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
Solve a Problem
Create a fanwork that solves a canon problem using your own favorite (or most frustrating!) canon problem to solve or by choosing one of the member-submitted canon problems. 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
| Major Characters: Fëanor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Family, Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: B2MeM 2020 |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 200 |
| Posted on 3 April 2020 | Updated on 3 April 2020 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
The Fairest Vessels That Ever Sailed by Lindariel
Teleporno and Alatáriel find outlets for their knowledge as they begin to get used to life in Middle-Earth.
| Major Characters: Celeborn, Círdan, Ents, Galadriel, Original Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: In Rare Form |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 8 | Word Count: 13, 698 |
| Posted on 23 August 2019 | Updated on 3 April 2020 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (11) |
Threads of Song by StarSpray
Lúthien loved to watch her mother at work.
| Major Characters: Lúthien Tinúviel, Melian |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Family, Fluff, General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 409 |
| Posted on 2 April 2020 | Updated on 2 April 2020 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Eorl the Young. by hennethgalad
Cirion, Steward of Gondo, faces ruin...
30: “…their enemies shall be our enemies, their need shall be our need, and whatsoever evil, or threat, or assault may come upon them we will aid them to the utmost end of our strength.” (Unfinished Tales, Part Three, II, iii, Cirion and Eorl)
| Major Characters: Cirion |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: B2MeM 2020 |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Violence (Graphic) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 983 |
| Posted on 30 March 2020 | Updated on 30 March 2020 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
New Neighbor by StarSpray
Roverandom catches up with friends, both canine and otherwise.
| Major Characters: Maglor, Original Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Crossover, General | Challenges: B2MeM 2020 |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 182 |
| Posted on 29 March 2020 | Updated on 29 March 2020 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
The Glitter of Snow, The Sparkle of Mist by Lferion
Luckier. By whose definition, luckier?
| Major Characters: Fingon, Maedhros, Nerdanel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, Experimental, Fixed-Length Ficlet, Poetry | Challenges: B2MeM 2020, Soundtrack |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 286 |
| Posted on 28 March 2020 | Updated on 28 March 2020 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Fermata by Himring
After the expulsion from Nargothrond:
Celegorm and Curufin pause for a rest on their travels.
Fermata: a pause of unspecified length on a note or rest
| Major Characters: Celegorm |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 98 |
| Posted on 26 March 2020 | Updated on 26 March 2020 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
March 2020 instadrabbles! by RaisingCaiin
Collected instadrabbles from the March 2020 event on Discord!
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 4 | Word Count: 638 |
| Posted on 25 March 2020 | Updated on 25 March 2020 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Little Galadriel. by hennethgalad
Finarfin and his family make a garden for Galadriel's seventh begetting day present.
25: 'start' (photo prompt, sign painted on a gate by a child)
| Major Characters: Aegnor, Angrod, Eärwen, Finarfin, Finrod Felagund, Galadriel, Orodreth |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Family | Challenges: B2MeM 2020 |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 742 |
| Posted on 25 March 2020 | Updated on 25 March 2020 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Lockdown Instadrabbles by Idrils Scribe
Written for the lockdown instadrabbling event on the SWG Discord.
| Major Characters: Elrond, Eärendil, Fingon, Finwë, Míriel Serindë |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 4 | Word Count: 405 |
| Posted on 25 March 2020 | Updated on 25 March 2020 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (1) |
The Firework. by hennethgalad
Elladan struggles with his painting.
22: 'Nocturn:black and gold' Whistler
| Major Characters: Celebrían, Elladan |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: B2MeM 2020 |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 852 |
| Posted on 22 March 2020 | Updated on 22 March 2020 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Halls of Waiting by StarSpray
Dior comes to Mandos, and must decide how he will leave it.
| Major Characters: Dior, Mandos, Nimloth |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: B2MeM 2020, Soundtrack |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 367 |
| Posted on 21 March 2020 | Updated on 21 March 2020 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Gleaming Spires by Himring
Aredhel arrives in Gondolin.
| Major Characters: Aredhel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: Soundtrack |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 99 |
| Posted on 21 March 2020 | Updated on 21 March 2020 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (9) |
Distractions by Lferion
Fingon, unfocused, distracted and distressed. A double-drabble and three drabbles.
| Major Characters: Fingon |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet, Poetry | Challenges: B2MeM 2020 |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 504 |
| Posted on 21 March 2020 | Updated on 21 March 2020 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
all you have to do, is listen by HannaGoldworthy
Once, he had been more than a gracious listener in the Music.
That time was gone.
| Major Characters: Maglor, Original Female Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Crossover, Experimental, Family, Fixed-Length Ficlet, General | Challenges: Soundtrack |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 788 |
| Posted on 20 March 2020 | Updated on 20 March 2020 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
The Ring of Arrows. by hennethgalad
Elrond has an alchemist to deal with.
19: “Pandora”
| Major Characters: Celebrían, Elladan, Elrohir, Elrond |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: B2MeM 2020 |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 747 |
| Posted on 19 March 2020 | Updated on 19 March 2020 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
A Midwinter’s Feast by Lilith
Celebrían is very excited about the Midwinter feast and invites her cousin to come, but she discovers that families and holiday celebrations may become very complicated, particularly when a new acquaintance creates some conflict.
It is part of the Thû or Lady!Sauron 'verse.
| Major Characters: Celeborn, Celebrían, Celebrimbor, Elrond, Galadriel, Original Character(s), Sauron |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Alternate Universe | Challenges: B2MeM 2020, Season's Greetings |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 8 | Word Count: 72, 607 |
| Posted on 27 December 2019 | Updated on 18 March 2020 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (20) |
Death rides to Gondolin. by hennethgalad
The elves of Vinyamar move to Gondolin.
18: "Because I could not stop for death
Death kindly stopped for me
The carriage held but just ourselves and
Immortality".
Emily Dickinson.
| Major Characters: Aredhel, Idril |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: B2MeM 2020 |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 875 |
| Posted on 18 March 2020 | Updated on 18 March 2020 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Perfection. by hennethgalad
Mairon chooses his form.
17: "For nothing is evil in the beginning; even Sauron was not so."
| Major Characters: Aulë, Sauron, Yavanna |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: B2MeM 2020 |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 702 |
| Posted on 17 March 2020 | Updated on 17 March 2020 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Elwing's Soliloquy. by hennethgalad
Elwing confronts Maedhros and Maglor stand over her sleeping children.
day 15: "an important moment"
| Major Characters: Elrond, Elros, Elwing, Maedhros, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: B2MeM 2020 |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 622 |
| Posted on 15 March 2020 | Updated on 15 March 2020 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Second Childhood by HannaGoldworthy
Because Feanor could not make anything easy on anyone, and that included his own second life.
| Major Characters: Fëanor, Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, Family, General, Humor, Hurt/Comfort | Challenges: Crackuary |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Character Death |
| Chapters: 6 | Word Count: 11, 105 |
| Posted on 11 March 2020 | Updated on 15 March 2020 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
The Faithless Ship. by hennethgalad
Nimrodel when the balrog wakes.
14: "Ophelia" b2mem2020
| Major Characters: Mithrellas, Nimrodel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: B2MeM 2020 |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 741 |
| Posted on 14 March 2020 | Updated on 14 March 2020 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
The Kingdom. by hennethgalad
Family life at the Havens of Sirion.
13: "Your kingdom is gone. If it is to be restore, which I doubt, it must be from small beginnings". Unfinished Tales
| Major Characters: Elwing, Eärendil, Idril, Tuor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: B2MeM 2020 |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Violence (Graphic) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 732 |
| Posted on 13 March 2020 | Updated on 13 March 2020 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Nothing Collapses by StarSpray
Dor Firn-i-Guinar did not sink with the rest of Beleriand, and it is a place heavy with memory.
| Major Characters: Elrond |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: B2MeM 2020 |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 310 |
| Posted on 13 March 2020 | Updated on 13 March 2020 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
The Straight Path. by hennethgalad
The Eldar become aware of the reshaping of the world after the fall of Númenor.
11: 'The Milky Way'
| Major Characters: Círdan, Elrond, Galadriel, Gil-galad, Lindir |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: B2MeM 2020 |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 715 |
| Posted on 11 March 2020 | Updated on 11 March 2020 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
