Fandom Voices: Commenting and Feedback
We are collecting fan experiences related to giving and receiving feedback on Tolkien-based fanworks.
SWG News
Cultus Dispatches: Fanfiction and the Serious Business of Writer's Craft
Concern about craft and improving as a writer is so common in the Tolkien fanfiction fandom that it can be assumed universal. But Tolkien Fanfiction Survey data suggests that a growing subset of authors may be pushing back on this assumption.
New Challenge: Crossroads of the Fallen King
Cross "The Silmarillion" with a second text or fandom in this month's crossover challenge.
A Sense of History: Thálatta! Thálatta!
While he never climbs the stairs of this Elf-tower, in Lothlórien Frodo Baggins descends a flight of steps to look into Galadriel’s Mirror, wherein he first sees the sea. This post examines the view.
New & Updated Fanworks
[Writing] Truth to tell by clotho123
Maeglin tells of his role in the Fall of Gondolin. His version is rather different from the histories.
[Writing] The Sundelions of Arien by cílil
Mairon has a favour to ask of his former lover.
[Writing] Breaking Into Light by StarSpray
Glingaereth meets the crown prince of the Noldor by chance, if chance you call it.
“All the same, sister, be careful.”
“Me?” Glingaereth said. “Careful of what?”
“Of that prince.”
“What, Fingon? If you are worried about the Noldor’s feuds, he is the one…
[Writing] Tengwar Drabbles by cílil
A collection of Silmarillion-centric drabbles written for the Tengwar Challenge. Short and sweet!
[Writing] Valiant and Dauntless by Himring
Fingon and Hurin: I. A Common Root
[Writing] The road to the Estolad by clotho123
A kind of follow up to "The Debate of Finrod and Andreth". Finrod left a few things out of his talk with Andreth, which led me to wonder what a member of a different Noldorin House might have to say.
[Writing] All The Heart's Orthographies by sallysavestheday
A perfect drabble for each of the Tengwar, for the Tengwar challenge.
Current Challenge
Crossroads of the Fallen King
Create a fanwork that crosses with a second text or fandom. Read more ...
Tengwar
A daily prompt of a Tengwar letter per day. Read more ...
Random Challenge
In Rare Form
Try something "in rare form," using a format or genre that is rarely utilized in Tolkien fanfiction. Read more ...
New in References
Fanfiction and the Serious Business of Writer's Craft by Dawn Walls-Thumma
[]Tolkien Fanfiction Survey data shows that while most authors self-identify as taking their craft seriously, a growing subset of authors may be pushing that norm.
Thálatta! Thálatta! by Simon J. Cook
[]While he never climbs the stairs of this Elf-tower, in Lothlórien Frodo Baggins descends a flight of steps to look into Galadriel’s Mirror, wherein he first sees the sea. This post examines the view.
[]
With Gildor Inglorion we finally climb the stairs of Elostirion and look on the view, and what we see appears to reveal a hidden thread in the story of Frodo Baggins. This post reads two annotated translations of two Elvish songs to step through a crossroads in the narrative to arrive at the tower on the margin of the story, wherein is a stone that is a window onto Valinor.
Beyond the Silmarillion
[Writing] Waybread (The Waybredlik) by Himring
[]Lembas speaks out.
[Series] Apr 1st Stories by Uvatha the Horseman
[]Once a year on April 1st, a canon character from LOTR or the Silmarillion gets pranked.
[Writing] Crossing Forest River by Dawn Felagund
[]Bilbo recounts, in verse, the attempt of Gandalf, Beorn, and him to cross the Forest River after the Battle of Five Armies. Written for the Hungarian Tolkien Society's 2024 Mailing Competition.
Around the World and Web
Fellowship of the Fics: June Pride Month
To celebrate Pride Month, Fellowship of the Fics offers a bingo board of LGBTQIA+-related prompts.
tolkienshortfanworks challenge for June
The June challenge for tolkienshortfanworks has been posted to the community on Dreamwidth. The thematic challenge is: crossover / fusion / influence by another fandom or work. The formal challenge is: fixed length of 333 words. As always, these can be filled separately and combined with other challenges. New participants welcome!
June 2024 Call for Papers
Conferences and publications that have open calls for papers in June 2024.
Russingon Week 2024
Russingon Week celebrates fanworks about the Maedhros/Fingon pairing and runs on Tumblr and AO3.
Scribbles & Drabbles 2024
A chill Tolkien event, where artists make art, and authors write little stories in response. Begins in June and ends in November.
Show your pride by daughterofshadows
| | |
Show your pride
I sincerely apologise for the text speech. One day I will learn how to format this a bit better
Tyelko’s lunchbreak had finally begun when his phone buzzed with a new message.
‘This dog supports bisexual aromantics! Share to show that you do, too!’
A tumblr post. Tyelko sighed. Why was his brother like this? He could ignore it, of course, but from experience he knew that Kano wouldn’t stop bugging him until he had gotten some sort of reaction. Might as well see what this was about.
But before he could click on the link, when another message arrived.
‘I see Huan is ready for pride. Didn’t know he was coming with us. Might be tight, but we should manage to get everyone into the car. Talk later to discuss details.’
He stared at the message. It didn’t help. The words didn’t turn into something more sensible.
Why on Earth would they be taking Huan with them? Neither Finno’s nor Daeron’s cars were big enough to fit him, and besides Huan hated crowds. Tyelko would never force him to endure all the noise on top of the one-hour car ride.
Especially when their two options for transport were crammed into a car with Kano and his partners, which meant singing the entire time, or sharing with Finno, Nelyo and Írissë.
Tyelko didn’t mind Írissë, but Finno’s driving was awful. He was surprised time and time again that his car remained in working condition the way he hit all potholes and speed bumps head-on.
Valar, he was so glad that he would be allowed to drive on his own next year!
He started to text back when he hit the link accidentally. Tyelko shrugged. Seemed like he was going to find out what this was about, after all.
Of course, the picture took ages to load, but when it finally did, Tyelko suddenly understood.
It was a photo of a dog with an aromantic flag draped over its back and a bisexual flag under its paws.
Specifically, it was a photo of Huan.
He remembered the day it was taken.
He’d been looking for something, maybe a shirt?, while Írissë sat on his desk giving snarky commentary, because his room was a mess – as usual – and it had taken 10 minutes to find it.
The flags had fallen out of a drawer and Huan had pounced on them. He’d dragged the bi flag back to his blanket, the aro flag draped across him like a cape, miraculously staying in place where it had settled on top of him.
He’d plopped down on his bed, his prize tucked securely under his paws and panted happily at them.
Írissë must have taken the photo, because he definitely hadn’t.
He fired off a quick message to Kano saying that no, Huan would not be coming to pride, no need to worry, before opening the chat with Írissë.
‘Huan pic on tumblr. Írissë WHy?’
He added the link.
‘OME, it ended up on tumblr? How did you find it? You’re not on there’
‘Kano. Thought Huan’s coming with us to pride. Idiot.’
‘Lmao. Gotta get back to work. ttyl’
Tyelko sighed. Their family was such a mess.
