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.
SWG News
Choose a Name for Our New Column!
Our temporarily titled "location bio" will focus on the landscapes and locations of Middle-earth. We need your help naming it!
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.
New & Updated Fanworks
[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)
[Writing] Tengwar: To The Letter by cuarthol
For the Tengwar prompt challenge. To be updated as new prompts are completed.
Current up through '…
[Writing] Tengwar Drabbles by cílil
A collection of Silmarillion-centric drabbles written for the Tengwar Challenge. Short and sweet!
[Writing] If i get home before daylight by BloodwingBlackbird
a traveler meets a stranger at a crossroads.
[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.
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
Within the Pages of Lore
Get your Silmarillion off of the shelf. Close your eyes, let your book fall open at random, and put your finger down on the page. Your challenge is to create a fanwork using that quote. 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
Teitho May/June Challenge: Joker
For the May/June Teitho challenge, you can pick ANY of our past challenges that stir your imagination and write a story or create art for it.
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.
Fanworks Tagged with General
The Unrest of the Noldor by StarSpray
Minyelmë comes to Tirion to see Lalwen, arriving just in time to see things come to a head.
Cliffhanger by Tehta
Climbing partners get very accustomed to saving each other's lives. The habit can prove hard to break, as Findekáno and Maitimo discover.
Betting on Family by Tehta
We are told that Galadriel was “the only woman of the Noldor to stand ... tall and valiant among the contending princes” upon the summit of Túna, when Feanor made his Oath. But why? What about Aredhel: what was she up to?
In this story, I attempt to answer that question, while Írissë and Artanis discuss family matters.
Wingfeet: Racing across Ard-galen by Himring
A Dwarf, a Man, and an Elf race across a grassy plain... Except that these three are original characters of the First Age racing across the plain of Ard-galen and their plight is rather different.
Swaying, to Music by Tehta
Fëanor is not always the easiest person to talk to, not even for a powerful Vala like Melkor. Luckily, one of the Fëanorions has better taste in conversation.
As a result, Melkor gets to indulge in two of his favourite pastimes: stirring up trouble, and discussing his creative process.
The Firstborn of the Firstborn by Tehta
Set in Cuiviénen. The future kings of the Eldar discuss Oromë's invitation. There is cake, and tea.
Very canon-ish, sorry.
Silent Lake by SonOfMandos
At the dawn of the Fourth Age, Maglor leaves Gondor. He hopes that his pilgrimage leads him to Cuiviénen.
Blend, Bond, Blaze by sallysavestheday
Fingon, Angrod, and Aegnor wish to be more alike.
A Burst of Sweetness by StarSpray
“Have you an interest in gardening, Carnistir?”
Grey Ships Sailing by Lferion
Grey ships depart Mithlond
A Magnificent Instrument by StarSpray
Before his first performance in Tirion, Maglor receives a gift from his father and grandfather.
Dreivierteltakt by chrissystriped
Maeglin questions his decision to come to a party, but when Celebrimbor introduces himself to him, everything starts to feel so much better.
That Mighty Beech by StarSpray
"This mighty beech was named Hírilorn, and it had three trunks, equal in girth, smooth in rind, and exceeding tall; no branches grew from them for a great height above the ground." - The Silmarillion, "Of Beren and Lúthien"
Tale of the Crebain by Anne Wolfe
An origin story for the crebain, following a Dunlending OC. Written for the second B2MEM 2024 Drabble Race, for the prompt "bird nest".
On the Second Singing by Lferion
Various thoughts and question about the end of the world, and what part the Elves might play. A drabble poem.
Interpreting Memories by Anérea
Andreth contemplates the different interpretations of her people's lore, memories handed down by word of mouth through the generations.
Meet & Greet by cuarthol
Matryoshka inspired art for the Meet & Greet Challenge
White Water Flowing by StarSpray
In Valinor and homesick for Imladris, Celebrían decides to build a new one.
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.
That could have gone worse by daughterofshadows
Barhador was so not prepared for getting his period.
Prelude by Independence1776
Jedi!Maglor, meet Daeron. A double drabble.
