Tolkien Meta Week Starts December 8!
Join us December 8-14, here and on Tumblr, as we share our thoughts, musings, rants, and headcanons about all aspects of Tolkien's world.
SWG News
We are currently accepting proposals to present your meta, research, and scholarship! Learn more about presenting your meta, research, and scholarship here.
Artists Needed to Create 2025 Challenge Stamps
We are soliciting help from artists who want to help create the stamps we award to challenge participants.
Tolkien Fanartics: Mapping Arda - The Second Age
In the third part of the Mapping Arda series, Anérea and Varda delle Stelle present a selection of fan-created maps of the lands of the Second Age.
New Challenge: Potluck Bingo
Sit down to a delicious selection of prompts served on bingo boards, created by the SWG community.
New & Updated Fanworks
[Writing] Silhouettes of Doom by Ecthelion
"At least we have learned that the sons of Fëanor can die too."
Nine POVs on the kinslaying at Doriath.
[Writing] Stream of Clashing Ice by Himring
Maglor and his companion almost drown in the River Lune.
[Writing] Kiss the ground / then turn from it by Elleth
After the attack on the Havens of Sirion, a figure from Maedhros' past comes face-to-face with him one last time.
[Writing] Mercy, Love by Elleth
Maedhros' rescue from Thangorodrim left him deeply scarred. But how did it impact Fingon as his rescuer? A drabble sequence from Thangorodrim to the Nirnaeth Arnoediad.
[Artwork] Aredhel at Eithel Ivrin by Anérea
Painting of Aredhel at the Pools of Ivrin
[Writing] Many Journeys by Elleth
A gathering place for ficlets of varying length written in response to prompts, prods and as gift ficlets.
New (added December 2024):
Instadrabbling fics from the SWG server event on February 17, which I never uploaded here, as well as a couple of shorter ficlets…
[Writing] Merry Midwinter by Aprilertuile
Snippets of life of a midwinter in Fëanáro and Nerdanel's household in Valinor, during the Age of the Trees.
Prompts will be as follow, taken from the Midwinter Bingo card (board by AdmirableMonster) :
Family ; Carols and Singing ; Death and rebirth ; Candles ; Sledding
…
Current Challenge
Festival of Lights Fest
This is a fun and low-key event meant to encourage works about or inspired by Hanukkah, running this year in conjunction with the Potluck Bingo challenge. Read more ...
Potluck Bingo
Help yourself to a collection of prompts on bingo boards designed by members and friends of the SWG. Read more ...
Random Challenge
Of All That Remains
Create a fanwork that features a memory from a character's childhood. Read more ...
New in References
Libraries at the Edge of Middle-earth: Fanworks, Archives, and Communities as Heritage by Dawn Walls-Thumma
Tolkien fanfiction archives both preserve the "libraries of Middle-earth" in the form of keeping Tolkien's original words alive and promote conversations around heritage as community and fan identity that keeps those central texts relevant to diverse fans in a rapidly changing world.
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
[Multimedia] Entwined {text + podfic} by Anérea
First Age 116: in the foothills of the Orocani Mountains, west of Hildórien and far, far east of Beleriand.
Woman meets Maia in four perfect drabbles.
[Writing] Homage to the Song of Durin by Flora-lass
Legolas is inspired by Gimli's song - and by Gimli himself.
[Writing] Partners in Craft by elennalore
Annatar realises that he might like Celebrimbor too much.
Around the World and Web
Thorin's Spring Forge 2025
Sign-ups are open for Thorin's Spring Forge, a minibang-style event where writers and artists come together to create fanworks centred on Thorin Oakenshield.
Tolkien Pinup Calendar: Dead Dove December
Tolkien Pinup Calendar is hosting a December event for non-con smut fanworks.
Tolkien Pinup Calendar: 8 Nights of Smut
Tolkien Pinup Calendar and Hanukkah Bingo are teaming up for eight nights of naughty prompts.
Festival of Lights Fest 2024
This is a fun and low-key event meant to encourage works about or inspired by Hanukkah, running this year in conjunction with the Potluck Bingo challenge.
Fluffcember 2024
Fluffcember is a Tumblr event with daily fluffy prompts during the month of December.
Bollywood
The world's largest film industry isn't Hollywood, with its stars and scandals and endless sequels but Bollywood, the film industry that originated in Bombay in the late 19th century, more than a decade before Hollywood got its start. This month's challenge celebrates the lively dances, glittering costumes, towering emotions, and music you can't get out of your head of Bollywood.
Prompts this month come from Bollywood films and will be assigned by a moderator. You can request your prompt on Dreamwidth, Tumblr, the #monthly-challenges channel on our Discord, or by emailing the mods. You can specify whether you'd like a song, film title, trope, or color palette—or you can let us surprise you! (If you choose a song, let us know if you'd like a song with an English translation available.) Since this challenge has closed, unused prompts can be found below, and you can self-select if you prefer. As always, you can use any aspect of your prompt to inspire your fanwork.
In some cases, we provide an intentionally brief and vague synopsis of a film or definition of a concept so that creators can get started with a prompt without having to do additional research. However, creators are welcome to dig deeper into a prompt if they want to and use what they learn to inspire a fanwork. For example, you might find that the film in your prompt has a clever subplot you will write a story around, the music video for a song has costumes you will include in a drawing, or a concept has aspects not included in our definition that you wish to use to make a playlist. While this is not required, you should feel free to dig as deeply into the prompts if you want and use anything you find!
This challenge opened in .
Prompts
Choose your prompt from the collection below.
- View Prompts
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Songs
"Aayega Aanewala": lyrics (scroll down) | video
"Baharon Phool Barsao": video
"Chhoti Si Aasha": lyrics | video
"Dil Dil Hai Koi Shisha Toh Nahi": video
"It’s Rocking": lyrics | video
"Kehna Hi Kya": lyrics | video
"Main Hoon Na": lyrics | video
"Say Na Say Na": lyrics | video
Film
RRR: two men initially on opposite sides become friends as they fight for freedom
Mother India: a poor woman struggles to survive and raise her sons (full movie, no subtitles)
Mughal-e-Azam (The Great Mughal): a prince falls in love with a court dancer, to his father’s disapproval (full movie, subtitles Hindi only)
Dilwale Dulhania Le Jayenge (The Brave-Hearted Will Take the Bride): two characters fall in love while traveling (trailer, subtitles)
Deewaar (The Wall): two brothers find themselves on opposite sides of the law
Lagaan: Once upon a Time in India (Land Tax): a village that can’t afford its taxes must win a bet on a sporting match to save themselves (U.S. trailer)
Pakeezah (The Pure One): a woman sleeping on a train gets a note from an anonymous admirer (full movie, no subtitles)
Bombay: a mixed marriage in tense times
Mr. India (1961): a young man is mistaken for his gangster doppelganger
Mr. India (1987): a musician who can turn invisible inadvertently becomes a superhero after the girl he loves is mistaken for a spy
Jodhaa Akbar: the political marriage of the emperor Akbar and Princess Jodhaa (trailer, subtitles)
Devdas: the main character’s family rejects his marriage to his childhood friend
Kuch Kuch Hota Hai (Something Happens): multiple love triangles (trailer, no subtitles)
Dil Se… (From the Heart): a character searching for a missed connection gets caught up in far more than he bargained for
Enthiran (The Robot): a scientist tries to control the android he built - and the android falls in love with his girlfriend (trailer, subtitles)
The Lunchbox: a mix-up leads to an unlikely friendship and eventually love (U.S. trailer)
Sir: a maid and her employer fall in love (trailer, subtitles)
Bride & Prejudice: a Bollywood twist on Pride and Prejudice (trailer; full version available on YouTube with ads)
Amar Akbar Anthony: three brothers raised in different faiths reunite (full movie, no subtitles)
Awara (The Vagabond): a lifelong criminal is defended legally by the woman he loves (full movie, subtitles)
Aan (Pride): family drama ensues when the king announces his plan to make his kingdom a democracy (full movie, no subtitles)
Anari (Naive): a character described as "as big an idiot as the world is clever" is cleared of a crime and falls in love (full movie, subtitles)
Tropes
include the original three elements of Indian cinema: drama, pantomime, dance
star-crossed lovers
masala: include scenes that strongly provoke at least two of the nine emotions: love, humor, wonder, courage, calm, anger, sadness, fear, disgust
angry or interfering parents
love triangle
family tragedy
long-lost relative
sacrifice
Mughal empire: extensive empire known for its patronage of the arts
Mahabharata (epic): two groups of cousins vie for power
Ramayana (epic): a lord must sacrifice his own happiness for the sake of his subjects
mehndi: henna skin decoration
elaborate setting
mudra: symbolic hand gestures
a cast of characters from diverse groups
flamboyant costumes
Color Palettes
Hex codes: #9e53a8 #684393 #7a3d42 #bf9fb4 #255e72
Hex codes: #ba158e #a09805 #f6b3bc #0092bb #d62b33
Hex codes: #ff009a #33fffe #ffcc33 #343434 #ff6634
Hex codes: #893d7d #ff6839 #e1468a #0f3a67 #29758c
Fanworks Tagged with Bollywood
Primordial Daydream by Anérea
The Queen of Faery takes a little light trip down memory lane.
Summer Celebration by between_thepages
Amarië and Finrod are dancing together during a celebration of summer.
Dream of the Black Sword by Flora-lass
Beleg comforts Gwindor in Taur-nu-Fuin.
Coincidences of Fate by cílil
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.
The Noldolantë (Sirion verses) by Tehta
The third kinslaying, as a musical.
Please do not take this too seriously. The writer certainly doesn't.
The Dyer's Vat by Himring
A minor incident during the Fall of Eregion: no, this is not about the Gwaith-i-Mirdain or Celebrimbor, it is about the Dyers' Guild. Not one for the history books, but the Eldar remember...
Unforgotten by daughterofshadows
Carrying the Silmaril for millennia has consequences.
Reflections by AdmirableMonster
A story of three friends in Númenor, one of whom attracts the attention of the High Priest. What does friendship mean in the shadow of the Black Temple?
An exercise in music... And patience by Aprilertuile
Makalaurë was sitting at the harp in his music room. He was holding a dark blindfold in his hands and was looking at it with much scepticism.
Noldolantë by Grundy
Maglor and his wife throughout the Ages.
