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.
War of Wrath by belegur
| | |
Chapter 1
. . .
“Utúlie'n aurë! Utúlie'n aurë! Utúlie'n aurë!”
“Please, help me, help me. I renounce all my deeds.”
“Utúlie'n aurë! Utúlie'n aurë! Utúlie'n aurë!”
“Please, please, please.”
“Utúlie'n aurë! Utúlie'n aurë! Utúlie'n aurë!”
“Please, please, please.”
“Utúlie'n aurë... Utúlie'n...”
A wall. And no opening. He can go no further. But the silence and the dark are such that things forget their own existence. He can sit here and rest.
“Thank you.” he whispers to his Father.
. . .
“My lord, he is in there.” said one voice “He asks for terms of parley.”
The other one laughed and then said something he didn't hear.
“It may take an hour, my lord.
“Tell them to bring it anyway.”
. . .
“You want to parley?” said the other one loudly “We can parley, why not?” there was a smile in his voice “Parley. Why not? I was just wondering, please tell me, have you ever allowed your kind to parley? All the other thralls? Because you are a thrall, you know that, right?”
What are they waiting? Why is he still talking? Maybe he is afraid. Yes, afraid. Don't speak.
“You are not saying anything.” said the voice “And why is that? Are you afraid?”
Do you trust your own voice not to betray you? Don't speak.
. . .
Many of them were now in the room, and still they were coming.
He fell down on his knees. “Please, please, please. Forgive me.” With his forehead he touched the ground. “Forgive me, please, my Father, because I have erred.”
Someone came and grabbed him by the shoulder.
“Get up.”
When he rose, the same man swinged his sword and cut his legs above the knee. He fell face down into the dirt. “Father, don't turn your face from me.” he cried “Father, father, please, help me.”
His hands were pulled back to his back and tied with a chain that beared the weight of a thousand hills. “Air! Please, I can't breathe.”
“Air?” laughed the man “God help you!”
. . .
The Judge rose.
“You have denied the Children the knowledge of the Allfather and have waged war against the kingship of Manwë. You have imposed yourself in their hearts as the one true God, and in the false adoration of thee, the Children have given others of their kin to the fire.
For these crimes, which I hold the worst, I sentence you to death.
You have given a false oath to your own kin and spread lies in the Blessed Realm so you could defile the sanctity of this place as the only one which still held the remembrance of Arda Unmarred. To fulfill this cause, you have brought death to the Trees, stolen the Silmarills of Fëanor and spilt first blood in Aman.
For these crimes, which are grave, I sentence you to death.
You have caused deaths and sorrows unimaginable, breaking the supreme ban of Eru Ilúvatar – you, a servant and an instrument of his, raised your hand against his Children.
For these crimes, I sentence you to death.”
. . .
“How are these called?” he asked his executioner.
“Dandelions.” he said and asked him if he would like a blindfold. He said no.
“And these?”
“Also dandelions.”
Dandelion. How wonderful. A beautiful little flower. For a time a sun, and then, for a time, a moon.
“Bend your head.”
Dandelions. Dandelions.
Chapter End Notes
Utúlie'n aurë! - The day has come!
