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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: To The Letter by cuarthol
For the Tengwar prompt challenge. To be updated as new prompts are completed.
Current up through 'Malta'
[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
Turning Point
The Silmarillion has many moments when a character stands upon a crossroad: He or she will have to make a decision. At such a turning point in your story, create a fanwork about that moment that will define or alter the life of your character. 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 Lúthien Tinúviel
The leaves were long, the grass was green by Quente
The Giving Tree, but Beren and Luthien. Written for the Tengwar prompt, “Aldi.”
Meet & Greet by cuarthol
Matryoshka inspired art for the Meet & Greet Challenge
Than All the Roses of the World by StarSpray
And even after he and Lúthien settled in Tol Galen, where the air smelled of roses and pine and the nightingales sang merrily through the summertime, word of the outside word came in bits and pieces, often many years late.
Broken Silver by Narya
Sometimes the history books can't be trusted. Celegorm/Lúthien; canon divergence AU in which the butterfly flaps its wings.
(Not So) Cheap Sunglasses by UnicornsInSpace
In a modern/all human AU, Celeborn meets Galadriel while going to eat with his family and is smitten.
Documents from Doriath in Rivendell's Library by UnicornsInSpace
Small pieces of the Silm told through documents from Doriath.
Drabble Collection: Experimental Challenge by mairoff
11 Drabbles for the Experimental Challenge.
- Melkor x Fluithuin
- Maglor x Daeron
- Mairon & Melian
- Eönwë x Arien
- Galadriel x Luthien
- Mairon x Arien
- Sons of Fëanor
- Maedhros x Mairon
- Fëanor & Nolofinwë
- Maiar of Ulmo
- Aulë & Tevildo
You better you bet by daughterofshadows
A moodboard for a Celegorm/Lúthien Modern AU inspired by the song You better you bet by The Who.
A Taste of Royal Blood by Rocky41_7
Thuringwethil expected she had signed her doom when she let the princess of Doriath go free. But she may have saved herself in the process.
Sandbox Love by Rocky41_7
Galadriel felt she had a well-matched friend in Princess Luthien, and she did not expect that ever to change.
Betrayed by LadySternchen
Lúthien thinks she can trust her best friend- until she is proven wrong.
Along Came an Elf by dalliansss
After Oromë sends a Hunting Party to investigate the reports of proliferation of fell beasts far in South Aman, the entire errand goes horrifically wrong. Celegorm was prepared to die a grisly death, yet he dares to beg the Great Void Spider to spare his life, which to his surprise, the request is heeded. Then comes the most unlikely partnership and friendship in all of Arda, and its unexpected consequences.
Was Dancing There by StarSpray
Elrond loved most the scene painted behind their mother’s seat, a green forest glade decked with hemlock umbels and delicate niphredil, and Lúthien dancing in the center, her skirts blue as the morning sky and her hair like a dark shadow swirling around her as she spun, hands uplifted.
In Sweet Music is Such Art by reindeer_pizza
Little Luthien has a strange encounter one night.
Awesome Ladies by daughterofshadows
4 women, 4 story cycles, 400 words each.
Snapshots from the lives of four incredible women in Tolkien.
One More Song by Rocky41_7
As Luthien prepares to surrender to old age, she is visited by a long-lost friend.
I risk my life to make my name by ohboromir
This is the tale of Ser Galadriel, the Lady of Light, one of the mightiest that dwelt in that great realm, and how she became one of the most fearsome sorceresses known to elvenkind.
~~~Gawain and the Green Knight retelling, in which Ser Artanis learns a lot about herself.
With Radiant Garland by Rocky41_7
Beautiful hair is considered a desirable trait among Elves, whether on the head--or elsewhere.
A Chance Enchantment by polutropos
Maglor is curious about the land bordering the Girdle of Melian. Lúthien and Daeron happen to be having a nice time nearby. Some nightingales help make things happen.
Secrets of a Princess' Boudoir by Rocky41_7
Galadriel visits Luthien's rooms and has an experience.
What Happens at Camp Eglarest, Stays at Camp Eglarest by polutropos
With the addition of Daeron's new roommate and Lúthien's annoying fiancé, their annual July long-weekend trip to Eglarest Beach is already set to be more eventful than usual. To add to the mayhem, Maglor's obnoxious brother has invited himself and his dog along.
The Call of the Loon by SonOfMandos
Captured by Lúthien and her Marchwardens, Celegorm is the prisoner of the princess in Menegroth. Against his will, he finds himself the personal retainer of the daughter of Melian. Desiring to repent and heal his soul from his sins, Celegorm accepts his fate as a servant. Warned of the situation by Galadriel, Finrod tries to resolve it with his great-uncle. Naturally, Lúthien has a strange sense of humour and refuses to give the Fëanorian back to his family.
Black and Gold by polutropos
Galadriel and Lúthien, a moment shared under the night sky.
