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
Short stories of Valinor by Aprilertuile
My answers to some recent instadrabbles, featuring wild noldor in their natural habitat and disaster siblings.
| Major Characters: Fëanor, Maedhros, Maglor, Nerdanel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 8 | Word Count: 1, 671 |
| Posted on 2 August 2021 | Updated on 2 August 2021 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Olympics 2021 Instadrabbling by Lindariel
Instadrabbles from the SWG Discord server sessions on 31 July-1 August 2021, with Olympics-flavored prompts.
| Major Characters: Angrod, Caranthir, Celeborn, Finrod Felagund, Galadriel, Huan, Lúthien Tinúviel, Maedhros, Oropher, Samwise Gamgee, Thranduil, Turgon, Yavanna |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Adventure, Family, Fixed-Length Ficlet, General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 10 | Word Count: 1, 023 |
| Posted on 1 August 2021 | Updated on 1 August 2021 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Once Upon A Time And Long Ago by AdmirableMonster
When the twins' fathers finally leave them to go after the Silmarils, Elros and Elrond decide they don't deserve to be orphaned a second time. In the midst of a great storm, though, strange magics are unleashed, and they wake up five hundred years earlier in an unsullied paradise. But dark things are stirring in Valinor, and the twins are told to tread lightly, lest they unweave their very existence.
Can they find a way to save their fathers and return to their own time, or will it all play out the same way and end in fire?
| Major Characters: Original Female Character(s), Elrond, Elros, Fëanor, Fingon, Finrod Felagund, Finwë, Maedhros, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: Elrond & Elros & Maedhros & Maglor, Fingon/Maedhros, Finrod/Maglor |
| Genres: Alternate Universe, Family, Hurt/Comfort | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 2 | Word Count: 6, 811 |
| Posted on 21 July 2021 | Updated on 1 August 2021 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
And the nightingales sing by daughterofshadows
After her mother has left, Arwen struggles to sleep.
She seeks comfort with the nightingales singing in the gardens and meets someone unexpected in her dreams.
| Major Characters: Arwen |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Family | Challenges: Middle-earth Olympics |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 605 |
| Posted on 30 July 2021 | Updated on 30 July 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (9) |
An unexpected journey - getting into the Tolkien fandom by daughterofshadows
A short exploration of my time in the Tolkien fandom: How did I get here, why did I stay, what did I learn.
For the Middle-earth Olympics Diving prompt.
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Nonfiction/Meta | Challenges: Middle-earth Olympics |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 871 |
| Posted on 29 July 2021 | Updated on 29 July 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
Stars Less Strange: An Analysis of Fanfiction and Representation within the Tolkien Fan Community by Dawn Walls-Thumma
Originally presented at the 2021 Tolkien Society Seminar "Tolkien and Diversity," this paper considers the historical and current use of fanfiction to address issues of representation in Tolkien’s canon.
The tragedy of Sirion by Aprilertuile
The feanorians attack Sirion.
This story follows oath awakened
| Major Characters: Amras, Amrod, Elrond, Elros, Elwing, Maedhros, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Adventure | Challenges: Middle-earth Olympics |
| Rating: General | Warnings: In-Universe Racism/Ethnocentrism, Violence (Mild) |
| Chapters: 2 | Word Count: 2, 628 |
| Posted on 27 July 2021 | Updated on 27 July 2021 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
[podfic] The foam like flowers on the shore by Chestnut_pod
They have no choice but to build a life together.
| Major Characters: Idril, Nimloth |
| Major Relationships: Idril/Nimloth |
| Genres: Podfic | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings, In-Universe Racism/Ethnocentrism |
| Posted on 21 July 2021 | Updated on 26 July 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (0) |
Desmemoria by UnnamedElement
How does one explain to one’s children the horror of what one has seen and done? Thranduil wrestles with how to tell Legolas about the history of their folk and, with his wife’s encouragement, he revisits the testimony of the Sindarin refugees collected by Oropher, in preparation. Locked away in secret archives or not, the past is never really past, and even children can outsmart memory.
| Major Characters: Original Character(s), Original Female Character(s), Legolas Greenleaf, Maglor, Oropher, Thranduil |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, Family | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Character Death, Mature Themes, Violence (Graphic) |
| Chapters: 2 | Word Count: 7, 165 |
| Posted on 25 July 2021 | Updated on 26 July 2021 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Then and now, Maglor's thoughts on Celegorm by Aprilertuile
Maglor observes his brother Celegorm, and can't help but think of the differences now, after Nargothrond, compared to before, in Aman.
| Major Characters: Celegorm, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: Middle-earth Olympics |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 188 |
| Posted on 25 July 2021 | Updated on 25 July 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (7) |
Breakfast with Sparrow by chrissystriped
An elf shares his breakfast with a sparrow.
| Major Characters: Original Male Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Alternate Universe, Ficlet, General | Challenges: Middle-earth Olympics |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 160 |
| Posted on 25 July 2021 | Updated on 25 July 2021 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (6) |
Feast of the Hunter by chrissystriped
In the Greenwood a contest is held each autumn to choose the Leader of the Hunt.
| Major Characters: Thranduil |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Ficlet, General | Challenges: Middle-earth Olympics |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 566 |
| Posted on 25 July 2021 | Updated on 25 July 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (6) |
A harpist's injury by Aprilertuile
Child Makalaurë is just learning to play the harp, and as all students do at times, he overdid it...
Inspired by a real-time event, harp strings are pure evil.
| Major Characters: Fëanor, Maedhros, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Family | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 028 |
| Posted on 24 July 2021 | Updated on 24 July 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Vengeance is Mine by chrissystriped
An elf escapes from Angband and earns himself a new name.
| Major Characters: Rog |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Ficlet | Challenges: Middle-earth Olympics |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings, Violence (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 705 |
| Posted on 23 July 2021 | Updated on 23 July 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
last made but first planned by Chestnut_pod
That was how it had begun, that hope for a tangible reminder of the past, of victory and hope against the odds. Two candles then for what was lost, and wine and bread for those still living.
| Major Characters: Eärendil, Elwing |
| Major Relationships: Eärendil/Elwing |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 754 |
| Posted on 22 July 2021 | Updated on 22 July 2021 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
The Teleri Times. by hennethgalad
Controversy rages at the Games as the House of Fëanor is accused of using performance enhancing drugs.
| Major Characters: Elves, Fëanor, Finarfin, Fingolfin, Fingon, Ingwë, Míriel Serindë, Nerdanel, Sons of Fëanor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: Middle-earth Olympics |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 441 |
| Posted on 22 July 2021 | Updated on 22 July 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
Death of the Last-King by Kaylee Arafinwiel
Arvedui Last-King found second love in the frozen lands of the North. Now, though, he has determined to go home, despite his lover's misgivings. Is braving the Ice Bay worth the risk when Angmar's sorcerer King is on the move?
| Major Characters: Original Female Character(s), Arvedui |
| Major Relationships: Arvedui/Original Character |
| Genres: Het, Romance | Challenges: Middle-earth Olympics |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Character Death, Mature Themes, Violence (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 400 |
| Posted on 20 July 2021 | Updated on 20 July 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (9) |
Of Peredhil and Seagulls by Kaylee Arafinwiel
Adolescent Earendil and Elwing have a conversation by the sea-wall, interrupted by a rather adorable friend.
| Major Characters: Eärendil, Elwing |
| Major Relationships: Eärendil/Elwing, Elwing & Original Character |
| Genres: General, Romance | Challenges: Middle-earth Olympics |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 208 |
| Posted on 20 July 2021 | Updated on 20 July 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (8) |
Just bruises by daughterofshadows
In which Nerdanel tries to sneak some cookies and takes a small tumble. Luckily, Papa is there to help!
| Major Characters: Mahtan, Nerdanel |
| Major Relationships: Mahtan & Nerdanel |
| Genres: Family, Ficlet, Fluff | Challenges: Middle-earth Olympics |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 202 |
| Posted on 20 July 2021 | Updated on 20 July 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (8) |
By the Lake of Lorellin by Kaylee Arafinwiel
Melian, scrying in the lake of Lorellin, sees a troubling sight - and her great-granddaughter is equally troubled by the repetition of troubles throughout her life and their people's.
| Major Characters: Celebrían, Elwing, Melian |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, Family | Challenges: Middle-earth Olympics |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Mature Themes, Violence (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 266 |
| Posted on 20 July 2021 | Updated on 20 July 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
[podfic] Three times, the forge by Chestnut_pod
Celebrimbor kisses Narvi. Narvi kisses Celebrimbor. Somehow, Celebrimbor is still perplexed.
| Major Characters: Celebrimbor, Narvi |
| Major Relationships: Celebrimbor/Narvi |
| Genres: Podfic | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Sexual Content (Mild) |
| Posted on 20 July 2021 | Updated on 20 July 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (4) |
Republic of Tirion by Dawn Felagund
It is Aman. It is the Fifth Age. Finally left to his own devices, Finarfin has decided to show his own radical streak, unkinged himself, and established representative democracy in Tirion against the will of the Valar. Adding to the crazy, all his exiled, slain relatives are beginning to return from Mandos ...
| Major Characters: Amarië, Anairë, Caranthir, Finarfin, Fingon, Finrod Felagund, Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Warnings: No warnings apply | |
| Posted on 7 March 2021 | Updated on 19 July 2021 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (0) |
[podfic] The White Tower by Chestnut_pod, Anna_Wing
Amrod and Amras, reborn in Valinor, come to see Elwing. Podfic of Anna_Wing's story.
| Major Characters: Amras, Amrod, Eärendil, Elwing |
| Major Relationships: Eärendil/Elwing |
| Genres: Family, General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 7 |
| Posted on 19 July 2021 | Updated on 19 July 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
The Return of the King by Kaylee Arafinwiel
The Eglath were lost without Elwe. But eventually, they found him. What did that reunion look like? Let's find out.
| Major Characters: Doriathrim, Elmo, Elu Thingol, Elves, Mablung, Melian |
| Major Relationships: Melian/Thingol |
| Genres: Adventure, General | Challenges: Middle-earth Olympics |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 485 |
| Posted on 19 July 2021 | Updated on 19 July 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (5) |
Oath awakened by Aprilertuile
In Sirion, Elwing has a Silmaril in her possession... And in Amon Ereb, The Oath is awakening in the remaining sons of Feanor.
| Major Characters: Amras, Amrod, Elwing, Maedhros, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: Middle-earth Olympics |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 356 |
| Posted on 19 July 2021 | Updated on 19 July 2021 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
