January Challenge: Jubilee
In celebration of our twentieth birthday year, create for any of our past challenges and earn stamps that you missed!
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.
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.
Jubilee Instadrabbling, January 18-19, 2025
As part of our upcoming Jubilee amnesty challenge, we will be instadrabbling on our Discord on January 18 and 19.
New & Updated Fanworks
[Writing] Celebrimbor: 30-Day Character Study by cloudyhymns
Notes and writings on Celebrimbor, following the 30-Day Character Study challenge prompts.
[Writing] Signs of Healing by AdmirableMonster
Pengolodh chances upon a young human girl who has been brought to Rivendell for healing. He soon discovers they have more in common than he expected.
[Writing] Eä's Redemption by AaronAzrael
This is my new poetical attempt to add my own interpretation to Tolkien's Cosmology as to Eru's Creation and the Valar's minds and behind-the-scene providence reasons and mechanisms.. I often review Eä as part of our own world, just in another dimension, this is why I have always seriously…
[Writing] Through the Long Night by Idle Leaves
Maedhros comes to Barad Eithel after the Dagor Bragollach and the fall of Fingolfin.
[Writing] Shadow's Instadrabbles by daughterofshadows
The home of my insta-drabbling pieces!
(and the odd drabble of undetermined origin)
[Writing] Tyelkormo's Great Escape by Aprilertuile
Tyelkormo was currently outside the house, hiding from his mother.
It was nearly winter and every winter was peak matchmaking activity time in Tirion’s palace. So Nerdanel focused more on her sons at this period since she wanted them to make a good impression so they could find a…
Current Challenge
Jubilee
This January, for our annual amnesty challenge, any challenge from January 2017 onward is fair game! Read more ...
Random Challenge
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
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.
January 2025 Call for Papers and Proposals
Calls for papers and conference proposals that are open during the month of January.
January Challenge at tolkienshortfanworks
The January challenge has been posted to the tolkienshortfanworks community on Dreamwidth. The prompts are: small comforts; include a list of ingredients. New participants welcome.
Fanworks Tagged with Arien
Third of January (for Larner) by Kaylee Arafinwiel
Inspired by Larner's story "Transformation". http://www.storiesofarda.com/chapterview.asp?sid=5312&cid=27860 Every third of January, Arda returns to its pre-transformed state. Who can see it happen? Why does it happen?
Tengwar Drabbles by cílil
A collection of Silmarillion-centric drabbles written for the Tengwar Challenge. Short and sweet!
"Tengwar" ficlets by chrissystriped
Fics written for the "Tengwar" challenge.
It comes in Threes by cílil
Three triple drabbles written for the It comes in Threes challenge, featuring various Ainur.
M&G drabbles collection by mairoff
Drabbles Content:
- Something never seen before: Arien
- A wrong interpretation: Tilion / Arien
- Being delayed: Eönwë
- Lost in memory: Nienna
- Reading a good book: Celeborn / Galadriel
- “Wait…that can’t be right…”: Melian
- Group - Follow: Eönwë
- Running - Distance - Breathless - Limits: Fingon
- Contempt: Varda
- A sentient object: the One Ring
- A fresh start: Maeglin
- Unusual weather: Cirdan
- A favourite place: Celebrian
- A minor catastrophe: Ossë
Drabble Collection: Experimental Challenge by mairoff
11 Drabbles for the Experimental Challenge.
- Melkor x Fluithuin
- Maglor x Daeron
- Mairon & Melian
- Eönwë x Arien
- Galadriel x Luthien
- Mairon x Arien
- Sons of Fëanor
- Maedhros x Mairon
- Fëanor & Nolofinwë
- Maiar of Ulmo
- Aulë & Tevildo
Book of Lore by Anérea
Pages from a book of ancient Edain lore, including an illustration of their creation myth.
to sail the shoreless skies by Arveldis
“We only have a few moments,” Arien whispers, her eyes sparkling like sunlight dancing upon water as she allows him to pull her closer.
“We need no more than that,” Tilion answers, dipping his head to meet hers and cradling her face in his hands, heedless of how the crackling heat of her scorches him.
They steal what moments they can.
An eye in a blue face by Himring
Arien looks down on Middle-earth and, thanks to Yavanna, she sees...
Can you guess?
(Gollum once guessed it long ago.)
All Hues and Honeys by Dawn Felagund
This is my latest collection of pieces too small to stand alone, often written for events on the SWG Discord.
The Latest:
"Fly." Fingon's faith in his friendship with Maedhros leads him to the decision to rescue him.
"Salt." Uinen discovers the kinslaying.
"Sunship." Nerdanel places the final cog in the sunship as an act of resistance.
"No One Heard That." The histories withheld some details of Fëanor's muster of the Noldor.
"Cracked." Námo explains death to a young Fëanor.
"Sunship, Reprise." The sunship's launching, from the perspective of the other side of the sea.
"Shadows beyond a Campfire." The sons of Fëanor build a campfire after the Nirnaeth.
"The Neologist." Pengolodh on language and history at three points in Gondolin's history.
Scattering of Shadows. by hennethgalad
Arien and Tilion, before and after the Darkening of Valinor.
Hunger by The Wavesinger
Ungoliant hurts, and watches the sky.
Arien the Sun Maiden by feanorusrex
Drawn as a companion to my story: Burning. Acrylic paints.
The Guides by Hrymfaxe
Arien of Anar and Tilion of Isil. (Artwork)
Burning by feanorusrex
Arien's experience following the death of the Trees.
Young Gods by Fernstrike
It began in Almaren - when the world was new, and the gods were young, and the World seemed full of possibilities. It began beneath the earth, under great halls, inside a dark mirror.
To Voyage in Their Courses by Vulgarweed
The choosing of Arien and Tilion. (Ficlet)
Sunset to Sunrise by Tyelca
A quiet night at home for Arien, Bearer of the Sun.
A Handful of Light by Zdenka
If Míriel never married Finwë or had a child, if she put all her energy into her craft instead of giving birth to Fëanor . . . what might have happened?
Drabbles: The Third Age by Zdenka
Tolkien drabbles set in the Third Age, with sufficient content from the Silmarillion/LOTR appendices/HOME/etc. that it seems reasonable to post them here. (Exactly 100 words as counted by MS Word. Please see table of contents for individual summaries.)
Nox est Perpetua by Zdenka
Morgoth's victory approaches, but Arien will still choose her own fate. (Arien/Ungoliant)
Arien by SWG Newsletter Staff
The story of Arien, the Maia who guides the Sun, changed as the legendarium evolved.
Morning Mist and Silver Sun by StarSpray
A place to store drabbles and ficlets, mostly written for various prompts.
Daytracer by Dawn Felagund
After the Darkening of Valinor, the Aulendur struggle to find a way to bear aloft the final fruit and flower of the Two Trees. Nerdanel finds a unexpected ally in Arien, who helps her discover the secret knowledge that will return the world to light. Written for Wheelrider for the MPTT Yule Fic Exchange.
