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] White Water Flowing by StarSpray
In Valinor and homesick for Imladris, Celebrían decides to build a new one.
[Writing] A New New Home by Tehta
"Oh no, I just had a horrible thought. Does the new city have a name yet? And is it ‘New Vinyamar’?”
A decades-long saga about the naming of the hidden city of Gondolin.
[Writing] The Merchant of Valinor by Tehta
A series of acrostics based on the letters provided in the Tengwar challenge, telling the story of one enterprising Telerin merchant.
[Writing] Quite Ready To Go On Another Journey by Grundy
The Straight Road is barred to mortals. But he's not a mortal anymore...
[Writing] I called it Fate that I should fail by AdmirableMonster
Nimruzimir, a natural philosopher recently out of his apprenticeship, hardly considers himself very important to anyone, least of all his colleagues. When his strange, prophetic fits bring him to the attention of the High Priest, however, he may find that his existence is less superfluous than…
[Series] The Light and the Sea (Steampunk Númenor) by AdmirableMonster
Largely focused on Númenor, its fall, and the aftermath, as seen from the perspective of two Mannish scientists, bit players in some ways, but who nonetheless cast their shadows across the history of Middle Earth.
[Writing] Tengwar Acrostics by Himring
Responses to the Tengwar Challenge in which first letters spell out the name of a tengwa.
1) Early Encounter (Nerdanel, Indis)
2) Numenorean Lullaby (Almarian, Aldarion)
3) Tink-Tink (Telchar)
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
Color of ...
Create a fanwork that is built around a color or colors. 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] Beneath the Mountains Music Woke by StarSpray
[]Inside the caves, though, few Men went, and the dwarves were busy as bees. Or perhaps ants. It was remarkable to watch them transform the place into a livable city while doing nothing to diminish the natural beauty.
[Writing] Greatest of Feasts by StarSpray
[]The Master Cooks of Wootton-Major were of course best known for their cakes, but even as an apprentice Alf had made a name for himself with bread.
[Writing] Making Gifts by StarSpray
[]Brandy Hall was a veritable warren, and there were many workshops and smithies and outbuildings attached to it. Drogo was always happy to have the potters’ workshop to himself on a quiet afternoon.
Around the World and Web
Every Woman Exchange 2024
The Every Woman Exchange is an event for stories and art about female characters.
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.
Restoration & Rebuilding Drabbles by Grundy
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Space To Fill (Anorië & Elendil)
Prompt: When the storm has passed, put your energy into rebuilding your life. Don’t waste time looking back. - Leon Brown
Anorië looked around the room. It wasn’t much, but it was a start.
“Royal Library” sounded so hollow applied to a few shelves, not enough books to fill them, and a single worktable. It was nothing compared to Armenelos.
Nor was she the only one who thought so, judging by the look on her father’s face as he entered.
“It is early days yet,” she told him firmly.
A look of shame flitted across his face before Elendil nodded and forced a smile.
“You have the right of it, brave one,” he replied. “We must look forward now, not back.”
