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
Arda Underground
Take the dark back streets of one of Arda's cities, explore an unsigned tavern or hovel, and meet the people too insignificant or unsavory to make it into the history books. 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
Fact, Interpretation and the Hard Business of Proof by darthfingon
Deciding what constitutes canon for the purpose of making fanworks relies partly on the words of the texts but also on the geographical and temporal vastness and diversity of Tolkien's world.
Not Just the Son of That Guy: Creating Effective Names for Original Characters by darthfingon
So you need an Elvish name for your OC? This article gives tips and strategies for coming up with believable names that sound good.
Elven Holidays and Festivals: What do we have to work with in the First Age? by darthfingon
A rundown of the holidays we know existed in the First Age, as well as tips on how to design your own holiday.
Everyday Elves and What They Do by darthfingon
Not every Elf was a prince or a smith. The word lists give insight into some of the more unglamorous professions available to everyday Elves.
'Sindarin' is a Quenya Word: how the clan names make Elvish more confusing by darthfingon
The clans of the Elves are almost always named in Quenya, and this month's column demystifies how various Elven people would have referred to themselves in their own languages.
Sindarin vs Quenya: RELEVANCE FIGHT! by darthfingon
So you're working on a fanfiction ... what Elvish language should you use for names and snippets of dialogue? Here is a handy guide to choosing between Quenya and Sindarin.
Elvish Fanons and Canon Contradictions by darthfingon
The early word lists provide many refutes to the most common claims of "Elves would never ..." Here are four of the most salient.
Elven Families and What They Wore by darthfingon
This column uses old word lists to tackle two questions: Did the Elvish languages provide specific terms for relatives, or is everyone just kinsman? And what are the words for various items of clothing?
Twenty-Two Words You Never Thought Tolkien Would Provide by darthfingon
Some of Tolkien's earliest word lists include terms for words that provide sometimes surprising insights into the habits and cultures of the Elves.
Answers from Old Sources: Elven Food by darthfingon
Tolkien's early Elvish word lists reveal details about what Elves ate.
Coming of the Lindar by jamcake_muses
The last group of Elves journey to Aman, but their path is treacherous.
| Major Characters: Original Character(s), Uinen |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Adventure | Challenges: Times of Bliss |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Violence (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 046 |
| Posted on 8 March 2021 | Updated on 8 March 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Trinity by pandemonium_213
Three scientists discuss technology and responsibility in the Jornada del Muerto Valley on July 19, 1945.
| Major Characters: Fëanor, Sauron |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Podfic | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Expletive Language |
| Posted on 1 May 2013 | Updated on 7 March 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (0) |
Transformative Works as a Means to Develop Critical Perspectives in the Tolkien Fan Community by Dawn Felagund
This paper, presented at the Mythmoot III conference in Baltimore, Maryland, on 10 January 2015, considers the history of Tolkien fan fiction, the development of online Tolkien fan fiction communities, and how writers of Tolkien fan fiction use their stories to learn more about the texts and develop analytical and critical approaches toward those texts.
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Presentation | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on 12 January 2015 | Updated on 7 March 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (1) |
The Scent of Old Books by downtide, Tanis
This is a modern-setting AU featuring Maedhros and Fingon, the spawn of a plotbunny I swiped from Lalaith. The setting is not named but it is actually based on Lincoln, England. There is indeed a cosy second-hand bookshop on the hill leading up to the Cathedral, but it is owned by neither a red-haired elf nor a lady named Edith.
| Major Characters: Fingon, Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Podfic | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on 1 December 2013 | Updated on 7 March 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (0) |
The OTHER Lays of Beleriand by Aiwen
The Lays JRR Tolkien did not write for very good reasons. Part Eight: The Harp and other poems. MEFA 2010 nominee.
| Major Characters: Celebrimbor, Glorfindel, Sauron |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Music , Podfic | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on 1 April 2014 | Updated on 7 March 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (0) |
The Little Boy by LadyBrooke
Once upon a time, a little boy made his mother a promise.
| Major Characters: Eldalótë, Orodreth |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Podfic | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Character Death |
| Posted on 15 July 2013 | Updated on 7 March 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (0) |
Spring Cleaning by Russandol, Dawn Felagund
One day during the Noontide of the Blessed Realm, Manwë and Varda get ready for a celebration at Ilmarin, their halls upon the peak of Taniquetil.
Written for B2MeM 2011, Day 31: Valinor.
2nd Place, Humour: General & Smaug's Treasure, MEFA 2011
| Major Characters: Mandos, Manwë, Oromë, Tulkas, Varda |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Podfic | Challenges: B2MeM 2011 |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on 1 July 2013 | Updated on 7 March 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (0) |
No Traveler Returns by IgnobleBard, Tanis
Namo confronts a newly dead Elf.
| Major Characters: Mandos |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Podfic | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on 1 January 2014 | Updated on 7 March 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (0) |
Gentleman's Night Out by oshun, Tanis
The Hangover Redux set at the victory celebration at the Fields of Cormallen following the Battle of the Morannon, starring Legolas, Elladan, Elrohir, and Prince Erchirion of Dol Amroth. No, seriously, it is a consideration of Laws and Customs of the Eldar, Morgoth’s Ring, Volume 12, History of Middle-earth, with particular attention given to Noldorin, Sindarin, Silvan and Gondorian interpretations of that essay. (Actually, it is really not very serious.)
| Major Characters: Elrond, Legolas of Gondolin, Thranduil |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Podfic | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Mature Themes |
| Posted on 1 February 2014 | Updated on 7 March 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (0) |
Heart-stung by Agelast, abbyforth
The thought of their ancient friendship stung his heart.
| Major Characters: Fingon, Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Podfic | Challenges: B2MeM 2013 |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Character Death, Violence (Moderate) |
| Posted on 2 March 2014 | Updated on 7 March 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (0) |
Five Fires by Elleth, Dawn Felagund
Ambarussa is afraid of fire to this day. There were four instances in life that made him fear.
| Major Characters: Amras, Amrod, Fëanor, Maedhros, Maglor, Nerdanel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Podfic | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on 1 February 2013 | Updated on 7 March 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (1) |
Do You Believe in Ghosts? by oshun, Dawn Felagund
Fëanor allows Amrod and Amras to sleep outside on a spooky autumn evening and the question of ghosts comes up.
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Podfic | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Expletive Language |
| Posted on 1 October 2013 | Updated on 7 March 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (0) |
A Ponderous Tome by oshun, Dawn Felagund
A short character study of a youthful Elrond and a reflection on an aspect of his relationship with Maedhros and Maglor; in response to Day 26 of the B2MeM challenge. The prompt is: “a teacher who played a key role . . . . write a character who educated his people in some way.”
| Major Characters: Elrond, Elros, Maedhros, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Podfic | Challenges: B2MeM 2009 |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on 1 March 2013 | Updated on 7 March 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (0) |
Five Bells by Dawn Felagund, anuhealani
The people of Tirion learn of Miriel's death. For the Five Things challenge for SWG's fifth birthday. 2011 MEFA nominee.
| Major Characters: Fëanor, Finwë, Indis, Míriel Serindë |
| Major Relationships: Finwë/Míriel |
| Genres: Podfic | Challenges: Fifth Birthday Celebration |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Character Death, Mature Themes |
| Posted on 1 June 2013 | Updated on 7 March 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (0) |
A Minor Talent by Lyra, Dawn Felagund
Young Findekáno develops a passion for a song that continues to follow him as the events of the Silmarillion unfold.
| Major Characters: Fingon |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Podfic | Challenges: Fifth Birthday Celebration |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on 1 August 2010 | Updated on 7 March 2021 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (0) |
