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
Zingers
Prompts for this challenge include zingers and insults from literature and pop culture. 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.
Free Press by Lferion
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Tenth Walker
A second challenge - adding an element to a well-known story. A triple drabble.
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Prompts - L:I5 Serialized Stories, A:G1 Newspaper comic strip, P:N3 FRSP Free Verse, F:B4 10th Walker
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"Well, my lovelies, we have another Request," Varandil announced, flourishing a note on the same distinctive paper as had accompanied the previous such Request-which-was-not-a-request.
Aiglor, Mithnis and Sindion all sighed expressively and looked at him, framed in the doorway. Before any of them could say anything, he went on, "Our intrepid Lady, who is definitely neither Lady Elwing nor Lady Galadriel, now venturing in Ennor much like Lord Glorfindel did once, is to be sent on the Quest in our planned retelling of the Tale of Master Frodo and the Ring."
Mithnis's lips formed an incredulous 'what!?' but no sound emerged. Aiglor shook his head as if he had gotten water in his ears, "Say again?"
Sindion demanded "How? Seriously, how?" at the same time.
"How is 'left up to our powers of invention and imagination.'" Varandil sighed as he flopped into his chair. "They did specify that she is not to replace any of the actual Walkers, but be a tenth."
A somewhat fraught silence ensued, while they all thought; doodling, twiddling, bobbing, staring up at the wave-and-star molded ceiling as aided each one's process. Presently, Varandil broke the silence as hands stilled and everyone sat up straighter. "So, first thoughts?"
"Free verse for the narration. No heroic couplets or stately braided rhymes," Sindion declared. The others nodded.
"I say we keep the bright colors, maybe even brighten up the other characters. Printing hasn't had any trouble with what we've asked for so far. I'll need to think about how much redesign to do."
Mithnis was making lists, muttering mostly to herself, "Add Arferyánis to the outline, re-calculate how many 6-panel and 12-panel segments...." She looked up, "At a guess, we're going to need another whole sequence just in the first canto of the six. We can do this."
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