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
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
What the Water Gave Me by Rocky41_7
Finduilas had never thought she had been saved for a reason, until she found the woman in the river.
| Major Characters: Finduilas, Nienor |
| Major Relationships: Finduilas/Nienor |
| Genres: Drama, Femslash, Hurt/Comfort | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Mature Themes |
| Chapters: 5 | Word Count: 27, 390 |
| Posted on 3 March 2023 | Updated on 31 March 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Awesome Ladies by daughterofshadows
4 women, 4 story cycles, 400 words each.
Snapshots from the lives of four incredible women in Tolkien.
| Major Characters: Belladonna Took Baggins, Galadriel, Lúthien Tinúviel, Nerdanel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: Middle-earth Is Multitudes |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 4 | Word Count: 1, 641 |
| Posted on 30 March 2023 | Updated on 30 March 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (19) |
Cry the color of love by firstamazon
Míriel Þerindë was one of a kind.
| Major Characters: Míriel Serindë |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: Middle-earth Is Multitudes |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 208 |
| Posted on 28 March 2023 | Updated on 28 March 2023 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (10) |
A Promise of the Sun by cuarthol
The roles of youth and age trade places.
Finduilas may be one of the few among the Eldar of Nargothrond who can understand the changes which age brings to Bëor.
| Major Characters: Bëor, Finduilas |
| Major Relationships: Bëor & Finduilas |
| Genres: Fluff, General | Challenges: Middle-earth Is Multitudes |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 874 |
| Posted on 26 March 2023 | Updated on 26 March 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (12) |
Who Gets to Say? Canon and Authority by Dawn Walls-Thumma
Tolkien Fanfiction Survey data shows that, when considering who has the authority to define that ever-elusive concept of canon in the Tolkien fandom, fanfiction authors navigate this question in various ways.
For One Year, One Day, of the Flame by cuarthol
Andreth prepares for the approach of midwinter, while Aegnor seeks to right a choice from long ago, before it is too late.
| Major Characters: Aegnor, Andreth |
| Major Relationships: Aegnor/Andreth |
| Genres: Het | Challenges: Middle-earth Is Multitudes |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 775 |
| Posted on 24 March 2023 | Updated on 24 March 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (14) |
With Radiant Garland by Rocky41_7
Beautiful hair is considered a desirable trait among Elves, whether on the head--or elsewhere.
| Major Characters: Galadriel, Lúthien Tinúviel |
| Major Relationships: Galadriel/Lúthien |
| Genres: Erotica, Femslash, Ficlet | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Sexual Content (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 423 |
| Posted on 22 February 2023 | Updated on 21 March 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
| Major Characters: Aerin |
| Major Relationships: Aerin + Brodda |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: Middle-earth Is Multitudes |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Mature Themes, Rape/Nonconsensual Sex |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 100 |
| Posted on 19 March 2023 | Updated on 19 March 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (8) |
A Day's Journey through Minas Tirith by Himring
Ioreth has to endure some of the physical drawbacks of advanced age, but there are also people who accord her the kindness and respect she deserves.
| Major Characters: Unnamed Female Canon Character(s), Ioreth |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Ficlet | Challenges: Middle-earth Is Multitudes |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 911 |
| Posted on 18 March 2023 | Updated on 18 March 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (8) |
Interview with Artist ArlenianChronicles by Anérea
In this interview, Cassandra (ArlenianChronicles) talks about the inspiration and creative process behind her art, which is distinguished by its emotionally rich relationships and often novel AU takes on Silmarillion characters.
Tangled Up In Time by Anérea
Tolkenien Mathematics.
| Major Characters: J.R.R. Tolkien |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Artwork Type: Animation, Manip/Photomontage |
| Genres: Humor | Challenges: Gnome Tome |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on 31 October 2021 | Updated on 18 March 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (2) |
Pinching Time by Anérea
Varda experiments with undoing just a wee bit of history...
| Major Characters: Varda |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Artwork Type: Drawing/Painting |
| Genres: General | Challenges: Gnome Tome |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on 1 November 2021 | Updated on 18 March 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (8) |
Breath of life by firstamazon
A triple drabble - and a brief history - of an old orc.
| Major Characters: Original Female Character(s), Orcs |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Ficlet, General | Challenges: Middle-earth Is Multitudes |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 307 |
| Posted on 17 March 2023 | Updated on 17 March 2023 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (15) |
Fair Purpose by Gwanath Dagnir
Glorfindel returns to Middle-earth as emissary of the Valar and shares their warning of the growing darkness with the High King Gil-galad, confirming a doom long feared: Sauron has returned.
| Major Characters: Círdan, Elrond, Gil-galad, Glorfindel |
| Major Relationships: Elrond & Glorfindel |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 3, 355 |
| Posted on 25 October 2022 | Updated on 17 March 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
One More Song by Rocky41_7
As Luthien prepares to surrender to old age, she is visited by a long-lost friend.
| Major Characters: Daeron, Lúthien Tinúviel |
| Major Relationships: Daeron & Lúthien |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Character Death |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 782 |
| Posted on 17 March 2023 | Updated on 17 March 2023 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
A King Is He Who Can Hold His Own by sallysavestheday
Fleeing the fall of Doriath, Oropher is called into the kingship of the Greenwood.
| Major Characters: Nandor, Oropher, Sindar, Thranduil |
| Major Relationships: Oropher & Thranduil |
| Genres: | Challenges: Middle-earth Is Multitudes |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 825 |
| Posted on 16 March 2023 | Updated on 16 March 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (16) |
Gorthaur and Finrod at Tol-in-Guarhoth by Anérea
After capturing Finrod and his companions, Gorthaur attempts to discover their identities...
| Major Characters: Finrod Felagund, Sauron |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Artwork Type: Drawble/Finished Sketch |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: Cheesy Corn Chips |
| Rating: Creator Chooses Not to Rate | Warnings: Violence (Mild) |
| Posted on 15 March 2023 | Updated on 16 March 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (10) |
I Lava You: some silly sooty smut by Anérea
Pressure builds deep in Thangorodrim — a cheesy PWP drabble for the Cheesy Corn Chips Challenge.
| Major Characters: Original Male Character(s), Melkor |
| Major Relationships: Melkor/Original Character |
| Genres: Crackfic | Challenges: Cheesy Corn Chips |
| Rating: Creator Chooses Not to Rate | Warnings: Sexual Content (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 171 |
| Posted on 14 March 2023 | Updated on 15 March 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
The blinding Sun by Varda delle Stelle
After the Midsummer celebration Fingon who had had too much wine talks with Maedhros, who is far too amused
This story is just a really flully idea that has come to my mind that I have done my best to write today, it was not beta read so please excuse eventual grammar mistakes :)
| Major Characters: Fingon, Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: Fingon/Maedhros |
| Genres: Family, Ficlet, Fluff, General | Challenges: Cheesy Corn Chips |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 296 |
| Posted on 14 March 2023 | Updated on 14 March 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
| Major Characters: Indis, Ingwion |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Ficlet | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 234 |
| Posted on 12 March 2023 | Updated on 12 March 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
We Built This City by Grundy
Turgon's city is still just a dream. It will take good planning and hard work to make his vision a reality.
| Major Characters: Turgon |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: Cheesy Corn Chips |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 631 |
| Posted on 11 March 2023 | Updated on 12 March 2023 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (11) |
A flower, a memory, a song by Himring
Maglor, wandering, fetches up in England, thinks about nightingales, but does some singing himself.
| Major Characters: Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 205 |
| Posted on 31 July 2022 | Updated on 11 March 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Wealth Enough of Joy by StarSpray
Elladan and Elrohir are born at twilight in summer.
| Major Characters: Celeborn, Celebrían, Elladan, Elrohir, Elrond, Eluréd, Elurín, Galadriel |
| Major Relationships: Celebrían/Elrond |
| Genres: Family, Fluff, General, Het | Challenges: Cheesy Corn Chips |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 726 |
| Posted on 11 March 2023 | Updated on 11 March 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (6) |
Bells by Himring
Indis of the Vanyar, queen of the Noldor and a singer, discusses cultural differences with her step-grandson Maglor, the musician.
| Major Characters: Indis, Maglor, Noldor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Ficlet, Fixed-Length Ficlet, Poetry | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 167 |
| Posted on 8 March 2023 | Updated on 8 March 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Part 05: A Shuddering in the Air by Eilinel's Ghost
It was a custom done in scorn of death, Balan would tell Finrod later that night as they sat beside the fire in the hush of the midnight watch. He might come ever ravening among them, but they would scorn his maw. Even in their rotting they would lay claim to life.
Balan's people are on the road to Estolad. Finrod begins to suspect his own feelings, there is danger on the road, and we witness Atani burial rituals.
| Major Characters: Balan, Bëor, Edain, Finrod Felagund |
| Major Relationships: Bëor/Finrod |
| Genres: Drama, General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Violence (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 6, 239 |
| Posted on 8 March 2023 | Updated on 8 March 2023 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
