Manwë's Mailbag

Manwë's Mailbag challenge banner - A person's left hand holds a picture postcard in front of a landscape and bright sky; the postcard label reads 'Beleriand' in tengwar

A shadow passes over the sun. There is the thunder of giant wings. And then …

A letter slowly spirals to the ground. It's Manwë's Eagles, delivering the mail to Middle-earth! The final challenge of the year will use postcards as prompts and can be done individually or collaboratively with other participants.

This challenge has two parts - making postcards which will be used as prompts, and using postcard prompts to create a fanwork.

PART 1 - MAKING POSTCARDS (starting Nov 1)
Design and submit a postcard—image and text. It can be from any character, in any time period. We only have three guidelines for you to keep in mind:

1. All images must either be your own work, images you have permission to use (ex: stock image you have rights to use, images licensed under Creative Commons, or similar), or images in the public domain (ex: Botticelli’s La Primavera, Abrecht Durer’s The Little Owl).

2. The text should be short enough to realistically fit on a standard sized postcard—A6 (~4x6"). It should also be either your own work or text in the public domain.

3. As we would like to be able to send them through the mail, please do not submit any images or text featuring explicit sex. (The USPS can refuse "matter that is otherwise mailable that has on its wrapper or envelope any indecent, lewd, lascivious, or obscene writing or printing". No one's going to arrest the mods if we drop a naughty card in the mailbox, but the card will probably end up in a postal inspector's office rather than with the intended recipient.)

The deadline to submit a postcard for use as a challenge prompt is December 1 — this gives us time to get at least the digital version of the card to the creators for Part 2 and to print/mail as needed. If you submit a postcard after December 1, you will still get the challenge stamp, but we may hold your postcard in reserve for the January amnesty.

To submit a card, send your design (image and text) to the mods via email, DM, or a comment on the DW post (comments will be screened by default.)

PART 2 - GET A POSTCARD PROMPT (starting Nov 15)

From Nov 15 on, you can sign up for a postcard prompt by messaging the mods in some form—email, on Dreamwidth, Tumblr, or on the Discord. It's that simple. Let us know if you want a digital-only card, or if you would like a card to be mailed. Please note that while you can sign up for multiple digital cards if you wish, we will only physically mail one card per person. Post what you create for your prompt by the end of the challenge for a stamp.

If you would like a card mailed to you: please request your card by December 1. This hopefully gives adequate time for the card to arrive before the end of the challenge. We'll give you the digital version immediately so you can start creating. The mods will need a mailing address for you. This will be used only to mail your postcard and will not be retained. Please do not put your address in a public message. (DW comments will be screened by default, and we will not publicly reply to Tumblr asks that include addresses.)

Digital-only cards may be requested right up until the January 15 challenge deadline.

This challenge opened in .

Fanworks Tagged with Manwë's Mailbag

This is a Writing fanwork

Lemon Balm, Comfrey and Sage by Narya

After being injured in a riding accident, Eldarion stays behind in Minas Tirith while his mother and father embark on their spring tour.  He is not best pleased when he is assigned to help in the Houses of Healing, but soon finds he has much to learn...

(This is a work in progress.)

Fanwork Information and Table of Contents

This is a Writing fanwork

Aeluin Revisited by Anérea

A nonagenarian Andreth thinks back on her life, and love. (Featuring cameo appearances by Finrod and Adanel.)

Fanwork Information and Table of Contents

This is a Writing fanwork

Remember no grievance by firstamazon

And when the tidings came to Balar of the fall of Gondolin and the death of Turgon, Ereinion Gil-galad son of Fingon was named High King of the Noldor in Middle-earth.
~Of Tuor and the Fall of Gondolin

When the War of Wrath breaks, Gil-galad must deal with a heavy contingent of refugees from all the fallen realms of Beleriand.

Fanwork Information and Table of Contents

This is a Writing fanwork

Two Journeys by Lferion

In the First Age, Fingon traveled to Rerir after discovering Turgon's disappearance. In the Fourth Age, he travels to Rerir again in Beleriand Risen.f

Fanwork Information and Table of Contents

This is a Writing fanwork

In Dreams Revealed by daughterofshadows

Across the ages, Elrond dreams.

Fanwork Information and Table of Contents

This is a Writing fanwork

My Tent Is Always Open To You by Grundy

A snippet of life in early Numenor, in which Elros tries once again to persuade his brother to come see his new place.

Fanwork Information and Table of Contents

This is a Writing fanwork

White Horn Tower by Himring

After the fall of Dorthonion, Edhellos (originally named in Quenya Eldalote), Angrod's wife, has chosen to move to Barad Nimras, the tower that Finrod built in the Falas on a headland west of Eglarest.

Fanwork Information and Table of Contents

This is a Writing fanwork

Through This Warm Affinity by sallysavestheday

Celeborn misses Galadriel on a snowy night in Eregion. Ósanwë helps a little.

Fanwork Information and Table of Contents

This is a Writing fanwork

All That Is Gold by cuarthol

Túrin struggles to protect Níniel and slay Glaurung, but which has he done?

Alternate Universe - Canon Divergent based on The Children of Húrin

Fanwork Information and Table of Contents

This is a Writing fanwork

On Such A Night As This by polutropos

Two friends discuss their fears and hopes on the shores of Cuiviénen. 

Fanwork Information and Table of Contents

This is a Writing fanwork

Into the West by elennalore

Celebrimbor travels to Númenor and finds a new direction to his life.

Fanwork Information and Table of Contents

This is a Writing fanwork

In After Days by StarSpray

Something out near the entrance to the bay caught his eye. It was a small, dark shape on the water, slowly growing larger. As it passed into Eldamar out of Belegaer, Eärendil felt his breath catch. “Elwing,” he said.
“I see it.” She leaned farther out of the window, as though those few inches might grant her a better look. She had one hand raised to shield her eyes from the sun’s glare. “It looks like—”
“Yes, but it can’t be.”

Fanwork Information and Table of Contents

This is a Writing fanwork

Yávië by AdmirableMonster

The queen of Númenor reflects on her past and future with a strange companion.

Fanwork Information and Table of Contents

This is a Writing fanwork

A Promise Kept by chrissystriped

Mablung leaves Doriath on the eve of the Nirnaeth Arnoediad.

Fanwork Information and Table of Contents

This is a Writing fanwork

Yours to discover by I_did_not_mean_to

Daeron thinks about his life in Doriath, writing letters he'll never send and wishing things were different so he could see Maglor again.

Fanwork Information and Table of Contents