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
Another Place in Time
Move beyond the places and times of familiar events to consider what was going on elsewhere in Arda at the same time as a major event covered in The Silmarillion. How--if at all--did the event impact what was transpiring elsewhere at the same time? 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
Melkor: Null and Void by Chilled in Hithlum
A revisit to the site and reworking of an earlier submission. Melkor considers his life before his final defeat at Angband during the War of Wrath
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 2 | Word Count: 2, 594 |
| Posted on 9 February 2020 | Updated on 9 February 2020 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
| Major Characters: Duilin, Original Female Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet, Het | Challenges: Hidden Figures, New Year's Resolution |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Character Death, Violence (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 322 |
| Posted on 9 February 2020 | Updated on 9 February 2020 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Sweeping past the minutes of its face by Himring
A mechanical clock is imported from The Shire to Valinor.
| Major Characters: Frodo, Quennar i Onótimo |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: Hidden Figures, New Year's Resolution |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 196 |
| Posted on 8 February 2020 | Updated on 8 February 2020 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (8) |
Nost-na-Lothion by Grundy
Sometimes little things make a big difference. Flowers, for example.
| Major Characters: Idril, Turgon |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: New Year's Resolution, Season's Greetings |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 371 |
| Posted on 8 February 2020 | Updated on 8 February 2020 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (8) |
Lord by Lferion
Fingon, Returned, still holds the fealty of many, unlooked-for. He's not sure what to do with it.
| Major Characters: Fingon, Original Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, General | Challenges: Caprice and Chance, New Year's Resolution |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 555 |
| Posted on 8 February 2020 | Updated on 8 February 2020 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
The second song by Morcondil
Whatever our souls are made of, yours and mine are the same. But it was not the will of Ilúvatar that like should always cleave to like. // A story of Nienna and Nessa before the Trees.
| Major Characters: Nessa, Nienna, Tulkas |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Slash/Femslash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Sexual Content (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 757 |
| Posted on 6 February 2020 | Updated on 6 February 2020 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Liegeman by Lferion
Ilverin Littleheart has a story he does not tell, a fealty he cannot acknowledge.
| Major Characters: Fingon, Littleheart |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, Family | Challenges: Hidden Figures, New Year's Resolution |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 638 |
| Posted on 5 February 2020 | Updated on 5 February 2020 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
A tale of grief and hope by Sognante
A twin, an uncle and a distantly future father: Elrond on sorrow, hope, family and love, at a time of mourning for him and Númenor.
| Major Characters: Elrond, Elros |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Hurt/Comfort | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Violence (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 3, 460 |
| Posted on 2 February 2020 | Updated on 2 February 2020 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Crossing the Helcaraxe by Kaylee Arafinwiel
Artanis (Galadriel) and Itarille (Idril) make their way across the Grinding Ice with their kindred. They bond with each other over the shared horror they're experiencing, and observe local flora whenever it crosses their path.
| Major Characters: Galadriel, Idril, Original Female Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 605 |
| Posted on 27 January 2020 | Updated on 27 January 2020 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
A New Tradition by Kaylee Arafinwiel
Thranduil, King of the Greenwood, receives a gift one autumn, and a new tradition is begun.
| Major Characters: Original Female Character(s), Thranduil |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Family | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 734 |
| Posted on 27 January 2020 | Updated on 27 January 2020 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
White Flower's Wilting by Kaylee Arafinwiel
At the Fall of Doriath, Queen Nimloth prepares to face the invaders.
| Major Characters: Nimloth, Noldor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Character Death |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 402 |
| Posted on 27 January 2020 | Updated on 27 January 2020 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Hewers of wood and drawers of water. by hennethgalad
an unwitting eyewitness struggles with the consequence.
| Major Characters: Fëanor, Nerdanel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: Caprice and Chance, New Year's Resolution |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 4, 118 |
| Posted on 22 January 2020 | Updated on 22 January 2020 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Twice Burnt by Lferion
Fingolfin Returned reflects on petitioning for the release of Feanor
| Major Characters: Fëanor, Fingolfin |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, General | Challenges: New Year's Resolution, Sirens and Songstresses |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 742 |
| Posted on 19 January 2020 | Updated on 19 January 2020 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (6) |
Day Will Come Again by Narya
Fingon takes a moment to remember his cousin at midwinter.
| Major Characters: Fingon |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: New Year's Resolution, Season's Greetings |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 203 |
| Posted on 19 January 2020 | Updated on 19 January 2020 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (10) |
The Small and Secret Things by Lferion
"[Yavanna] is the lover of all things that grow in the earth, and all their countless forms she holds in her mind, from the trees like towers in forests long ago to the moss upon stones or the small and secret things in the mould." ~ Valaquenta
| Major Characters: Yavanna |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Poetry | Challenges: Love Actually, New Year's Resolution |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 110 |
| Posted on 19 January 2020 | Updated on 19 January 2020 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Holidays Gone By by StraightOuttaHimring
Vignettes of four elves celebrating holidays over the years, and one holiday spent togeather. For The Silmarillion Writer's Guild 'Seasons Greetings' challenge.
Glorfindel: Tarnin Austa in Gondolin
Gildor: Begetting Day in Nargothrond
Erestor: Turuhalmë on Amon Ereb
Lindor: Coming of Age in Lindon
Yestarë in Imladris
| Major Characters: Celebrimbor, Ecthelion of the Fountain, Egalmoth, Elrond, Elros, Erestor, Finduilas, Glorfindel, Lindir, Maedhros, Maglor, Original Female Character(s), Orodreth, Turgon |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Family, Fluff, General | Challenges: Season's Greetings |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 3 | Word Count: 4, 165 |
| Posted on 13 January 2020 | Updated on 15 January 2020 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (1) |
A Short Tale for Summer's End by StraightOuttaHimring
It’s the dog days of summer and Maglor and the twins are trying to survive the heat on Amon Ereb. Fortunately Maedhros has a plan to help.
| Major Characters: Elrond, Elros, Maedhros, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Family, Fluff, General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 988 |
| Posted on 12 January 2020 | Updated on 12 January 2020 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (1) |
Hearing Inside by Himring
Growing up in Valinor, Maglor and Caranthir establish a strong connection, despite difficulties.
| Major Characters: Caranthir, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Family, General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Mature Themes |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 276 |
| Posted on 12 January 2020 | Updated on 12 January 2020 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (7) |
Gathering Dusk by Idrils Scribe
A nameless evil spreads through the North, and the Elves must fight or be destroyed. When the Hidden Valley comes under siege, Elrond and Celebrían's children face wars of their own. Elladan bears the burden of his father's secret, Elrohir fights his greatest battle yet, and Arwen seeks her purpose in a darkening world.
The tale of the fall of Arnor and the rise of the Witch-king, as seen from Rivendell.
This story is completely written and will be posted over the month of December. Many thanks to my wonderful beta readers Dawn Felagund and Cherepashka.
| Major Characters: Arwen, Elladan, Elrohir, Elrond |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Adventure, Family, Hurt/Comfort | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 9 | Word Count: 29, 564 |
| Posted on 30 November 2019 | Updated on 12 January 2020 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (5) |
A Walk down Memory Lane by Raiyana
The Story of the Courtship of Curufin, son of Fëanor, told via a collection of objects left behind in Aman.
Collection of vignettes, really.
You're welcome to play 'Spot the object'; there are usually more than the title implies involved ;)
| Major Characters: Amras, Amrod, Caranthir, Celegorm, Curufin, Fëanor, Maedhros, Maglor, Nerdanel, Original Female Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, Humor, Romance | Challenges: In Rare Form, Middle-earth Museum, Notion Club Revival, Season's Greetings |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 12 | Word Count: 23, 721 |
| Posted on 19 March 2018 | Updated on 10 January 2020 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (18) |
Clear Skies and Bright Stars by StarSpray
“Come eat your supper, Eluréd,” said Nellas. “Afterward we’ll build a bonfire on the hillside, and I’ll teach you how they used to dance at Cuiviénen.”
| Major Characters: Eluréd, Elurín, Elves, Nellas, Tom Bombadil |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: Season's Greetings |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 717 |
| Posted on 7 January 2020 | Updated on 7 January 2020 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (3) |
Fair Winds and Following Seas by bunn
The Noldor host of Aman is preparing for the War of Wrath. The High King's only living son and his wife are neither of them very happy about the situation.
| Major Characters: Edrahil, Eärwen, Finarfin, Finrod Felagund |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Family | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 4 | Word Count: 6, 163 |
| Posted on 5 January 2020 | Updated on 5 January 2020 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Mind's Delight by bunn
In the dwarf-city of Belegost, teenage Elrond and Elros are bored, and Maglor is not sure what to expect of half-elves.
Written as a treat for mainecoon76 in the Innumerable Stars 2019 exchange.
| Major Characters: Elrond, Elros, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Family | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 963 |
| Posted on 5 January 2020 | Updated on 5 January 2020 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Unbridled Turmoils by bunn
The vampire Thuringwethil is a servant of Sauron. Meássë is a servant of Morgoth himself... in so far as Meássë serves anyone but chaos.
They're made for one another. [Thanks to raiyana for betaing!]
| Major Characters: Meássë, Thuringwethil |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Hurt/Comfort, Romance, Slash/Femslash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Mature Themes |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 4, 009 |
| Posted on 5 January 2020 | Updated on 5 January 2020 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
The Staff Dancer by Calendille
"Fëanaro and I lived in different worlds that did not mingle until the Pink Robes incident: that evening when Fëanaro came to our family dinner dressed in girl’s clothes."
Lalwendë, from childhood to Alqualondë, or how Dancing Like A Vanya can pave the road to killing.
| Major Characters: Fëanor, Fingolfin, Finwë, Lalwen, Nerdanel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Family | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 2 | Word Count: 8, 108 |
| Posted on 4 January 2020 | Updated on 4 January 2020 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
