebration, memories of the past return to haunt Gondolin’s royal family.
-
@gondolinweek Day 1: Feast - Idril, Eärendil, Turgon
| Major Characters: Idril |
| Major Relationships: Idril & Turgon |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 045 |
| Posted on 15 May 2023 | Updated on 16 June 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
The Insult by Himring
A Noldorin academic may express her opinions quite forcefully, sometimes.
Tatiel already had a bit of a reputation, even before the Darkening, and she is not cowed.
| Major Characters: Original Female Character(s), Noldor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Ficlet | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 234 |
| Posted on 16 June 2023 | Updated on 16 June 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
| Major Characters: Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet, Poetry | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 100 |
| Posted on 16 June 2023 | Updated on 16 June 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
End of a Reign Unrecorded by Himring
The usurper Tar-Anducal has closed the theatre in Armenelos that his deceased wife, Tar-Vanimelde, so loved.
The group of dancers that conspired with her against his usurpation have been touring everywhere except in the capital, hoping not to draw his notice.
Are their fortunes about to change?
| Major Characters: Original Female Character(s), Original Male Character(s), Númenóreans |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 113 |
| Posted on 16 June 2023 | Updated on 16 June 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
No New Grief by ohboromir
Nolofinwë did not want to be here.
If he could have been anywhere else in the world, he would have fled there at this moment.
~
Fingolfin and Feanor's complicated relationship in four scenes.
| Major Characters: Fëanor, Fingolfin |
| Major Relationships: Fëanor/Fingolfin |
| Genres: Hurt/Comfort, Romance, Slash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Incest |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 4, 332 |
| Posted on 27 January 2023 | Updated on 16 June 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
I risk my life to make my name by ohboromir
This is the tale of Ser Galadriel, the Lady of Light, one of the mightiest that dwelt in that great realm, and how she became one of the most fearsome sorceresses known to elvenkind.
~~~Gawain and the Green Knight retelling, in which Ser Artanis learns a lot about herself.
| Major Characters: Galadriel, Melian |
| Major Relationships: Galadriel/Melian |
| Genres: Adventure, Femslash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 5 | Word Count: 10, 281 |
| Posted on 3 March 2023 | Updated on 16 June 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
