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SWG News
New Challenge: Tengwar
Each day for thirty-six days, we feature a randomly chosen letter from the Tengwar as a prompt.
A Sense of History: Crossroads
In the ongoing series on towers in Tolkien's work, a thread runs through "The Lord of the Rings," revealing the divine assistance of Varda in the travails of the Fellowship.
Cultus Dispatches: Canon Deviations, Multifandoms, and Original Content
Tolkien Fanfiction Survey data gives some insight into what connections, if any, exist between fanfiction and original fiction.
New & Updated Fanworks
[Writing] Tengwar (working title) by cuarthol
For the Tengwar prompt challenge. To be updated as new prompts are completed.
Current up through 'Anca'
[Writing] I Stood Aside by Flora-lass
Maedhros' horror at the burning of the ships. Inspired by a painting (see notes).
[Reference] 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.
[Writing] Words of Wisdom by AdmirableMonster
One or more drabbles about Pengolodh and his babysitter Salgant.
[Writing] Les Mots de Sagesse by AdmirableMonster
Plusieurs petites histoires qui parle de Pengolodh et Salgant pendant des moments differents.
[Writing] "Tengwar" ficlets by chrissystriped
Fics written for the "Tengwar" challenge.
[Writing] Upon Cirith Thoronath by StarSpray
A horrid cacophony of cries erupts ahead of them, as orcs appear—up the cliff on hidden ledges, on the path, with bows and swords. And behind them rises a figure of darkness and flame. The heat rolls down the path over them, bringing the smell of burning flesh and bitter fear with it. Someone…
Current Challenge
Tengwar
A daily prompt of a Tengwar letter per day. Read more ...
Random Challenge
Restoration and Rebuilding
Create a fanwork around a prompt focused on the theme of rebuilding and restoration. Read more ...
New in References
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.
Grief, Grieving, and Permission to Mourn in the "Quenta Silmarillion" by Dawn Walls-Thumma
[]In a book as full of death as the Quenta Silmarillion, grief and mourning are surprisingly absent. The characters who receive grief and mourning—and those who don't—appear to do so due to narrative bias. Grief and mourning (or a lack of them) serve to draw attention toward and away from objectionable actions committed by characters.
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
Monstrous May 2024
Monstrous May is a Tumblr event where, for each day of the month of May, there is a prompt involving and invoking the monstrous.
Fellowship of the Fics: Modern AU May
During May, Fellowship of the Fics offers modern AU prompt lists for setting, character occupation, and dialogue on Tumblr.
May challenge at tolkienshortfanworks
The May challenge has been posted to the tolkienshortfanworks community on Dreamwidth. Thematic challenge: name; formal challenge: acrostic. As usual, these can be filled independently and freely combined with other prompts such as the SWG challenges. New participants welcome!
May 2024 Calls for Papers
Conferences and publications that have open calls for papers in May 2024.
Angbang Week 2024
All new, unpublished fanworks about the Angbang (Melron) ship are welcome during this Tumblr event, running 6-12 May 2024.
Fanworks Tagged with Ficlet
Words of Wisdom by AdmirableMonster
One or more drabbles about Pengolodh and his babysitter Salgant.
Perspective by Rocky41_7
Grandfather brings a treat back from Valmar.
Dealing with Dreams by Himring
Elrond and Elros are haunted by what happened and also by what did not. They live with it.
Family Gossip by StarSpray
“You,” Fingon pronounced, “are drunk. I am not going to give you anyone’s name just so you can make up a silly drunken ballad."
To those that go before by Quente
Éomer Éadig is dead, and Aragorn meditates on losing his friends.
"Tengwar" ficlets by chrissystriped
Fics written for the "Tengwar" challenge.
The leaves were long, the grass was green by Quente
The Giving Tree, but Beren and Luthien. Written for the Tengwar prompt, “Aldi.”
Calma by elennalore
Celebrimbor is reading a novel, but there's a distraction.
Les Mots de Sagesse by AdmirableMonster
Plusieurs petites histoires qui parle de Pengolodh et Salgant pendant des moments differents.
Three Strands in a Braid by between_thepages
Ecthelion tries to braid Glorfindel's hair.
Atmospherics by Anérea, sallysavestheday
The three atmospheres of Arda celebrated in three drabbles and three photos...
It comes in Threes by cílil
Three triple drabbles written for the It comes in Threes challenge, featuring various Ainur.
Feanorian Week 2024 by StarSpray
Ficlets written for Feanorian Week
The Fall of Eregion by StarSpray
The dead have no mouths, and cannot scream. That does not stop Curufin from trying as he watches Vairë’s tapestries ravel before his eyes
Yes, please do by Himring
A moment in the recovery of Celebrian in Valinor.
Not yet weary are my feet by Quente
I read the Athrabeth and decided that Andreth was far too centered and wise to let a little thing like pity get in the way of true love.
Fear the Thunder by between_thepages
Thunderstorms never bring good news, Anairë has noted. And the one keeping her up this night is certainly no exception.
Meet & Greet Challenge Drabbles by cílil
A small drabble collection for the 2024 Matryoshka Meet & Greet Challenge.
Ainur-centric, canonverse, various pairings.
M&G drabbles collection by mairoff
Drabbles Content:
- Something never seen before: Arien
- A wrong interpretation: Tilion / Arien
- Being delayed: Eönwë
- Lost in memory: Nienna
- Reading a good book: Celeborn / Galadriel
- “Wait…that can’t be right…”: Melian
- Group - Follow: Eönwë
- Running - Distance - Breathless - Limits: Fingon
- Contempt: Varda
- A sentient object: the One Ring
- A fresh start: Maeglin
- Unusual weather: Cirdan
- A favourite place: Celebrian
- A minor catastrophe: Ossë
Full transparency by Quente
Instadrabble prompt: Something never seen before
Celebrimbor spots two newcomers to Aman.
Misdirection: first impression by Quente
For the Instadrabble prompt: Murphy’s law kicks in (anything that can go wrong will).
What was Tuor's first week like in Gondolin?
Wildflowers by Angamaite
Patrols upon the Ard-Galen are rarely events of great fanfare during times of peace.
The Psamathist's Cove by StarSpray
On a starry moonlit evening, two unexpected visitors come to Psamathos' cove.
What Old Tales Say by StarSpray
How oddly the old tales changed and twisted through the years!
