New Challenge: Potluck Bingo
Sit down to a delicious selection of prompts served on bingo boards, created by the SWG community.
SWG News
Bingo Cards Wanted for Potluck Bingo
Our November-December challenge will be Potluck Bingo, featuring cards created by you! If you'd like to create cards or prompts for cards, we are taking submissions.
Tolkien Meta Week, December 8-14
We will be hosting a Tolkien Meta Week in December, here on the archive and on our Tumblr, for nonfiction fanworks about Tolkien.
New Challenge: Orctober
Orcs on a quest for freedom seek a place sheltered and safe from the Dark Lord. Fulfill prompts to gather the clues needed to bring them to freedom.
New & Updated Fanworks
[Series] Pennas Pengolodh by AdmirableMonster
The majority of the Silmarillion was penned by a single Elf--an Elf who was so thoroughly written out as to appear only through the ways in which their perspective shaped the stories we see. This is their story, the historian's history, the Pennas Pengolodh.
[Writing] Havens by AdmirableMonster
The Exiles of Gondolin come to Sirion. The residents of Sirion welcome them, and friendship blossoms between the last remaining loremaster of Gondolin and a young poet of Sirion.
[Writing] Collection of Potluck Drabbles by Artano
This is a collection of true drabbles completed for the 'Four Words' drabble bingo card.
[Writing] Hurting Tyelpë by elennalore
Sauron has taken Celebrimbor as a prisoner in Ost-in-Edhil. Whump happens.
[Writing] On a Night of Snow by Elleth
Fingon returns to Barad Eithel after a late-autumn hunt, finding someone unexpected with his wife. The night takes an even more unexpected turn for all three of them.
[Reference] Mapping Arda, Part III: The Second Age by Varda delle Stelle, Anérea
A series of articles featuring fan-made maps of all the lands of Arda. Part III explores the island of Númenor and mainland Middle-earth during the Second Age.
[Writing] Getting Dirty by Elleth
A collection of NSFW ficlets for the "Keep It Clean" bingo card of the 2024 Potluck Bingo.
Current Challenge
Potluck Bingo
Help yourself to a collection of prompts on bingo boards designed by members and friends of the SWG. Read more ...
Random Challenge
Traditions
Create a fanwork about or showing the oral tradition. Read more ...
New in References
Mapping Arda, Part III: The Second Age by Varda delle Stelle, Anérea
A series of articles featuring fan-made maps of all the lands of Arda. Part III explores the island of Númenor and mainland Middle-earth during the Second Age.
Doom and Ascent: The Argument of ‘Beowulf: the Monsters and the Critics’ by Simon J. Cook
Simon reads 'Beowulf: the Monsters and the Critics' to conclude his account of the Anglo-Saxon tower of its allegory.
Why People Don't Comment: Data and History From the Tolkienfic Fandom by Dawn Walls-Thumma
A reworking of the 2018 article for Long Live Feedback that includes data from the 2020 Tolkien Fanfiction Survey, pointing to a lack of comments as related to skill, confidence, and community connection.
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] Homage to the Song of Durin by Flora-lass
Legolas is inspired by Gimli's song - and by Gimli himself.
[Artwork] Long-tressed Wingildi by Anérea
"... the long-tressed Wingildi ... spirits of the foam and the surf of ocean."
~ a painted sketch for Scribbles and Drabbles 2024.
[Writing] Partners in Craft by elennalore
Annatar realises that he might like Celebrimbor too much.
Around the World and Web
Teitho November/December Contest: Healing
The theme for Teitho's November/December contest is healing.
Lord of the Rings Secret Santa 2024
LotR SESA has been ongoing for twenty-one years and is running again this year as a prompt meme hosted on AO3 for all genres of Tolkien-based fanfiction.
Kiliel Week 2024
Kiliel Week is a Tumblr event for fanworks about the Kili/Tauriel pairing.
November challenge at tolkienshortfanworks
The challenge for November has been posted to the tolkienshortfanworks community on Dreamwidth. Thematic prompt: refuge. Formal challenge: include imitation of a sound. As always, these can be filled independently and also freely combined with SWG and other challenges. New participants welcome!
November 2024 Call for Papers and Proposals
Calls for papers and proposals for conferences and publications that are open during the month of November 2024.
Notes on Small Matters by Narya
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Chapter 1
Tirion
Fo.A. 225
Narquelië, fourth day
Family: Well enough. Occasional squabbles and squalls.
Weather: Holding mild and clear.
Politics: Little to note at present, for which I am grateful.
Other: Mablung has returned, and is living with Edrahil. Fingon paused, and rested his quill against his top lip. I am glad for them both.
“Do you write every day?” Arko asked, running his fingers over the scrolls tucked neatly into cubby holes above his brother's desk.
Fingon shook his head. “No. Once or twice each month, perhaps, unless there is something particular to tell.”
Alqualondë
Fi.A. 783
Narvinyë, eleventh day
Family: Many leagues away, for the most part. I am with Finrod and Amárië, visiting Meleth for the winter months.
Weather: Gently cold. I am reminded of Himring in early autumn, when the light grew thin and frost bloomed over the land.
Politics: A letter came from our uncle. Some of the reborn speak again of returning to Middle-earth. I am sorry for them – how could I not be? – but I cannot see how it is possible. For us, the Straight Road runs only one way.
Other: I have made a friend here – a gull who comes to my window each morning for crumbs. I will miss her when we leave.
He took lovers on occasion, as time went on. The Valar went among the Elves but rarely, and the old decrees did not seem to matter as they had.
Once, in a tavern on Tol Eressëa, he was propositioned by a beautiful red-haired youth who was deep in his cups. If he closed his eyes, Fingon thought, and let his mind drift backwards, he could almost pretend...
No.
Gently he disentangled himself from the lad and sent him back to his friends.
Tirion
Si.A. 1243
Cermië, twentieth day
Family: Findis wishes to rebuild the old summer house. She says it is past time – but our grandmother will not hear of it.
Weather: Unbearably hot.
Politics: Last night I dined with Ingwion. He has not seen his father these three Ages. Fingon exhaled slowly. One wonders what to think.
Other: I have an urge to journey north, as we used to. Perhaps it is the heat. I will see if Angrod wishes to go; a change of air may do him good.
“Why do you still do this?” Turgon turned on the spot, gesturing at the aisles of scrolls, leatherbound journals, and hand-stitched chapbooks. “We forget nothing – and surely no harm can come to us here. Not now. Why this need to record every detail of our lives?”
Fingon tucked his most recent scroll onto its shelf, and dropped cat-like from the ladder. “Not every detail. A selection only.” He smiled. “A flavour, if you will.”
“What good does it do?”
A shrug.
“Fingon. He is not coming back.” Turgon's voice was flat and cold as a stone.
“So you have told me before.”
“And have I been wrong?”
Fingon met his brother's gaze – gently. “We shall see.”
The Strand of Ilmarin
Sev.A. 823
Ringarë, second day
Family: Úrendil (Arko's great-grandchild) today gave birth to a baby girl - so Estelindë has a cousin. I wonder what mischief they will cause as they grow.
Weather: Cold – and somehow bare. I do not mean the trees. Fingon paused, realising he was no longer strictly recording the weather. Can the Undying Lands grow old? Perhaps not. Perhaps it is I who am changed.
Politics: I hardly know these days. At any rate, things seem at peace.
Overhead, a gull's cry echoed. The wind stirred Fingon's braids, and weak sunlight gleamed on the golden threads.
Other: Olórin and the others are gone again. There are rumours that Melian, too, is abroad once more. Of course I do not know what this means. Fingon lifted his face to the breeze. It came from the east, over the sea. But I continue to wait, and hope.
