New Challenge: Tengwar
Each day for thirty-six days, we feature a randomly chosen letter from the Tengwar as a prompt.
SWG News
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.
The SWG Is Featured in Two Journal Articles
In a recent special issue of "Transformative Works and Cultures" about platforms, the SWG was discussed in two articles.
New & Updated Fanworks
[Writing] "Tengwar" ficlets by chrissystriped
Fics written for the "Tengwar" challenge.
[Writing] Dealing with Dreams by Himring
Elrond and Elros are haunted by what happened and also by what did not. They live with it.
[Writing] Tengwar (working title) by cuarthol
For the Tengwar prompt challenge. To be updated as new prompts are completed.
[Writing] Do you cut down down blossoming trees in the spring for firewood? by Himring
In western Numenor, there is an area famous for its trees and plants. But the Faithful have been banished to the east. And in the last days of Numenor, on the coast an army assembles...
[Writing] 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."
[Writing] Lost and Found by awwyeah107
In the aftermath of the second kinslaying, Maglor and Maedhros are faced with the disappearance of a pair of twins: Eluréd and Elurín.
Years later, another pair of twins—this time under the Fëanorians’ care—are missing: Elrond and Elros.
[3 chapters, posted over 3 consecutive days…
[Writing] What Comes Naturally by Rocky41_7
Two queens of the Noldor discuss motherhood.
Current Challenge
Tengwar
A daily prompt of a Tengwar letter per day. Read more ...
Random Challenge
Soft Underbelly
Create a fanwork that shows how a character failed due to a weakness. Read more ...
New in References
[]
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.
In the House of the Fairbairns by Simon J. Cook
[]The first of some posts on the Elf-tower on the western margin of The Lord of the Rings attempts to frame the relationship between the narrative and the appendices of The Lord of the Rings and an analysis of Frodo's dream-visions.
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
Tolkien Ekphrasis Week 2024
This is a Tolkien-fandom-wide event dedicated to the art of ekphrasis in Tolkien's worlds, hosted on Tumblr and Dreamwidth.
Tolkien Society Seminar: Tolkien's Romantic Resonances
This free hybrid event explores the influence of Romanticism on Tolkien's works.
Glorfindel Week 2024
Glorfindel Week is a week-long Tumblr event for creating fanworks that celebrate Glorfindel. Glorfindel Week will run April 29-May 5, 2024.
Teitho April/May Challenge: Quotes
Teitho is a monthly fanfiction contest. Our April/May prompt uses the source material directly for inspiration with quotes to choose from.
PhD Research on Writing Tolkien's Female Characters: Participants Needed
Interview participants are needed who write Tolkien-based fanfiction about female characters.
New and Updated Multimedia Fanworks
Atmospherics by Anérea, sallysavestheday
The three atmospheres of Arda celebrated in three drabbles and three photos...
| Major Characters: Círdan, Eärendil, Elrond, Elros, Uinen |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Artwork Type: No artwork type listed |
| Genres: Ficlet, General | Challenges: It Comes in Threes |
| Rating: General | Warnings: |
| Posted on 14 April 2024 | Updated on 15 April 2024 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| | |
Blood Ties by AdmirableMonster
A close friend of Lómion's has gone missing, and a dark creature stalks the forests of his home. When he is summoned by Nan Elmoth itself, Lómion will have to draw upon all the powers he possesses to get himself and his friend home again.
| Major Characters: Original Character(s), Anguirel, Maeglin |
| Major Relationships: Anguirel & Maeglin, Maeglin & Original Character |
| Artwork Type: No artwork type listed |
| Genres: Horror | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings, Violence (Graphic) |
| Posted on 27 December 2023 | Updated on 27 December 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| | |
the wise and the lovely by elwinged
Silmariën and Isilmë, from the beginning to the end.
| Major Characters: Elatan of Andúnië, Isilmë, Silmarien |
| Major Relationships: Isilmë & Silmariën, Elatan of Andúnië/Silmariën |
| Artwork Type: No artwork type listed |
| Genres: Family, Ficlet | Challenges: Hidden Figures, Jubilee |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Character Death |
| Posted on 15 February 2023 | Updated on 17 February 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| | |
Lúcë (Enchantment) by Anérea
When Melian and Thingol met they silently stared at each other for two hundred years. What actually happened between them during that time? And why could no one find them?
| Major Characters: Elu Thingol, Elves, Melian |
| Major Relationships: Melian/Thingol |
| Artwork Type: No artwork type listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet, General, Romance | Challenges: Arda on Ice |
| Rating: General | Warnings: |
| Posted on 16 August 2022 | Updated on 25 September 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| | |
Willow by Anérea, Narya
A willow-spirit: some places she went and the people she met.
Story by Narya, painting by Anérea.
| Major Characters: Original Character(s), Original Female Character(s), Elrond, Farmer Maggot, Finrod Felagund, Goldberry, Maedhros, Maglor, Maiar, Tuor, Voronwë |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Artwork Type: No artwork type listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: |
| Posted on 1 September 2022 | Updated on 25 September 2022 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| | |
Incubation by elennalore
Melkor in the Void. A poem in free verse and accompanying art.
| Major Characters: Melkor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Artwork Type: No artwork type listed |
| Genres: Poetry | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Posted on 12 September 2022 | Updated on 12 September 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| | |
Surfacing Light by Anérea, Maggie Honeybite
A "missing scene", and a painting, inspired by Answers in the Dark by Keiliss.
On the night before he sails to Númenor on his mission, Erestor has a dream that sends him to Gil-galad's room in search of some sexual healing. Fits in right after chapter 7: Tea and History of Answers in the Dark. Alternatively, could be read as just a hot PWP. A gift for Keiliss.
| Major Characters: Erestor, Gil-galad |
| Major Relationships: Erestor/Gil-galad |
| Artwork Type: No artwork type listed |
| Genres: Slash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: |
| Posted on 23 August 2022 | Updated on 29 August 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| | |
Scrapbook by Independence1776
Maglor brings Nerdanel a scrapbook of his time in Middle-earth.
| Major Characters: Maglor, Nerdanel |
| Major Relationships: Maglor & Nerdanel |
| Artwork Type: No artwork type listed |
| Genres: Family | Challenges: Restoration and Rebuilding |
| Rating: General | Warnings: |
| Posted on 16 August 2022 | Updated on 19 August 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| | |
Sauron vs Finrod in Eregion by elennalore
The Gwaith-i-Mírdain turn a famous duel into a stage play.
| Major Characters: Celebrimbor, Sauron |
| Major Relationships: Celebrimbor/Sauron |
| Artwork Type: No artwork type listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: Zingers |
| Rating: General | Warnings: |
| Posted on 10 August 2022 | Updated on 10 August 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| | |
