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.
This month's challenge is a Matryoshka challenge based on the theme of the hero's journey archetype, in honor of the upcoming volume Beren and Lúthien (which will hopefully be published before the challenge closes). Your story does not have to be about heroes, journeys, Beren and Lúthien, or follow the archetype, but prompts will be loosely inspired by it.
Never tried a Matryoshka challenge before? See our FAQ: What is a Matryoshka challenge and how does it work? If you want to request a prompt set, contact the moderators. Make sure to specify of you would like a Beginner (two prompts), Easy (three prompts), Medium (five prompts), or Difficult (seven prompts) set. You may request more than one set.
This challenge opened in .
In which Elfwine goes to sea to find himself, but finds Beleriand instead, and then finds himself.
Or
Ulmo sends another human in a swan crest to Gondolin, with expected results.
A Hero's Journey Matryoshka challenge story, featuring the head gardener of Indis' home in Vanyamar.
Set in Aman, post War of Wrath, when the arrival of Indis and Findis turn the lives of the household upside down - and leads one maiden to lose her heart to another.
Fëanor is the architect of his doom by making the Silmarils for all the wrong reasons.
There are strange things dwelling in the forests of Eriador
Elu has gone to Valinor with Finwë and Ingwë, and those left behind are forced to make up for their absences, no matter how young the ones left behind are or if they have to find their own families.
Just an ordinary day out there on the Northern Marches of Doriath. Or maybe not so much…? Featuring your tall, strong, and handsome, not to mention favorite, wardens and some surprises. Written for the Matrioszka/Matrioshka challenge.
Basically a story of Fëanor and Nerdanel meeting and beginning to fall for one another. But, secondarily, a story of Mahtan's household and his relationship with his apprentices, featuring his wife also.
Hero’s Journey Challenge – May-June 2017 – submitting this one to meet the deadline, although I would very much like to expand and continue the story. It should have been much longer, but I met all of the required prompts. I've enjoyed working in this world I have begun to build. I love the characters and the backstory I created, seventy percent of which I am not able to use in this short story--due to lack of time and organizational skills(!! we won't talk about chronic writers' block). I hope readers can enjoy it as a stand-alone, but I definitely will return! I am (maddeningly perhaps) leaving my full cast at the end of the story as a teaser.
Many thanks to IgnobleBard for his careful Beta and putting up with a formidable amount of b.s. and dysfunctionality!
The year is 502 of the First Age. Doriath has already seen the Shadow seeping into its borders - and for Oropher, one of Thingol's chief counsels, it will not be long before it pierces into the vibrant heart of the realm.
Though all seems bright in Gondolin, Idril is troubled.
She is a Queen without a crown and he is a shining opportunity.
Or, how Ungoliant and Melkor poisoned the Trees and stole the Silmarils.
From the bliss of Valinor to the turbulent shores of Middle-earth, the life of Galadriel never gets boring.
A series of vignettes following my set of prompts for the Matryoshka challenge.
Lirillo the prince and Lirillo the Maia - an adventure of Alqualonde's youngest prince, coming of age during a time after the Trees, just before the sun and moon. Will the grandson of Olwe prove a match for Ulmo's servant, or will the Maia be up to the task of shepherding his young namesake into this new world intact?
Glorfindel confronts Celegorm.
Glorfindel admits his fear.
The true nature of Celegorm becomes apparent to Glorfindel.
The youth of Glorfindel in Valinor
Celegorm and Glorfindel meet.