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.
SWG News
We are currently accepting proposals to present your meta, research, and scholarship! Learn more about presenting your meta, research, and scholarship here.
So You Want to Present at a Tolkien Conference? Writing the Proposal
With Mereth Aderthad coming next year, we offer this session to support fans who want to present their meta/scholarship at Mereth Aderthad or any one of the many other Tolkien conferences.
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.
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.
New & Updated Fanworks
[Writing] Insight by polutropos
While practicing their jumps, Angaráto confesses to being distracted after a rather embarrassing quarrel in the marketplace. Artanis listens and offers her insight.
[Writing] The Silmarillion: Who Speaks? by Dawn Felagund
On ongoing project to analyze who speaks in The Silmarillion and who is silent.
[Reference] 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.
[Writing] Unhappy Into Woe by StarSpray
Maglor's wanderings take him up the Anduin, where orcs find him and take him to Dol Guldur--where the Necromancer dwells.
[Writing] Dancing In The Dark by Grundy
History remembers Curufin as the villain. There are a few who think better of him.
Written for the Taboo challenge - will give warnings on chapters as appropriate.
[Writing] Mairon: 30-Day Character Study by elennalore
Ficlets and drabbles on Mairon written for 30-Day Character Study.
[Artwork] Mîm: 30-Day Character Study - Artwork by Artano
Artwork created for prompts for the 30-Day Character Study Challenge.
Current Challenge
Jubilee
This January, for our annual amnesty challenge, any challenge from January 2017 onward is fair game! Read more ...
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
Gift of a Story
Create a fanwork as a gift to show thanks and appreciation for someone in the fandom. Read more ...
New in References
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.
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.
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] 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.
[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.
Around the World and Web
Purimgifts 2025
Purimgifts is an annual all-fandoms-welcome exchange for fanfic and/or podfic (participant’s choice) with a side helping of art, focused on characters who are at least one of: women, Jewish, or persecuted by evil viziers.
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.
Fandom Snowflake Challenge 2025
Fandom Snowflake is an annual challenge with prompts and tasks related to fandom, posted on the odd-numbered days of January.
Arafinwëan Week 2025
Arafinwëan Week is an event held on Tumblr and AO3 that celebrates the House of Finarfin and all of its descendants.
