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
[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.
[Writing] Lament for the Singer by daughterofshadows
A short thing about Maglor, death and grieving.
Current Challenge
Bollywood
Prompts this month are films, songs, and tropes from India's dazzling film industry, Bollywood. Read more ...
Random Challenge
Akallabêth in August
Every August, we focus on one of the most tumultuous times in Arda's history: the Second Age and the rise and fall of Númenor. Any story that is or might conceivably be part of the Akallabêth is acceptable for this challenge. 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
Warmth by chrissystriped
A cold wind is blowing from the sea and Mablung is freezing.
| Major Characters: Original Male Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Alternate Universe, General | Challenges: Holiday Party |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 189 |
| Posted on 4 December 2021 | Updated on 4 December 2021 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (6) |
Salt on His Lips by chrissystriped
Elrond and Ereinion spend an afternoon at the beach and Ereinion makes a involuntary confession.
| Major Characters: Elrond, Gil-galad |
| Major Relationships: Elrond & Gil-galad, Elrond/Gil-galad |
| Genres: Slash | Challenges: Holiday Party |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Sexual Content (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 058 |
| Posted on 30 November 2021 | Updated on 30 November 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (10) |
As the Years Turn by StarSpray
Treebeard sees the wizards arrive, and he watches them depart.
| Major Characters: Istari, Treebeard |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: Holiday Party |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 723 |
| Posted on 27 November 2021 | Updated on 27 November 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (8) |
The Hunter's Horse by Himring
Orome's horse Nahar shows interest in a certain descendant of his.
| Major Characters: Nahar |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Ficlet | Challenges: Holiday Party |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 202 |
| Posted on 26 November 2021 | Updated on 26 November 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (15) |
The wee small hours by firstamazon
Rosie Cotton enjoys the little things.
Based on this moodboard made by Narya.
| Major Characters: Rosie Cotton |
| Major Relationships: Rosie Cotton/Samwise Gamgee |
| Genres: General, Romance | Challenges: Holiday Party |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 469 |
| Posted on 26 November 2021 | Updated on 26 November 2021 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (10) |
The Songs: A Story of East Beleriand by Himring
In the early days of the Noldorin settlement in East Beleriand, an ominous arrival disturbs the peace of mind of Maedhros and his people.
| Major Characters: Original Female Character(s), Original Male Character(s), Elrond, Maedhros, Noldor, Sindar |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: Breaking Boundaries |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 5 | Word Count: 7, 512 |
| Posted on 17 December 2017 | Updated on 25 November 2021 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
Five Gil-Galads Walk Into A Bar by herenortherenearnorfar
The Halls of Mandos are known to be strange but there's no precendent for running into other people who claim to be you.
Gil-Galad meets some other Gil-Galads and reflects on the essence of Gil-Galadness.
| Major Characters: Gil-galad |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Humor | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Violence (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 5, 581 |
| Posted on 24 November 2021 | Updated on 25 November 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
This Tornado Tolerates and Respects You by herenortherenearnorfar
They are alike in warform. Unlike the Balrogs, the orcs did not get to pick their shape.
| Major Characters: Gothmog, Orcs |
| Major Relationships: Gothmog & Orcs |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings, Child Abuse, In-Universe Intolerance, Mature Themes, Violence (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 3, 492 |
| Posted on 24 November 2021 | Updated on 24 November 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
I've Fallen in Love just a Little by chrissystriped
Mairon lies awake and contemplates his feelings for Celebrimbor that threaten to disturb his plans.
| Major Characters: Celebrimbor, Sauron |
| Major Relationships: Celebrimbor/Sauron |
| Genres: Slash | Challenges: Holiday Party |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Sexual Content (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 677 |
| Posted on 23 November 2021 | Updated on 24 November 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
Half and whole by firstamazon
Fingon tries to convince his (half) uncle.
| Major Characters: Fëanor, Fingon |
| Major Relationships: Fëanor & Fingon |
| Genres: Family, General, Humor | Challenges: Holiday Party |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 150 |
| Posted on 21 November 2021 | Updated on 21 November 2021 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (6) |
All Living Things by Keiliss
"I’m only lightly armed and it’s just the two of us.” He had barely thought to bring a sword, the valley felt safe even under siege.
Erestor turned to stare at him from the shadow of an ancient oak, his eyes a-glitter in the low light. “You’ve fought wargs and orcs and all sorts of humans,” he pointed out. “And a balrog. You’re an army all wrapped up in one package. Come on.”
Set in Imladris under siege early in the Third Age. More correctly called Eklach's Story, or An Orc's Tale, because that is what it is.
| Major Characters: Original Character(s), Original Female Character(s), Celebrían, Elrond, Erestor, Glorfindel |
| Major Relationships: Erestor/Glorfindel |
| Genres: Drama, Family | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 2 | Word Count: 11, 652 |
| Posted on 21 November 2021 | Updated on 21 November 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Water and Blood by Keiliss
Over a cup of wine, Finarfin and Ingwion discuss family, the weather, and their status as figurehead war leaders, then start a little rebellion of their own.
| Major Characters: Finarfin, Ingwion |
| Major Relationships: Finarfin & Ingwion |
| Genres: Adventure, Drama, Family | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 3, 770 |
| Posted on 21 November 2021 | Updated on 21 November 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
The Last Fruits by Ellynn
Telperion wakes up after the passing of Melkor and Ungoliant. Although he is mortally wounded, something extraordinary happens. Sequel to "Arrival of Darkness".
| Major Characters: Telperion |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 772 |
| Posted on 21 November 2021 | Updated on 21 November 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Second Wedding by chrissystriped
Ingwe receives the invitation to Finwe and Indis's wedding.
| Major Characters: Ingwë |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Ficlet, General | Challenges: Holiday Party |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 204 |
| Posted on 20 November 2021 | Updated on 20 November 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (10) |
Beyond the Western Shore by StarSpray
In her wanderings through Aman, Minyelmë comes to the farthest shore.
| Major Characters: Original Character(s), Original Female Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Ficlet, General | Challenges: Holiday Party |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 481 |
| Posted on 18 November 2021 | Updated on 18 November 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (8) |
We’ll grow old together by firstamazon
Four cousins have fun by the sea.
| Major Characters: Aegnor, Angrod, Celegorm, Curufin |
| Major Relationships: Aegnor & Angrod & Celegorm & Curufin |
| Genres: Adventure, Family, General | Challenges: Holiday Party |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 628 |
| Posted on 18 November 2021 | Updated on 18 November 2021 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (8) |
From Crystal Fountains Unfailing by Lindariel
Alatáriel and Teleporno encounter the Falls of Ivrin.
| Major Characters: Celeborn, Galadriel |
| Major Relationships: Celeborn/Galadriel |
| Genres: Erotica, Het, Hurt/Comfort, Romance | Challenges: Holiday Party, Kings & Kink |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 2 | Word Count: 2, 687 |
| Posted on 10 September 2021 | Updated on 16 November 2021 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (8) |
One Hundred Words About Maedhros by Himring
Drabbles in my 'Doom' series. Not necessarily gloomy!
100 words according to Word.
Last added: Deadlier.
| Major Characters: Elrond, Fingon, Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet, General, Romance, Slash/Femslash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 9 | Word Count: 1, 016 |
| Posted on 28 May 2011 | Updated on 12 November 2021 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (24) |
Who would come for you in the end but your best friend? by Himring
Huan finds Celegorm in Mandos.
| Major Characters: Celegorm, Huan |
| Major Relationships: Celegorm & Huan |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 147 |
| Posted on 12 November 2021 | Updated on 12 November 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
A New Battle by LadyBrooke
Gil-galad found that battles in Valinor were not that different from battles anywhere else, even if they used words instead of swords. It was still a fight against despair and loss, with reminders of the cost of failure lurking behind every corner.
Elrond was no longer by his side to help, but Finarfin and Ingwë were. If there had to be a battle of words to get the rest of their family from the Halls - well, Gil-galad would not shy from planning that battle.
| Major Characters: Finarfin, Gil-galad, Ingwë |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Family, General | Challenges: Gnome Tome |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 074 |
| Posted on 10 November 2021 | Updated on 10 November 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (7) |
A New Leaf on the Tree by chrissystriped
Luiloth has exciting news for Thranduil.
| Major Characters: Unnamed Female Canon Character(s), Thranduil |
| Major Relationships: Thranduil/Unnamed Canon Character |
| Genres: Ficlet, General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 716 |
| Posted on 27 July 2021 | Updated on 10 November 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: Gnome Tome |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 103 |
| Posted on 10 November 2021 | Updated on 10 November 2021 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (3) |
Entwives by hennethgalad
prompt: "Why do the Elves of Lórien live in trees"
the song of the Mallorn
| Major Characters: Celeborn, Fimbrethil, Galadriel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: Gnome Tome |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 547 |
| Posted on 9 November 2021 | Updated on 9 November 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
KayleeArafinwiel's Nano Flash Fiction Prompts (Nancy Stohlman) 2021 by Kaylee Arafinwiel
Stories written (or begun) for Nancy Stohlman's flash fiction prompts in November 2021, National Novel Writing Month.
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Warnings: No warnings apply | |
| Posted on 8 November 2021 | Updated on 8 November 2021 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (0) |
On The Edge of Angobel by Kaylee Arafinwiel
for Day 4 of Nancy Stohlman's November 2021, "On the edge of the mining town..."
Thranduil's friend, Tulusson, is an OC of mine and AfricanDaisy's, originally from a mining family in the mountains of Greenwood/Mirkwood.
Sometime after Thranduil sails to Tol Eressea, becoming a prince of Doriath 'Wain, he visits the nearby mining town of Angobel...
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 217 |
| Posted on 8 November 2021 | Updated on 8 November 2021 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
