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
[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] No Time Have I by Flora-lass
A Silmarillion acrostic.
[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.
[Writing] Cosmological Poems of Arda by AaronAzrael
I would like to share my revelations of Tolkien's Universe in the form of narrative and emotional poems.
[Writing] Eä's Redemption by AaronAzrael
This is my new poetical attempt to add my own interpretation to Tolkien's Cosmology as to Eru's Creation and the Valar's minds and behind-the-scene providence reasons and mechanisms.. I often review Eä as part of our own world, just in another dimension, this is why I have always seriously…
Current Challenge
Bollywood
Prompts this month are films, songs, and tropes from India's dazzling film industry, Bollywood. Read more ...
Random Challenge
New Year's Resolution
Our annual amnesty challenge allows you to complete and receive stamps for challenges you missed in the past year. 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.
Elrond Week 2024
Elrond Week is a fandom event dedicated to Elrond Peredhel that will run from July 10th to July 16th on Tumblr.
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.
Flawed and Fair by Tehta
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Chapter 8 Extras
EXTRAS -- Not an Actual Chapter
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EXTRAS
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As I have tried to make clear, this is not an actual chapter. This is just a mess of random bits and pieces, meant to resemble the Extras section of a DVD. (Although, obviously, rather different in format.) The Extras include: a fic summary, the full text of both the Orc-Slaying and the Spider-Slaying Ditty, and a few (hopefully) interesting links.
I do know that putting this up here is rather self-indulgent. I only hope that it is somewhat amusing, to my less discerning readers, at least.
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LINKS
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First, I have written a PWP epilogue to Flawed and Fair. I am linking off-site because this story, being a plotless self-indulgence and not a standalone, is unlikely to get into HASA. I should also warn people that it is more explicit. And I did mention it was plotless, didn't I?
Then, here's a drawing of Ecthelion inspired, in part, by this fic. I think the picture is absolutely lovely. Also, the dour expression on his face seems rather in character. (There are other works by the same talented artist on the web-site, as well.)
Most people will have noticed that Maedhros and Fingon are rather thoroughly slandered in this story. In Beth Winter's Valour and Honour, the Finwian half-cousins get a chance to respond to all those nasty rumours.
And while I'm being completely self-referential, here are some rather odd discussions of three imaginary Flawed and Fair sequels or spin-offs. And Spiders in the Mist: An Arachnid Love Story has, indeed, been written, and accepted into HASA.
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THE EVIL-SLAYING DITTIES OF THE GONDOLINDRIM
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Here are the full versions of both the songs, which I judged to be both too long and too gory for the actual fic.
The Orc-Slaying Ditty
Our arrows are flying,
Our swords brightly glowing.
The Orcs are all dying!
Their black blood is flowing!
O! Tril-lil-lil-leelly,
Their blood's flowing freely!
Ha! Ha!
The orcs are all dropping!
Once their blood starts gushing,
Orc limbs need some chopping,
Orc heads need some crushing!
O! Tril-lil-lil-lelly,
Their brains turn to jelly!
Ha! Ha!
Oh, we love patrolling!
Oh, truly 'tis thrilling,
When orc heads are rolling!
No joy like orc-killing!
O! Tril-lil-lil-lolly,
To slay orcs is jolly!
Ha! Ha!
The Spider-Slaying Ditty
(As composed by Egalmoth of the Heavenly Arch, who never gets the credit he deserves.)
The spiders are reeking!
They beg for a thrashing!
They'll die with much shrieking,
Once our blades start slashing!
O! Tril-lil-lil-lelly,
Giant spiders are smelly!
Ha! Ha!
Our bright blades are stabbing!
The spiders -- expiring!
This feinting and jabbing,
I find it quite tiring!
O! Tril-lil-lil-lally,
Down there in the valley!
Ha! Ha!
The spiders are dying,
And still they keep stinking!
It's really quite trying,
I'd rather be drinking!
O! Tril-lil-lil-lilly,
This song is quite silly!
Ha! Ha!
----- FLAWED AND FAIR: CLIFFS NOTES VERSION -----
Here is a concise summary of the fic, written for those who do not wish to struggle through thousands of words to get at the smut. (Which, incidentally, can be found in chapters five and seven.) Or, perhaps, for those who cannot read the Glorfindel subtext.
Chapter One: Introduction
Ecthelion: Woe is me! I hate myself, for I have Unnatural Desires. And inappropriate dreams about Glorfindel.
Glorfindel: I just thought I'd pop by and tell Ecthelion that I have lustful thoughts and dreams. Not sure why, really.
Ecthelion: *Is too busy staring at Glorfindel's hair to hear him.*
Captain Elemmakil Exposition: Aredhel is planning to leave the city; Glorfindel is to go with her.
Chapter Two: Cliche Alcohol-Related Fumbling Scene
Egalmoth: I am to be the second member of Aredhel's escort. Let's have a party.
Partygoers: *Drink, sing, etc.*
Glorfindel: I am going to miss Ecthelion. *Drinks.*
Ecthelion: Glorfindel is drunk. It is surely my duty to take him home.
Glorfindel: Wow, Ecthelion looks very attractive. I think I will take off my clothes and start rubbing his shoulder in a suggestive manner.
Ecthelion: I hate myself for desiring someone who is not only male and sloshed, but also completely uninterested in me.
Sergeant Exposition: Hey, Ecthelion, you are going with Aredhel, too.
Chapter Three: Plot and Pretentiousness
Glorfindel (blushing): Um, Ecthelion, about last night... Did anything happen?
Ecthelion: No.
Glorfindel: Damn.
Aredhel and her escort: *Leave Gondolin.*
Aredhel: Obey me, oh lesser beings, for I am Finwe's grandchild. We will ride to Himland, through Doriath.
The Elves Of Doriath: No you won't, not if you want to visit a Feanorian. *Spit.*
Aredhel: Fine. We will ride to Himland, through the Valley Of Dreadful Death. Ooh, I can't wait to kill something, preferably a spider.
Glorfindel (irrelevantly): I think that love between two warriors can be a beautiful thing -- it is a pity that Ecthelion thinks it is hideous and obscene. But I do hope that he is impressed by how patient I am around the most irritating woman on Arda.
Ecthelion: Glorfindel is clearly in love with Aredhel. I hate myself for minding.
Chapter Four: Mostly Action
Everyone: *Fights some orcs.*
Ecthelion: *Has a dream that rather defies summary.*
Aredhel: I have a great idea! Let us go annoy some giant spiders.
Everyone: *Fights some giant spiders.*
Ecthelion: This chapter is kind of boring and lacking in slash. Glorfindel, why don't you give me a backrub?
Glorfindel: Good idea. Incidentally, I am not in love with Aredhel. And I think you are the most attractive person I know.
Ecthelion: *Remains oblivious.*
Everyone watching this, including the giant spiders: *Is starting to find his obliviousness irksome.*
Chapter Five: Cliche Fake-Dream Scene
Aredhel: My guards seem to be on the verge of dragging me back to Gondolin in a sack. I think I will take one of our two remaining horses and leave.
Everyone else: *Is too busy fighting spiders to follow.*
Ecthelion: My first-aid techniques leave much to be desired. *Falls over.*
Glorfindel: *Drags Ecthelion into a secluded shelter.* You know, I have been obsessed with you since the Ice.
Ecthelion (oblivious as ever): What an interesting dream! *Fondles Glorfindel.*
Glorfindel: Woohoo! And yet -- hasty, impersonal pity-sex is not exactly what I had in mind. I am so embarrassed now.
Everyone: *Follows Aredhel, fights spiders.*
Egalmoth: *Conveniently disappears.*
Ecthelion: *Gets a clue.* Glorfindel, I am sorry I molested you.
Glorfindel: That's fine -- those were the best three minutes of my life.
Ecthelion and Glorfindel: *Kiss.*
Lurking spiders: Aaaaw. Cute. *Cuddle*
Chapter Six: Lots of Talking
Spiders: *Lurk.*
Ecthelion and Egalmoth: *Sing.*
Spiders: *Lurk less.*
Ecthelion: Glorfindel, I think you and I should just be friends.
Glorfindel: Um, okay. Like that will last.
The three guards: *Arrive in Gondolin.*
Turgon: I am very angry with you. Leave me, for now.
Ecthelion: *Kisses Glorfindel.* Oh, that was so wrong. We must never speak to each other again. No, I will not be swayed by logic.
Glorfindel: That works out fine -- I am the least logical person I know. For one, I believe that being gay will prevent me from rejecting women. I also believe that you owe me something for giving me the best three minutes of my life.
Chapter Seven: More Talking, but also Smut
Turgon: Go about your work, you three, while I force this fic to be consistent with the Silmarillion.
Salgant: Oh, look at the three great warriors who are scared of spiders! *Sings.*
Ecthelion: *Channels his inner Bitchy Gay Artist.*
Glorfindel: I am worried that sleeping together will ruin our reputations.
Ecthelion: That is so wrong, because--
Glorfindel: Ah! You have convinced me! Let's have sex.
Ecthelion and Glorfindel: *Have sex.*
Ecthelion: Oh Eru! What have I done?
Glorfindel: Allow me to distract you from your internalized homophobia with more bad logic. For example, did you realize that having more sex will help us defend at the city?
Ecthelion: Yes! And make us better at slaying Balrogs!
Curtain: *Falls on weird hair fetish scene.*
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