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] 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] Silhouettes of Doom by Ecthelion
"At least we have learned that the sons of Fëanor can die too."
[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
…
[Writing] A Winters Tale by Glorified
Elrond on a winters night
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
Crossroads of the Fallen King
Create a fanwork that crosses with a second text or fandom. 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
My Slashy Valentine 2025
Sign-ups are open for My Slashy Valentine, a hand-matched slash fiction exchange focused on the people of J.R.R. Tolkien’s Middle-earth.
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.
Soundtrack
What would a movie be without its soundtrack? Music can make or break a scene, intensify the emotions we feel and give us a sense of the danger, confusion, triumph or grief the character experiences. Many of us love to listen to the soundtrack of a beloved film on its own to recall our favourite scenes before our mind’s eye, use the mood of a song to inspire us in our writing, or just enjoy the music.
While usually the scenes are filmed first and the soundtrack is composed later, this month we want to challenge you to create (or continue) a story after listening to one of our musical prompts. The prompts will be pieces of classical and instrumental music. Comment on our Dreamwidth post or email us at moderator@silmarillionwritersguild.org to request a prompt.
This challenge opened in .
Prompts
Choose your prompt from the collection below.
- View Prompts
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- "Peer Gynt Suite No. 1, Op. 46: II. The Death of Aase" by Edvard Grieg, performed by the National Philharmonic Orchestra: Spotify | YouTube
- "Ave Maria" by Libera: Spotify | YouTube
- "Snowden's Jig (Genuine Negro Jig)" by the Carolina Chocolate Drops: Spotify | YouTube
- "Sunu" by Rising Appalachia and the Human Experience: Spotify | YouTube
- "The Stone Table" by Harry Gregson-Williams (from The Chronicles of Narnia): Spotify | YouTube
- "Exit Music (For a Film)" by Ramin Djawadi (from Westworld): Spotify | YouTube
- "Vitava (Moldau)" by Bedřich Smetana, performed by Xavier de Maistre: Spotify | YouTube
- "Anthem, Part 2" by Burkhard Dallwitz (from The Truman Show): Spotify | YouTube
- "A Window to the Past" by John Williams (from Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban): Spotify | YouTube
- "The Tudors Main Title Theme" by Trevor Morris (from The Tudors): Spotify | YouTube
- "The Star Shines" by Ilan Eshkeri (from Stardust): Spotify | YouTube
- "Protectors of the Earth" by Two Steps from Hell: Spotify | YouTube
- "Divenire" by Mari and Hakon Samuelsen, performed by the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic Orchestra: Spotify | YouTube
- "Den Allvarsamma Leken" by Matti Bye: Spotify | YouTube
- "All Night Vigil, Op. 37: No. 5, 'O Lord, You Now Let Your Servant Depart in Peace'" by Sergei Rachmaninoff, performed by the USSR Ministry of Culture Chamber Choir: Spotify | YouTube
- "To Love You More" by Lucia Micarelli: Spotify | YouTube
- "Musica . . . Fantasia" by Rondò Veneziano: Spotify | YouTube
Fanworks Tagged with Soundtrack
Aurora: What Cold, Clear Air May Show by Lferion
Having traveled North and up a mountain in Aman, Fingon builds himself a house, and works on putting himself back together. A drabble sequence. Follows Aurora: Seeking the Northern Sky.
Adventures in Arda and Aman by Lferion
Ficlets of Valinor, Beleriand, Ennor, and Middle Earth through the Ages.
Drabble Poems by Lferion
Poems that are drabbles, drabbles that are poems.
A New Day in Valinor by Lferion
Non-angsty ficlets set in Valinor (and one or two in Middle Earth), many featuring Feanor.
Eärendil on Taniquetil by Lferion
Eärendil, waiting for the answer of the Valar to his plea. A triple drabble.
Tales for the New Year by Kaylee Arafinwiel
In the beginning, the Elves awakened...what else happened at Cuivienen, and where might things go from there?
The Unfinished Mission by Lindariel
Wherein another of Glorfindel's special talents is revealed.
The Glitter of Snow, The Sparkle of Mist by Lferion
Luckier. By whose definition, luckier?
Halls of Waiting by StarSpray
Dior comes to Mandos, and must decide how he will leave it.
Gleaming Spires by Himring
Aredhel arrives in Gondolin.
all you have to do, is listen by HannaGoldworthy
Once, he had been more than a gracious listener in the Music.
That time was gone.
