Instadrabbling Session for Maedhros & Maglor Week
Join us to instadrabble on our Discord server on February 15 using prompts themed around the relationship between Maedhros and Maglor.
SWG News
The interest form for fanworks creators is now open. Sign-ups for fanworks begin on February 15. Learn more about sharing a fanwork at Mereth Aderthad here.
January Challenge: Jubilee
In celebration of our twentieth birthday year, create for any of our past challenges and earn stamps that you missed!
Mereth Aderthad 2025: Call for Fanworks
Do you want to share a fanwork at Mereth Aderthad? The interest form for fanworks creators is now open, and sign-ups for fanworks will begin on February 15.
Character of the Month: Vidumavi of the Northmen
A seemingly minor character, Vidumavi's story illustrates the themes of fellowship, the fading of faerie, and the dangers of racial hierarchy.
New & Updated Fanworks
[Writing] In Defense of Celebrimbor by AdmirableMonster
An essay on the subject of Celebrimbor, sin, and pity.
[Link Collection] Tolkien Connections by Various Creators
If you love The New York Times' game Connections, this collection includes Tolkien-themed Connections games featured in our newsletter.
[Writing] Clear Pebbles of the Rain by StarSpray
But at the very end of the letter she spoke of one more prisoner that Elladan and Elrohir had discovered in one of the deepest dungeons of Dol Guldur, locked away behind a door unopened in so long that the hinges had rusted.
Maglor.
[Writing] "An Elopement With Life": The Spectacular Fading of Celebrían by Zara BalrogBalls
An Elopement with Life is a 9-part essay collection that intertwines literary fan/fiction with the nonfiction essay form, exploring the idea of a Celebrían who stays in Middle Earth. The fictional narrative follows a year in the life of Celebrían who, across conversations with various '…
[Writing] The Prisoner and the Hobbit by pandemonium_213, Dreamflower
A prisoner in the Halls of Mandos, although grateful to be alive, nonetheless finds his days to be monotonous, that is, until a most unusual person, and one whose life was affected greatly by the prisoner's masterwork, accepts an offer to begin a correspondence.
[Writing] Despair and Defiance by Zdenka
Celebrimbor comes to Galadriel with word of Annatar’s betrayal, and offers her a gift.
Current Challenge
Jubilee
This January, for our annual amnesty challenge, any challenge from January 2017 onward is fair game! Read more ...
Random Challenge
Beyond the Circles of Middle-earth
Create a fanwork that places a Silmarillion character into a fictional setting from our real-world literature Read more ...
New in References
Vidumavi of the Northmen by Secondborn
A seemingly minor character, Vidumavi's story illustrates the themes of fellowship, the fading of faerie, and the dangers of racial hierarchy.
Tolkien, His Gnarly Canon, and His Authority by Dawn Walls-Thumma
Tolkien Fanfiction Survey data from 2015 and 2020 shows that Tolkien fans have diverse views on Tolkien's authority but suggests that adherence to his authority is decreasing over time.
So You Want to Present at a Tolkien Conference? Writing the Proposal by SWG Newsletter Staff
Video and materials from our session on how to write a proposal for a Tolkien conference. The session covers how conferences work, the different types of sessions, and how to structure and write a proposal.
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] Scatha's Bed by Himring
Like Smaug, Scatha, a great cold-drake of the North, keeps track of his hoard.
[Writing] Meadow Flowers & Butterflies by StarSpray
A collection of non-Silm-based drabbles and ficlets.
[Writing] Seven Names by Anne Wolfe
Seven names a princess of Rohan and daughter of Helm Hammerhand might have borne, and the fates that accompany them.
Around the World and Web
February challenge at tolkienshortfanworks
The February Challenge at tolkienshortfanworks has been posted to the community on Dreamwidth. Thematic prompt: recovery. Formal challenge: story-telling. As usual, these can be filled separately and freely combined with other prompts, such as the SWG's monthly challenge prompts. New participants welcome.
February 2025 Calls for Papers and Proposals
Calls for papers and conference proposals that are open during the month of February.
Finish Your Fucking Fics February 2025
A low-key bingo card challenge that aims to help authors clean out works-in-progress during the month of February.
Fandom Trumps Hate 2025
FTH is an online auction of fanworks that generates donations to progressive nonprofits that are working to protect marginalized people.
Femslash Big Bang 2025
Femslash Big Bang is a multifandom big bang for fiction of 10K+ words and artwork.
Fanworks Tagged with Mandos
Mahtan's Apprentice by WendWriter
Nerdanel is in love with a Noldor prince with a reputation for being sullen at best, difficult at worst. Whatever does she see in him? And how will Mahtan get along with him?
Falling Stars by Independence1776
Mestië and Alagos suffer the consequences of breaking Ar-Gimilzôr’s laws. Dark.
Comes the Dawn by Ithilwen
Maedhros enters the Halls of Mandos, and his final fate is revealed. Adult themes.
The Heir of Fëanor by Ithilwen
Maedhros and Maglor at last regain the Silmarils. But have they redeemed their Oath? Violence, disturbing themes.
About Time by SWE
What happens when still-exiled Feanorians are released from Mandos? The adventures of Fitzroy 'Curufin' Smith across two continents in the 19th-20th century, and his reunion with his wandering brother Maglor.
If Death is Kind by Naltariel
Glorfindel during his stay in Mandos. First of the Morning Light series. Nominated for MEFA 2009.
Sporting Woods by IgnobleBard
Namo takes a stroll through Lórien.
Eau de Olórin by pandemonium_213
Olórin spies on the Doomsman of the Valar and the Master of Dreams, hoping to catch them in flagrante delicto. What he sees is terrifying yet oh, so compelling.
MEFA 2009: Honorable Mention - Humor: General
Update! Chibis by whitewave added! Please see her Gallery of Chibis on Photobucket. Many thanks, whitewave.
Námo Mandos by Dawn Felagund
Námo Mandos occupies a common role found in world mythology: that of the god of the dead. Shrouded in mystery and beset with moral ambiguity, Námo participates in tales with parallels in other world myths, especially the Greek and the Norse.
No Traveler Returns by IgnobleBard
Namo confronts a newly dead Elf.
I Ain't Got No Body by IgnobleBard
Glorfindel can't seem to stay out of Mandos.
Lessons from the Mountain by MithLuin
What happened to the spirit of Maedhros when he died?
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 from November 2024.
Manwë's Birthday Party by Dawn Felagund, Tarion Anarore, Rhapsody, oshun, Isil Elensar, pandemonium_213, Beatrisu
Round robin. Feel free to join in! In honor of SWG's second birthday, we offer a sillyfic about what may have happened if Varda held a party for her beloved husband ... and invited all of Aman. Please see the Story Notes for more details before adding to the story.
The Small and Secret Things by Dawn Felagund
An attempt at writing a drabble or other short fiction every day, based on the Dictionary.com Word of the Day. Please see the story notes for more information. ETA: This project is on indefinite hiatus. I am working on my second degree as well as working full-time and so have had to tell the muses to take a hike. Hopefully, once my classes end, I'll be able to get back into writing.
Return to Me by Dawn Felagund
Finarfin assists with the re-embodiment of his son Finrod.
Needling pride by Rhapsody
Maedhros in Mandos, how will he answer to Mandos' judgement?
Beren Stinks by Sinneahtes
The world's absolute worst retelling of the story of Beren and Luthien. And I mean that when I say it. ;)
The Tapestries by Dawn Felagund
Shortly after his death, Fëanor discovers in the halls of Mandos the tapestries his mother has woven about his life. Seen through Míriel's eyes, the tapestries look back at the time from the kinslaying at Alqualondë, to the Fëanorians' arrival in Middle-earth, to his untimely death at the hands of the Balrogs. Fëanor is faced with both the weight of his deeds, as seen through another's eyes, and his contributions to the Noldor.
