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
Strong Women
Choose a female character from The Silmarillion or related texts who contributes something of value and create a fanwork about her. 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
Lúthien Before Morgoth's Throne by cuarthol, owly
My contribution to the Tolkien Reverse Summer Bang artwork in an Ancient Egyptian style
Then Beren and Lúthien ... came to the seat of Morgoth in his nethermost hall that was upheld by horror, lit by fire, and filled with weapons of death and torment. There Beren slunk in wolf's form beneath his throne; but Lúthien was stripped of her disguise by the will of Morgoth, and he bent his gaze upon her.
The Silmarillion - JRR Tolkien
| Major Characters: Beren, Lúthien Tinúviel, Melkor |
| Major Relationships: Beren/Luthien |
| Artwork Type: Drawing/Painting |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on 27 August 2022 | Updated on 23 October 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (8) |
No Dreams In Darkness by cuarthol
An Orc of Morgoth - just one of the many masses that were bred for war and slaughter. But what happens when an idea of self beyond that of slave begins to form?
7-prompt path for the Matryoshka challenge.
| Major Characters: Original Character(s), Original Female Character(s), Orcs |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: X Marks the Spot |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Violence (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 7 | Word Count: 2, 354 |
| Posted on 22 October 2022 | Updated on 22 October 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (12) |
Bearer of Chiaroscuro by AdmirableMonster
Mairon flees Angband to warn his lovers in Gondolin of the impending fall of the city.
Written for the 2022 Matryoshka Challenge (Difficult setting! :B)
| Major Characters: Unnamed Female Canon Character(s), Aredhel, Celebrimbor, Curufin, Gothmog, Sauron |
| Major Relationships: Celebrimbor/Maeglin/Sauron |
| Genres: Alternate Universe, Drama, Family | Challenges: X Marks the Spot |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Character Death, Check Notes for Warnings, Domestic and Partner Violence |
| Chapters: 8 | Word Count: 4, 852 |
| Posted on 15 October 2022 | Updated on 15 October 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (6) |
Ash Seeketh Embers by Ari_Phi
The end of the world comes to pass; the end of the world will come to pass.m
| Major Characters: Melkor, Sauron |
| Major Relationships: Melkor/Sauron |
| Genres: Experimental, Ficlet, Romance, Slash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 281 |
| Posted on 15 October 2022 | Updated on 15 October 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
The Waters Draw Back by Grundy
Pharazôn has just won a victory for the ages. So why does he feel so unsettled?
| Major Characters: Ar-Pharazôn, Sauron |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: Major Arcana |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 747 |
| Posted on 15 October 2022 | Updated on 15 October 2022 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Treelight, Moonlight, Sunlight, Starlight by Lferion
Fingon and swimming
| Major Characters: Fingon |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Family, Fixed-Length Ficlet, General | Challenges: Holiday Party, Major Arcana, Middle-earth Olympics |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 513 |
| Posted on 15 October 2022 | Updated on 15 October 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (5) |
Secrets of a Princess' Boudoir by Rocky41_7
Galadriel visits Luthien's rooms and has an experience.
| Major Characters: Galadriel, Lúthien Tinúviel |
| Major Relationships: Galadriel/Lúthien |
| Genres: Erotica, Femslash, Ficlet, Slash/Femslash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Sexual Content (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 301 |
| Posted on 13 October 2022 | Updated on 14 October 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
The Plague in Gondor by MirienSilowende
Midway through the Third Age, a plague devastated Gondor before spreading northward. This element of the legendarium connects to the history of real-world plagues, namely the Black Death.
A mushroom surprise by daughterofshadows
They've been down on their luck, trying to acquire a silmaril, but maybe this is the sign that things are finally looking up.
| Major Characters: Beren |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: Major Arcana |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 107 |
| Posted on 14 October 2022 | Updated on 14 October 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
Let us taunt old care with a merry air / And sing in the face of ill by Rocky41_7
When Elwing lands in the Havens, she befriends a young princeling from Gondolin.
| Major Characters: Eärendil, Elwing |
| Major Relationships: Eärendil/Elwing |
| Genres: Ficlet, Het, Romance | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 648 |
| Posted on 14 October 2022 | Updated on 14 October 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Lament for Halwen by Ermingarden
Halwen the Spearwoman was a Avarin elf who joined the service of Maedhros Fëanorion shortly before the Dagor Aglareb and died fighting against her lord at Sirion. The untitled Sindarin text commemorating her, known today as the "Lament for Halwen," survives in a single manuscript now preserved at the Library of Rivendell.
Translated from Sindarin into English by Ermingarden and illustrated by Fiona15351.
| Major Characters: Original Female Character(s), Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Poetry | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Character Death, Violence (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 509 |
| Posted on 13 October 2022 | Updated on 14 October 2022 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (1) |
Letters from Himring by Ermingarden
A selection of correspondence to, from, and within the fortress of Himring in the 62nd year of the Sun,
Compiled and edited with Westron commentary by Hithaeril of Dol Amroth, Second Assistant Archivist of the Royal Gondorian Archives, in the 196th year of the Fourth Age,
Translated into English by Ermingarden and illustrated by Frog_In_A_Pond in the 2,021st year of the Common Era.
| Major Characters: Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: Fingon & Maedhros |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings, Mature Themes |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 5, 087 |
| Posted on 5 September 2021 | Updated on 14 October 2022 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
All the Stars are Faded by ArizonaPoppy
On a camping trip by the Aeluin, Finrod is concerned by his brother’s unguarded attitude toward Andreth.
This story was a submission in the Teitho Contest "Five Ingredients IV" challenge.
| Major Characters: Aegnor, Andreth, Finrod Felagund |
| Major Relationships: Aegnor/Andreth, Aegnor & Finrod |
| Genres: Drama, Family, Romance | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 494 |
| Posted on 11 October 2022 | Updated on 13 October 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Who Shall Release Us? by polutropos
A re-embodied Maedhros slowly remembers. As he does, he must come to terms with an absence and accept that there are some things he will never know.
| Major Characters: Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: Maedhros & Maglor |
| Genres: General | Challenges: Major Arcana |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 323 |
| Posted on 11 October 2022 | Updated on 11 October 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (12) |
Rubicon as Sin by SonOfMandos
Celegorm, Curufin, Maedhros, Maglor, Caranthir and Finrod meet at Caranthir's on Maedhros' order because Finrod owns Celegorm and Curufin, and Maedhros is angry about it!! Finrod doesn't want to give Tyelko and Curvo away for free, that's stupid, he demands payment. Moryo has tons of money. Finrod desires more. SUSPENSE!!
Read the fic to know what happens!!!
| Major Characters: Celegorm, Curufin, Finrod Felagund |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Crackfic | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 901 |
| Posted on 11 October 2022 | Updated on 11 October 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Seven Years Since by Gwanath Dagnir
Battle-stricken after the Last Alliance, Elrond is haunted by the loss of Gil-galad on the seventh anniversary of his fall. A dangerous accident leads to introspection and brings him closer to Celebrian on the path towards healing.
| Major Characters: Elrond |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 4, 417 |
| Posted on 9 October 2022 | Updated on 10 October 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Hearken Still Unsated by polutropos
When the Noldor return to Middle-earth to make war on Morgoth, only rumours reach Menegroth of their reasons for coming, but Doriath's minstrel experiences their loss and longing through his connection to Music and the gift of his Queen. Years later, he is sent to the Feast of Reuniting and meets the Elf whose grief he felt.
A story about the Eldar returning home, their connection to the land and to each other, and their relationship to Music and fate, love and free will.
| Major Characters: Daeron, Maglor, Melian |
| Major Relationships: Daeron/Maglor, Daeron & Melian |
| Genres: General, Romance, Slash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Sexual Content (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 8 | Word Count: 16, 256 |
| Posted on 2 October 2022 | Updated on 9 October 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Don't forget the Light by chrissystriped
Sharû is an orc, a soldier of Morgoth, and he should feel nothing but hatred and contempt for elves. But there are his parents who teach him differently, (his brother who looks like an elf), and there's also his superior who has sympathy for the slaves.
When the Valar come to fight, he helps to free the slaves instead of killing them, the deed earning him and his men a place in Aman.
| Major Characters: Original Character(s), Ecthelion of the Fountain |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Alternate Universe, Romance, Slash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Warnings: No warnings apply | |
| Posted on 18 August 2022 | Updated on 4 October 2022 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (0) |
Meeting the Past by chrissystriped
Mablung is back in Aman and both Ecthelion and Sharû have things to apologise for. Glorfindel, who was asked by Ecthelion to approach Mablung about it, is there to wittness their conversation.
| Major Characters: Original Male Character(s), Ecthelion of the Fountain, Glorfindel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 878 |
| Posted on 25 October 2020 | Updated on 4 October 2022 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
A Boy in the Snow by chrissystriped
Melkor, imprisoned in Aman and frustrated, calms his emotions with as snowstorm. Afterwards he realises there was an elf caught in it.
| Major Characters: Original Character(s), Melkor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 831 |
| Posted on 16 August 2021 | Updated on 4 October 2022 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Hunting the Hunter by chrissystriped
Beleg and Mablung only meant to hunt for food, but they find something in the forest that leads them on the trail of a more dangerous quarry.
| Major Characters: Beleg, Mablung |
| Major Relationships: Beleg & Mablung |
| Genres: Adventure | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Violence (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 987 |
| Posted on 24 December 2021 | Updated on 4 October 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Gil-galad, son of... by chrissystriped
Kashnai died when she tried to bring her son to safety. Now she is reborn and her greatest wish is to see him again.
Ereinion has wished for all his life to be able to meet his mother, but given that she was an orc, he hadn't thought it would ever be possible.
| Major Characters: Original Character(s), Gil-galad, Orcs |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Family, General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 3 | Word Count: 4, 177 |
| Posted on 24 September 2022 | Updated on 4 October 2022 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
The Joining of Two Families by chrissystriped
Shai is the first orc to be reborn and Sharû is overjoyed to have his mother back. When Shai hears that her husband can't be reborn because both she and Arasiel, his wife from when he was an elf, are alive, she is not prepared to accept that. Shai and Arasiel team up to get their husband back, coming closer to each other in the process.
| Major Characters: Original Female Character(s), Original Male Character(s), Ecthelion of the Fountain, Orcs |
| Major Relationships: Ecthelion/Original Character, Original Character/Original Character |
| Genres: Poly | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 6 | Word Count: 15, 381 |
| Posted on 11 April 2021 | Updated on 3 October 2022 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Before the Darkness by chrissystriped
Mablung has a crush on Glorfindel, so he is quite happy (although baffled) when the older elf seeks him out. Everything could be perfect, if Glorfindel weren't so conscious of his age.
| Major Characters: Original Male Character(s), Glorfindel |
| Major Relationships: Glorfindel/Original Character |
| Genres: Romance, Slash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings, Child Abuse, Sexual Content (Graphic) |
| Chapters: 6 | Word Count: 16, 174 |
| Posted on 6 July 2019 | Updated on 3 October 2022 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Restore and Rebuild by polutropos
Instadrabbles for the August-September 2022 SWG Challenge, Restoration and Rebuilding.
| Major Characters: Dior, Elros, Maglor, Nimloth |
| Major Relationships: Elros & Maglor, Dior/Nimloth |
| Genres: General | Challenges: Restoration and Rebuilding |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 2 | Word Count: 303 |
| Posted on 26 August 2022 | Updated on 2 October 2022 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (5) |
