Mereth Aderthad Interview: Interview with Stella Getreuer-Kostrouch by Quente
Quente discusses Stella's upcoming Mereth Aderthad presentation "Cherished antagonist, despised protagonist – a defence of Elu Thingol," her connection to this character, and what it takes to rescue a character from fandom disdain.
SWG News
Fanwork sign-ups are open!
Registration opens March 15.
Mereth Aderthad Interview: Interview with Acha Rezak (Quente) by Shadow
Shadow discusses Acha's upcoming Mereth Adethad presentation "Mythmakers vs. the made myths: Exploring a reader’s levels of religious alienation and connection in works about and by J.R.R. Tolkien and C.S. Lewis" and her reading of Tolkien's books as inclusive of all religions.
Fanworks Sign-Ups for Mereth Aderthad Now Open!
Sign up to create a fanwork for the Mereth Aderthad live event or for the event fanzine or both! The program for meta and scholarship has been posted on our website. Registration will open March 15.
New Challenge: Dark Matter
This month's challenge is anti-prompts: tropes, words, and strategies to avoid when creating your fanwork.
New & Updated Fanworks
[Writing] Clear Pebbles of the Rain by StarSpray
But at the very end of the letter she spoke of one more prisoner that Elladan and Elrohir had discovered in one of the deepest dungeons of Dol Guldur, locked away behind a door unopened in so long that the hinges had rusted.
Maglor has been rescued from Dol Guldur, and now faces…
[Writing] The Seven Gates by Laerthel
The impossible happened – a Silmaril has been stolen from Morgoth’s crown. Maedhros decides to reunite the People of Beleriand against the Enemy and attack him while he is still unprepared (which is by no means less impossible). Meanwhile, in the hidden city of Gondolin, Lord…
[Artwork] Connection Forged (B2MEM 2025) by Kaylee Arafinwiel
In a mostly-starless void, the Star of Earendil is shown glowing within reach of a silver full Moon with the last flower of Telperion upon it. Drawn using MS Paint. A poem called "Connection" is also shown:
As Earendil
rises for the first
time
He sees Tilion
And…
[Link Collection] Tolkien Connections by Various Creators
If you love The New York Times' game Connections, this collection includes Tolkien-themed Connections games featured in our newsletter.
[Reference] Interview with Stella Getreuer-Kostrouch by Quente by Stella Getreuer-Kostrouch, Quente
Stella Getreuer-Kostrouch has always felt deeply connected to the character of Elu Thingol. In this interview, Quente asks about this connection and how Stella sees Thingol as unjustly treated by many in the fandom.
[Writing] Anticipatory Grief by StarSpray
Dear Elrond, It feels a little silly to be writing this to you while you are sleeping right next to me, but I cannot sleep.
[Writing] Tyelkormo's Great Escape by Aprilertuile
Tyelkormo was currently outside the house, hiding from his mother.
It was nearly winter and every winter was peak matchmaking activity time in Tirion’s palace. So Nerdanel focused more on her sons at this period since she wanted them to make a good impression so they could find a…
Current Challenge
Dark Matter
Create a fanwork using anti-prompts: prompts that don't appear in your fanwork. Read more ...
Random Challenge
Roaring Twenties
Use bingo prompts from 1920s-themed cards to create a fanwork. Read more ...
New in References
Interview with Stella Getreuer-Kostrouch by Quente by Stella Getreuer-Kostrouch, Quente
Stella Getreuer-Kostrouch has always felt deeply connected to the character of Elu Thingol. In this interview, Quente asks about this connection and how Stella sees Thingol as unjustly treated by many in the fandom.
Interview with Acha Rezak (Quente) by Shadow by Acha Rezak (Quente), daughterofshadows
Shadow spoke to Acha Rezak about her upcoming presentation for Mereth Aderthad, which reads Tolkien less as a Catholic Christian work and more as a world inclusive of many religions, especially in its focus on nature and landscapes
Vidumavi of the Northmen by Secondborn
A seemingly minor character, Vidumavi's story illustrates the themes of fellowship, the fading of faerie, and the dangers of racial hierarchy.
Featured Themed Collection
Part of our Themed Collection series for our newsletter, this collection features fiction, artwork, and essays that transcend the idea of Orcs as the enemy, instead considering their humanity.
Alliterative Verse for Arda by Rhunedhel
Part of our Themed Collection series for our newsletter, this collection features alliterative poems about Middle-earth.
Beyond the Silmarillion
[Writing] Paradox of the Fourth Age by Alassante
One wrong decision can make a world of difference. When one of the Fellowship makes the mistake, the consequences are so severe that only the Valar can repair it. But will they?
Glorfindel daughter's life is in Elrohir's hands and only she remembers th eir love for each other. The fate of…
[Writing] By Mirrormere by bunn
A new Age dawns, and Moria is retaken at last.
[Writing] Beneath the Bitter Rain by bunn
The Gardens of the Entwives are fallen, but two Entwives remain.
Around the World and Web
March Challenge at tolkienshortfanworks
The challenge for March has been posted to the tolkienshortfanworks community on Dreamwidth. New participants welcome.
March of the Quendi 2025
March of the Quendi is a month-long Tumblr event to celebrate the long walk the Elves took from their home on the shores of Cuiviénen, across great and unknown lands, to the blessed realm of Aman with optional weekly Great Journey-themed prompts.
March 2025 Calls for Papers and Proposals
Calls for papers and conference proposals that are open during the month of March.
B2MeM 2025: Basketball Championship
B2MeM 2025 will feature a brackets-stye fanworks creation competition for teams and individual creators.
Teitho February/March Challenge: Resolution
The theme for the February/March Teitho contest is resolution in all its various meanings.
Shadow's Instadrabbles by daughterofshadows
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Saltwater cure
Instadrabbling Session 19.01.2025
Prompt: The cure for anything is salt water - sweat, tears, or the sea.
Círdan contemplates the sea.
Rated: General
Notes: this is about loveless aromantic Círdan
His friends joke that the sea is his only love. And Círdan knows where they are coming from, they are not far from the truth, but love? That is not the word Círdan would choose.
Admiration, perhaps. Respect, definitely. But love is not an emotion he has ever experienced.
When his friends talk about the ones they love, their words do not resonate with him. It is alienating, sometimes, to be so detached from such a common experience.
Perhaps that is part of why he returns to the sea. It does not ask questions he cannot answer, makes no demands of him, and when he cries, grieving something he barely understands, the salt of his tears mingles with the salt of the sea like they are one.
Chapter End Notes
Loveless aromantics often do not experience any emotion they would label as love or reject the cultural definition of love (and of course there are many more variations as there always is when you try to put humans into boxes). Círdan falls into the first category here.
