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
B2MeM 2011
Back to Middle-earth Month 2011 featured a daily postcard from a different location in Middle-earth with a creative prompt inspired by that location. 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
The Edges of His Fingers by chrissystriped
Celebrimbor and Narvi share their first morning together in bed.
| Major Characters: Celebrimbor, Narvi |
| Major Relationships: Celebrimbor/Narvi |
| Genres: Erotica | Challenges: Kings & Kink |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Sexual Content (Graphic) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 784 |
| Posted on 20 August 2021 | Updated on 20 August 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
Hands of Fate by UnnamedElement
Less than two days after the Third Kinslaying at Sirion, Elrond bites Maglor, and Maglor and Maedhros have a conversation with no real resolution. But, in the end, there is maybe a road forward.
| Major Characters: Elrond, Elros, Maedhros, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: Elrond & Elros & Maglor, Maedhros & Maglor |
| Genres: General | Challenges: Middle-earth Olympics |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 206 |
| Posted on 15 August 2021 | Updated on 16 August 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
Concealed Art by SkyEventide
Maglor is a model for erotic art: a voyeuristic threesome with a wedded pair ensues, with the blasphemy of sex against the Laws of marriage and not without some humour.
| Major Characters: Original Female Character(s), Original Male Character(s), Maglor |
| Major Relationships: Maglor/Original Character, Maglor/Original Character/Original Character |
| Genres: Erotica, Poly | Challenges: Kings & Kink |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Sexual Content (Graphic) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 527 |
| Posted on 16 August 2021 | Updated on 16 August 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (10) |
The Song of Skateboard Legolas by Anne Wolfe
An (intentionally!) absurd poem. Written for the Skateboarding prompt, in the Middle-earth Olympics challenge.
| Major Characters: Legolas Greenleaf, Legolas of Gondolin |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Humor, Poetry | Challenges: Middle-earth Olympics |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 208 |
| Posted on 16 August 2021 | Updated on 16 August 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (12) |
Si la mar fuera de leche by Chestnut_pod
Ten years after the Valar pulled Númenor dripping from the sea, Elros receives a visitor.
| Major Characters: Original Female Character(s), Unnamed Female Canon Character(s), Elros, Elwing |
| Major Relationships: Elros/Unnamed Canon Character, Elros & Elwing |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings, In-Universe Racism/Ethnocentrism, Suicide |
| Chapters: 8 | Word Count: 24, 032 |
| Posted on 22 July 2021 | Updated on 15 August 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Bruised Fruit, Bruised Egos by Dawn Felagund, Himring, catadromously, Kaylee Arafinwiel
Curufin tries to steal a book from the restricted section of the library to impress his friends, and it all goes pear-shaped. This plum fine story is the fruit of a relay writing session for the Middle-earth Olympics, and also stems from the Boxing prompt.
| Major Characters: Curufin |
| Major Relationships: Aegnor & Angrod & Celegorm & Curufin |
| Genres: Drama, General | Challenges: Middle-earth Olympics |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 2 | Word Count: 1, 754 |
| Posted on 25 July 2021 | Updated on 12 August 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
Finwean Correspondences on the Topic of the Edain (Posthumously Selected by Elrond Half-Elven) by Dialux, Anne Wolfe, Idrils Scribe, Dawn Felagund, Aprilertuile, janeways, Himring
Letters to and from the Feanorians, on the entry of humans to Beleriand.
| Major Characters: Amras, Amrod, Caranthir, Celegorm, Curufin, Finrod Felagund, Maedhros, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Family, General | Challenges: Middle-earth Olympics |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 7 | Word Count: 5, 544 |
| Posted on 8 August 2021 | Updated on 12 August 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (3) |
A Near Thing by Anne Wolfe
The younger daughter was loud-hearted, and much beloved by her many acquaintances.... but the elder daughter was quiet and small, and much disliked by those who followed her sister.
In which a Númenorian family comes very, very close to falling entirely apart.
| Major Characters: Original Female Character(s), Original Male Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Experimental, General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 720 |
| Posted on 11 August 2021 | Updated on 11 August 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
Messing with the wrong minstrel by Aprilertuile
Someone tried to get Makalaurë to play for free for them, in order to give them "the right contact". Makalaurë, and his friends, are not happy.
| Major Characters: Celegorm, Curufin, Maglor, Nerdanel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 833 |
| Posted on 11 August 2021 | Updated on 11 August 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Galadhon Once More by Kaylee Arafinwiel
In the early Second Age, the High King of the Noldor in Lindon sends an emissary to Greenwood. Elder Rethedir, once Lord Galadhon of Doriath, must summon the strength to meet his firstborn son after years in exile.
| Major Characters: Galadhon |
| Major Relationships: Celeborn & Galadhon |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: Middle-earth Olympics |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 317 |
| Posted on 11 August 2021 | Updated on 11 August 2021 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
On The Shores Of Cuivienen by Kaylee Arafinwiel
As Minwe's wife labors to bring their fourth child into the world, he finds himself seeking out his middle children. The firstborn son of Enel can't help but worry for them.
Solwe, who will one day be called Olwe Lindaran, and his twin Solwen, or Olwen, have always loved the water, dangerous though it may be...
| Major Characters: Original Character(s), Olwë |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Family | Challenges: Middle-earth Olympics |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 400 |
| Posted on 11 August 2021 | Updated on 11 August 2021 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Blood Amongst The Lilies by Kaylee Arafinwiel
Miriel of Numenor, King's Heir, has a premonition while taking a painting lesson from her paternal grandmother. It ends up making her painting one of foreboding.
It isn't wise to paint while foreseeing prophetic visions, that's for sure...
(For Zimraphel/galadhremmin on the SWG Discord, written to the "Marathon Swimming" challenge - two things that are unwise to do at the same time)
| Major Characters: Ar-Pharazôn, Inzilbêth, Tar-Míriel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Family | Challenges: Middle-earth Olympics |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Violence (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 514 |
| Posted on 11 August 2021 | Updated on 11 August 2021 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Red Thread and Thorns by Lferion
A look at a single life in Angband, a study in hope.
| Major Characters: Original Female Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, Experimental, Fixed-Length Ficlet, Poetry | Challenges: Middle-earth Olympics |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 624 |
| Posted on 11 August 2021 | Updated on 11 August 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Watch by Lingwiloke
Túrin has been pushing the king to give up on Nargothrond's policy of secrecy, and now Orodreth comes to a decision.
| Major Characters: Orodreth |
| Major Relationships: Orodreth & Turin |
| Genres: Drama, Ficlet | Challenges: Middle-earth Olympics |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 504 |
| Posted on 10 August 2021 | Updated on 10 August 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
The Tale of Gull-galad by Kaylee Arafinwiel
Elrond brings a new friend to a council meeting. His foster-brother the King is somewhat amused. But will everyone be?
| Major Characters: Original Male Character(s), Elrond, Gil-galad |
| Major Relationships: Elrond & Gil-galad |
| Genres: Crackfic | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: In-Universe Racism/Ethnocentrism |
| Chapters: 2 | Word Count: 535 |
| Posted on 10 August 2021 | Updated on 10 August 2021 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Tennis With An Elf and A Dwarf by Grundy, Raiyana
An exchange of letters in the First Age, written for the Middle-earth Olympics Tennis prompt.
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: Middle-earth Olympics |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 11 | Word Count: 7, 949 |
| Posted on 9 August 2021 | Updated on 9 August 2021 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (3) |
Birds, brothers, and a harp by Aprilertuile
Tyelkormo learnt to talk to bird. Tyelkormo is an overactive older brother. Makalaurë wasn't impressed.
| Major Characters: Celegorm, Maedhros, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: Middle-earth Olympics |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 517 |
| Posted on 9 August 2021 | Updated on 9 August 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
First crush in Amon Ereb by Aprilertuile
A few years after the kinslaying of Sirion, the twins are now 16 and well at the age they start to find people attractive.
Young Elrond seems to have his first crush, Maglor finds it hilarious, Maedhros is utterly horrified by the whole thing and so is Elros, but not for the same reasons.
| Major Characters: Elrond, Elros, Maedhros, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Slash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Creator Chooses Not to Rate | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 2 | Word Count: 1, 583 |
| Posted on 8 August 2021 | Updated on 8 August 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Leaving Sirion by Aprilertuile
After the Sack of Sirion, the remaining two feanorian brothers are leading their people back to Amon Ereb, taking the twin children of Elwing back with them.
This story follows : The tragedy of Sirion
| Major Characters: Elrond, Elros, Erestor, Maedhros, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Adventure | Challenges: Middle-earth Olympics |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Child Abuse, Expletive Language, In-Universe Racism/Ethnocentrism, Violence (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 3, 612 |
| Posted on 2 August 2021 | Updated on 8 August 2021 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Sweet Violets and Golden Cowslip by StarSpray
Lalwen has dug too many graves. After the attack on the Havens of Sirion, she digs another.
| Major Characters: Celebrimbor, Lalwen |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, Family, Femslash, General | Challenges: Middle-earth Olympics |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Character Death, Check Notes for Warnings, Mature Themes |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 635 |
| Posted on 7 August 2021 | Updated on 7 August 2021 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (3) |
Back at Amon Ereb by Aprilertuile
Finally the journey ends, and Maedhros, Maglor, their people and the kidnapped twins arrive in Amon Ereb.
| Major Characters: Elrond, Elros, Erestor, Maedhros, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 354 |
| Posted on 6 August 2021 | Updated on 6 August 2021 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Annual race and a new friend by Aprilertuile
The summer festival had started, and Tyelkormo spent it with the Hunters of Oromë. Every year was a bit different, but the activity that Tyelkormo enjoyed that year was a race.
| Major Characters: Celegorm, Huan, Oromë |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: Middle-earth Olympics |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 674 |
| Posted on 20 July 2021 | Updated on 5 August 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
At the Eleventh Hour by AdmirableMonster
After a fall, Elros goes into labor too early. An unexpected visitor provides succour.
| Major Characters: Unnamed Female Canon Character(s), Elros, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: Elros & Maglor |
| Genres: Drama, Family | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Violence (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 879 |
| Posted on 4 August 2021 | Updated on 4 August 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Alive at the Wake by herenortherenearnorfar
"Now Celebrimbor was not corrupted in heart or faith, but had accepted Sauron as what he posed to be; and when at length he discovered the existence of the One Ring he revolted against Sauron, and went to Lórinand to take counsel once more with Galadriel. They should have destroyed all the Rings of Power at this time, "but they failed to find the strength.""
They find the strength.
| Major Characters: Celebrimbor, Sauron |
| Major Relationships: Celebrimbor/Sauron |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings, Sexual Content (Moderate), Torture, Violence (Graphic) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 26, 565 |
| Posted on 2 August 2021 | Updated on 2 August 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Queen Mother's Arrival by Kaylee Arafinwiel
Elwing, flying in bird form above the Star Isle, ventures a little too close and takes a tumble. She ends up bruised for her trouble, but gets more than she bargained for...
| Major Characters: Elros, Elwing |
| Major Relationships: Elros/Original Character |
| Genres: Family | Challenges: Middle-earth Olympics |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Violence (Mild) |
| Chapters: 2 | Word Count: 996 |
| Posted on 20 July 2021 | Updated on 2 August 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (10) |
