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.
Anniversary Contest
On 15 September 1977, a culmination of the fictional histories and mythologies that had been J.R.R. Tolkien's life work was published as The Silmarillion. In the thirty years since, this essential and challenging work has captivated readers … and inspired its share of writers as well!
At SWG, our interests in the history of Arda are as broad and varied as the stories of The Silmarillion itself, but we are all united by a love and fascination for this book that has sparked creativity and forged friendships around the globe. As we celebrate thirty years of The Silmarillion, we at SWG thought that there was no better way to honor The Silmarillion's publication anniversary than by doing what we love: reading and writing stories inspired by our favorite book.
Over the next few weeks, we challenge SWG members and the Tolkien community as a whole to share their Silmarillion-inspired creativity and to acknowledge and encourage that of others. Write a story, poem, drabble, or essay--whatever inspires you!--that is based on The Silmarillion. Post them here under our Anniversary Contest, and the piece with the most words worth of reviews at the end of the contest will receive honor, prestige, and of course, a shiny banner.
Likewise, for the non-writers among us, the reader who writes the most words of reviews about contest entries will also receive honor, prestige, and a shiny banner (as well as the appreciation of the authors that she or he has reviewed, of course).
Other Important Stuff
- So what is eligible for the contest? Anything that meets our site requirements--that is, it is based on or concerned with The Silmarillion or related works--is eligible. Within that constraint, any subject is fine. Any format--story, drabble, poem, essay--is acceptable, as is any genre, as are alternate-universe (AU) entries. All ratings are fine so long as they are clearly marked according to our site requirements.
It's always been our group's policy to define "Silmarillion writing" liberally. Nonetheless, if you still have a question, please don't hesitate to contact us at moderator@silmarillionwritersguild.org and ask! - We do ask that your entry be a new piece of writing. Obviously, it is impractical to visit every Tolkien site on the Web--nor will we be raiding your hard drives--to verify this, so we ask participants to be honest and honorable.
- For each piece of writing entered, we are asking authors to write at least one review of a contest entry as well.
- Therefore, you are welcome to enter as many pieces of writing as you'd like! Just don't forget to write at least that many reviews …
- What are the deadlines? The deadline for writing (and posting) your entry is 1 October 2007. By 2 October, the challenge will be marked as closed, and we will not accept further entries.
The deadline for reviewing entries is 15 October 2007. On 16 October, we will count the reviews entered and award some shiny banners! - Like authors, reviewers must still follow our site policies and must be diplomatic in their reviews. Yes, this means that constructive criticism is acceptable (and will be counted toward word-count totals). No, you may not act like Orcs or any other minions of Morgoth.
- Only original, relevant, and on-point review content will be counted. This means that quotes (from the story or from anywhere else) will not count toward the totals. Rambling for 2,000 words about your day does not count toward the totals. The SWG moderators and administrators reserve the right to make this decision. In the instance that we feel that content is not on-point enough to be counted, we will attempt to contact the reviewer and give him or her the option to edit the review to add relevant content, if s/he wishes.
- No, you may not review your own entries. Well, actually, you may (the software allows it), but we will not count these reviews toward your total.
- If you have any questions--no matter how silly they may seem--please do not hesitate to contact our friendly mods at moderator@silmarillionwritersguild.org. We're always happy to help!
The Technical Details
How do you participate?
First and foremost, you must have an account with the SWG archive. They're free … so to sign up, please visit us here.
If you are entering a piece in the contest, add the story to the archive as you usually would using My Account --> Add New New Writing. On the "Add New Writing" screen, you will have the option to choose any challenges that the story satisfies. Choose "Anniversary Contest" here, and this will add you to the challenge group with the other entries.
If you have any trouble with this, simply designate in your summary that it is a contest entry, and an administrator will add your story for you. Or drop us a line at moderator@silmarillionwritersguild.org and let us know that you'd like your story added.
If you are reviewing entries in the contest, you may view all entries by visiting the Anniversary Contest page. From there, simply review as usual; we'll take care of the rest!
Happy writing and reading and, of course, a happy anniversary, Silmarillion!
This challenge opened in .
Fanworks Tagged with Anniversary Contest
House of the Setting Sun by Robinka
No hope, no regrets. An AU take on Mablung's coming to terms with the passing of Melian and the consequences thereof.
A Greater Fire by Elleth
For the Anniversary Contest: An AU of the what-if persuasion.
Chapter One: After the Darkening, the Kinslaying and the Flight of the Noldor, Nerdanel retreats to Alqualondë. What and whom will she find there, and where will her steps lead afterwards?
In-Betweens by Elleth
The story (or stories) of Nerdanel and Fëanor. The little things, the in-betweens that are not mentioned in the Silmarillion or History of Middle-earth, starting with the beginning of their romance.
The Fourth Station by MithLuin
Maedhros meets someone he does not expect in the Halls of Mandos.
First Place (Short Works) - SWG's Silmarillion Anniversary Contest (2007)
The Making of the Werewolves by IgnobleBard
Sauron's creation of the werewolves.
My Shining Stars by oshun
And now for something a bit controversial: Elrond stands on the deck of the ship carrying him to Aman writing notes in a journal.
MEFA 2008, Second Place, Elves: House of Elrond
SWG Silmarillion Anniversary Contest, Third Place Winner, Short Works
The last stand by Rhapsody
During the final moments of the Nírnaeth Arnoediad, a captain and his men rescue two elves during their last and desperate stand.
~MEFA 2008 Second place in Times: First Age and Prior: General, thank you Pandemonium for nominating it!~
Expecting. by ford_of_bruinen
Miriel spends a morning by the foot of Laurelin, thinking of the son she is carrying.
Awakening by ford_of_bruinen
Iminye wakes for the first time. Poetry
Innocence by ford_of_bruinen
An elf awoken at Cuivienen looks back at a simpler way of life.
Early Winter at Himring Hill by oshun
Written for Dawn Felagund's 2007 birthday, in response to a request for something about Fingon and Maedhros later in their life than the period I have been covering in my Maitimo and Findekáno story cycle. Fingon visits Maedhros at Himring Hill, after the Dagor Aglareb during the watchful peace of the Siege of Angband.
MEFA 2008, First Place, Romance: Elven Lands
Prey for the Hunter by Sulriel
A tale of loss and love in the wilds of Beleriand
Echoes from the past, reflections of yesterday by Idnarrac Serdna
The end of the Third Age is seen through the eyes of Olórin, who observes it as a completion of events of the past ages of Arda.
Like Roses over a Fence by Ellie
Indis, Nerdanel, and Anairë on their grief and their duty to help in healing the Noldor.
Journeys of Vása by Dawn Felagund
A series of vignettes about the first rising of the Sun, from the perspectives of different characters. Check the Table of Contents for more specific summaries and warnings. MEFA 2008 nominee.
