Rejects

Rejects challenge banner - The challenge title and dates (April 15 - May 15 2023) are showing in plain white boxes superimposed over a background of a medeival manuscript in which the text appears to be struck out, with illustrated margins showing animals and flowers.

Not every idea makes it into a finished piece in its original form! J.R.R. Tolkien worked on his legendarium for decades, and while a few things didn’t change much, over that time some of the early ideas were altered considerably. In this month’s challenge, we invite you to consider some of the rejected concepts from the early legendarium.

Prompts for this challenge can be used in any way that you want. You do not have to create something about the specific "rejected canon" that is in the prompt. You could consider another character's perspective if this canon detail was true, or you could consider what happened in the story on either side of the event: the history leading to the rejected canon, or the history that came after it. The prompt can factor in to your fanwork as much or as little as you would like. If a prompt is not a good fit for you, let the mods know, and we'll pick something new for you.

To receive a prompt, comment on our Dreamwidth, send us an ask on Tumblr, post in the the #monthly-challenges channel on our Discord, or message us through the SWG site.

Many thanks to Zdenka for creating this month's banner and stamps!

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Prompts

Choose your prompt from the collection below.

View Prompts
  • Sons of Fëanor (except Maglor) slay each other over Dior's Silmaril ("Sketch of the Mythology")
  • Celegorm and Curufin found Nargothrond (“Sketch of the Mythology”)
  • Maeglin is sent to Gondolin by his mother (“Sketch of the Mythology”)
  • Maglor steals a Silmaril and casts himself into the earth with it (“Sketch of the Mythology”)
  • The Valar rule the last Silmaril is Eärendil’s because of the deeds of the Sons of Fëanor (“Sketch of the Mythology”)
  • Dead Elves are reborn as the children of their children (Laws and Customs, etc)
  • The lords of Gondolin (The Book of Lost Tales)
  • When Beren first comes upon Lúthien, she is surrounded by moths (The Book of Lost Tales)
  • Beren seeks dancing lessons from Lúthien, and Lúthien loves him for praising her dancing skills (The Book of Lost Tales)
  • Captured by Melkor, Beren pretends to want to work for him, so Melkor puts him to work in the kitchens, where he is assigned all the worst tasks (The Book of Lost Tales)
  • Some Noldor were "twisted to the evil of Melko and mingled among [the] Orcs" (The Book of Lost Tales)
  • Ecthelion slays Gothmog with the spike on his helmet (The Book of Lost Tales)
  • Melkor captured the Eagles of Thorondor and, when they refused to reveal the secret of flight, cut off their wings to fashion a pair for himself (The Book of Lost Tales)
  • Dwarves have no children and never laugh (The Book of Lost Tales)
  • Tuor leaves Middle-earth without Idril; she swims after him (The Book of Lost Tales)
  • Elwing is captured at Sirion—by whom is unclear (The Book of Lost Tales)
  • "Voronwë could not swim" (The Book of Lost Tales)
  • Turgon sent a messenger to Valinor who, "enmeshed in magics" at the edge of the Twilit Isles, becomes the Sleeper in the Tower of Pearl (The Book of Lost Tales)

Fanworks Tagged with Rejects

This is a Writing fanwork

A good day by daughterofshadows

Salgant gets some unexpected gifts

Fanwork Information and Table of Contents

This is a Writing fanwork

Clouds by Grundy

Young Elladan and Elrohir are at odds over something they read in a book. Glorfindel is called on to settle the matter.

Fanwork Information and Table of Contents

This is a Writing fanwork

Eyes In The Dark by LadySternchen

-Arda is filled with "brownies, fays, pixies, leprawns, and what else are they not called, for their number is very great"-
Little Denethor is playing by the river, when he happens to look up into the trees. And the trees look back.

Fanwork Information and Table of Contents

This is a Writing fanwork

In Sweet Music is Such Art by reindeer_pizza

Little Luthien has a strange encounter one night.

Fanwork Information and Table of Contents

This is a Writing fanwork

A Place for Such Joy as Theirs by Himring

Embittered by Aldarion's departure on a long overseas journey against her will, Erendis dismisses the pair of wonderful Elven-birds that were given to her by visitors from Tol Eressea during her honeymoon. The birds briefly visit Erendis's parents on their flight back to Tol Eressea, but will not let themselves be touched and afterwards, it seems, they are not seen or heard again in Numenor.

 "Sweet fools, fly away!" Erendis said. "This is no place for such joy as yours."

I have written a fix-it for the loss of the Elven-birds, sort of.

Fanwork Information and Table of Contents

This is a Writing fanwork

Back to the Surface by chrissystriped

Two dwarves have a special catch in their nets. Old oaths and curses need a solution before the last witnesses of the First Age sail to the West.

Fanwork Information and Table of Contents

This is a Writing fanwork

If Ever She Sang by sallysavestheday

Elwë was not the first Elf Melian drew into Nan Elmoth. He was the first of them to survive. A love story, of sorts.

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This is a Writing fanwork

The Horns of Ylmir by cuarthol

The sea-longing returns to Tuor, and he hopes he might be allowed to sail West, for the miseries of Middle-earth only grow and no place feels safe enough.

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This is a Writing fanwork

Telling Tales by StarSpray

Earendil's stories of his voyages are passed down through the years.

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This is a Writing fanwork

For the Love of Beleriand by Varda delle Stelle

The men were found by the avarin elf Nuin and after this the avari decided to adopt pretty much the atani and this change a lot of things in the history of Beleriand, all thanks to a curious elf

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This is a Writing fanwork

Guileless Son by Kaylee Arafinwiel

Carphadril, Queen of the Evair, moves against the King and Queen of Doriath, a threat to her rule. She raises a son who - she hopes - will wed Luthien and claim the throne of the other great forest realm for her.

 

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This is a Writing fanwork

Ungoliant's Bane by polutropos

A spooky story has instilled a fear of spiders in young Elrond and Elros. Fortunately, Eärendil has returned from his latest sea voyage with a tale that will put their fears to rest. 

Later, the boys tell Maglor of their father's exploits. 

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This is a Writing fanwork

The Fates of Man by AdmirableMonster

Two natural philosophers struggle to warn the Faithful that the end of Númenor is approaching.  But can sworn enemies find a way forward in the midst of the final tumult?

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This is a Writing fanwork

Pages from the Archives of Cîr Imladris by Lferion

Elrond took his library with him to Valinor. In that archive are many things, and the librarians and archivists of Cîr Imladris (New Rivendell) are kept delightfully busy.

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