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.
Sitcom
This month's theme is Sitcom and features a bingo card for participants to self-select a prompt or prompts to inspire their fanworks. While the prompts are based off of sitcom tropes, your fanwork doesn't have to be a sitcom or inspired by one; it doesn't even have to be (or attempt to be!) humorous. To participate as a creator, you need only to create a fanwork using one prompt; however, for the more adventurous among us, we encourage you to combine prompts, complete rows, or attempt one of the dozen variations of card patterns. You may use multiple prompts in a single fanwork or use prompts to inspire multiple fanworks.
This challenge opened in .
Prompts
Choose your prompt from the collection below.
- View Prompts
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- Sitcom Bingo Text-Only Prompts
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If you need assistance at any time, including devising prompt combinations that fill rows or other bingo patterns, please email the SWG moderators at moderator@silmarillionwritersguild.org.
B1: talking in one's sleep
B2: dramatic reveal
B3: put the "fun" in dysfunction
B4: Are we there yet?
B5: jerk with a heart of gold
I1: roommates
I2: contrived coincidence
I3: laugh track
I4: average suburban family
I5: getting volunteered
N1: Will they? or Won't they?
N2: Is this thing still on?
FREE SPACE
N4: sophisticated as hell
N5: the exit is this way
G1: double entendre
G2: breaking the fourth wall
G3: workplace weirdos
G4: chain reaction
G5: failure is the only option
O1: a very special episode
O2: We need a distraction!
O3: You did what??
O4: dumbass has a point
O5: running gag
Fanworks Tagged with Sitcom
By Fate Mastered by Lyra
For Túrin, nothing turns out as he planned.
A series of drabbles (according to Libre Office) inspired by (of all things) the Sitcom! Bingo challenge and the Narn i Hîn Húrin.
A Bridge to Tomorrow by Independence1776
Maglor rescues Celebrían before the orcs take her deep into their caves. Life in Imladris will never be the same.
Forbidden Lavender by Raiyana
The brewing of ale and beer was a woman's work, and thus (because Bunn is a terrible enabler) this little ficlet about Anairë and Nerdanel and some unexpected lavender happened.
Amnesty sitcom fic for the You did WHAT?!? prompt.
Shame and Grief by LadyBrooke
Maglor has always talked in his sleep.
What A Tangled Net We Weave... by Grundy
Young Artanis, Irissë, and Ambarussa were left to amuse themselves while their fathers were in a meeting at the palace. What could possibly go wrong?
Agley. by hennethgalad
Gildis hopes that Írimë will cheer her up.
(free space, sitcom bingo !)
Graveyard Shift by Himring
After the First Kinslaying, Maglor's wife ends up with a grim duty.
Has she been volunteered by others?
Or maybe she did choose it herself, after all?
In the confusion of the times, that may not be an easy distinction to make.
Dispossessed For Ever by StarSpray
After Elwing casts herself into the Sea, Maglor finds her sons.
Aware. by hennethgalad
Fingolfin reads the thoughts of two prisoners to see who is telling the truth.
(reading 'Orcs' first would enrich this)
for the 'Sitcom' challenge "Sophisticated as hell."
Aftermath by hennethgalad
Hador and Gildis have their first row.
Arms. by hennethgalad
Hador begs the forgiveness of Gildis.
Ajar. by hennethgalad
Even on the night of his wedding, Hador turns to Fingolfin.
