If you think of the world of fanworks like a feature film, the fanworks creators are the names that splash across the screen before the film begins. They work hard to produce the beautiful art, stories, and other fanworks that keep us coming back (some of us for decades!) to the Tolkien fandom, and they deservedly get the red-carpet treatment. But they are not the only contributors to the project. When most people are filing from the theaters and the usher has begun sweeping away the spilled popcorn before the next showing, other contributors' names file swiftly across the screen, mostly unread but no less essential to the success of the project.

Betas are among the behind-the-scenes fan laborers, and we want to honor them this week. Whether untwisting your most bedeviled prose, acting as a sounding board when developing plot and character, or helping you catch which witch is which (and countless other ways that betas make our fanworks shine), betas are an essential part of the creative process for many writers and other creators.

New fan creators often wonder where they can find a beta. What is the secret handshake that gets you access to this seemingly magical human who genies your work into perfection? On the SWG, we have a beta directory that can help put creators in touch with other SWG members who are willing to help them improve their work. If you're on our Discord, we offer the #beta-finder channel (in the Notice Board section), which is especially invaluable when it's 8PM and your exchange fic is due at midnight and you desperately need someone to make sure you're not about to make a fool of yourself. (If you're not on our Discord and want to be, just reply to this email and we'll send you an invite. All are welcome!)

If you're an SWG member and want to sign up as a beta, you can do so from your user account by clicking the Beta Profile tab at the top. From here, you can go on hiatus with a single click if you are unavailable and want to be removed from the list without deleting your profile.

And to all of you who have beta'ed in the past: we see you and thank you! 💙

SWG News

A Sense of History: Straight Road
The next in a series of articles about ships passing to and from the West, Simon uses "The Fall of Númenor" to attempt to arrive at Tolkien's reading of the exordium to "Beowulf."

Fandom Voices: Comments and Feedback
Our Fandom Voices project tackles the fraught questions of feedback: what it is like to leave and receive feedback in the world of Tolkien fanworks.

20th Birthday Event Feedback Needed
Answer one small question to help us plan an even to celebrate our 20th birthday next year!

Call for Contributors: Themed Collections
Are you passionate about a topic related to Tolkien or fanworks? Do you have an impressive collection of bookmarks and favorites? We are looking for contributors who want to put together themed collections on the topic of their choice.

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.

New Fanworks

Meeting the In-Laws by by awwyeah107 [Writing]

Caranthir is nervous about meeting Haleth’s father and brother for the first time. Haleth is sure everything will go well.

Read more ...

Morgoth's prisoner by by elennalore [Artwork]

Maedhros in Angband

Read more ...

Tumult by by StarSpray [Writing]

After the chaos of the War of Wrath, Uinen smooths the way for the ships of the Edain to sail to their new home.

Later, she does what she can at its fall.

Read more ...

Coincidences of Fate by by cílil [Writing]

Sometimes Eönwë wonders if his life is just like Manwë's romance novels. Sometimes he even thinks the One may be laughing at him from above.

A story told in exactly 4 1/3 drabbles.

Read more ...

Updated Fanworks

Tengwar Drabbles by by cílil [Writing]

A collection of Silmarillion-centric drabbles written for the Tengwar Challenge. Short and sweet!

Read more ...

Around the World and Web

Teitho August/September Contest: Do you remember ...?
For the contest theme for August and September, characters will look back to the past.

August challenge at tolkienshortfanworks on Dreamwidth
The August challenge has been posted to the tolkienshortfanworks community on Dreamwidth. The thematic challenge is: magic trees. The formal challenge is: call and response. New participants welcome.

Tolkien Pinup Calendar 2025 Sign-Ups Open
The Tolkien Pinup Calendar is an 18+ event for creating a calendar of risque fan art of your favorite Tolkien characters! Sign-ups are open for main commissioners, artists, and pinch hitters.

August 2024 Call for Papers and Proposals
Calls for papers and proposals for conferences and publications that are open during the month of August 2024.

Innumerable Stars 2024
Innumerable Stars is a Tolkien fandom gift exchange for all works by Tolkien or associated with Middle-earth.

Forgotten Ground Regained: Call for Submissions
Forgotten Ground Regained is looking for alliterative poetry on the themes of love, devotion, and desire for their upcoming fall issue.

Eönwë Week 2024
Eönwë Week is a Tumblr event for creating fanworks about Eönwë.

Tolkien Reverse Summer Bang (TRSB) 2024
Tolkien Reverse Summer Bang is an annual event where authors create a story of at least 5,000 words in response to an artwork created for the event.

Acorns and Oak Leaves: A Year of Bagginshield
Throughout 2024, the Bagginshield community Acorns and Oak Leaves offers monthly prompts to encourage new creations of all kinds.