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!
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] 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 (working title) by cuarthol
For the Tengwar prompt challenge. To be updated as new prompts are completed.
Current up through 'Umbar…
[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…
[Writing] Fire in Four Quarters by sallysavestheday
For the Tengwar challenge, four poems in which Beleriand and Middle-Earth are threatened by flames (once from each cardinal direction).
Current Challenge
Tengwar
A daily prompt of a Tengwar letter per day. Read more ...
Random Challenge
Great Journeys
Join a character on the road to explore the actual and symbolic importance of journeys. 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
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.
Anniversary Contest
On 15 September 1977, a culmination of the fictional histories and mythologies that had been J.R.R. Tolkien's life work was published as The Silmarillion. In the thirty years since, this essential and challenging work has captivated readers … and inspired its share of writers as well!
At SWG, our interests in the history of Arda are as broad and varied as the stories of The Silmarillion itself, but we are all united by a love and fascination for this book that has sparked creativity and forged friendships around the globe. As we celebrate thirty years of The Silmarillion, we at SWG thought that there was no better way to honor The Silmarillion's publication anniversary than by doing what we love: reading and writing stories inspired by our favorite book.
Over the next few weeks, we challenge SWG members and the Tolkien community as a whole to share their Silmarillion-inspired creativity and to acknowledge and encourage that of others. Write a story, poem, drabble, or essay--whatever inspires you!--that is based on The Silmarillion. Post them here under our Anniversary Contest, and the piece with the most words worth of reviews at the end of the contest will receive honor, prestige, and of course, a shiny banner.
Likewise, for the non-writers among us, the reader who writes the most words of reviews about contest entries will also receive honor, prestige, and a shiny banner (as well as the appreciation of the authors that she or he has reviewed, of course).
Other Important Stuff
- So what is eligible for the contest? Anything that meets our site requirements--that is, it is based on or concerned with The Silmarillion or related works--is eligible. Within that constraint, any subject is fine. Any format--story, drabble, poem, essay--is acceptable, as is any genre, as are alternate-universe (AU) entries. All ratings are fine so long as they are clearly marked according to our site requirements.
It's always been our group's policy to define "Silmarillion writing" liberally. Nonetheless, if you still have a question, please don't hesitate to contact us at moderator@silmarillionwritersguild.org and ask! - We do ask that your entry be a new piece of writing. Obviously, it is impractical to visit every Tolkien site on the Web--nor will we be raiding your hard drives--to verify this, so we ask participants to be honest and honorable.
- For each piece of writing entered, we are asking authors to write at least one review of a contest entry as well.
- Therefore, you are welcome to enter as many pieces of writing as you'd like! Just don't forget to write at least that many reviews …
- What are the deadlines? The deadline for writing (and posting) your entry is 1 October 2007. By 2 October, the challenge will be marked as closed, and we will not accept further entries.
The deadline for reviewing entries is 15 October 2007. On 16 October, we will count the reviews entered and award some shiny banners! - Like authors, reviewers must still follow our site policies and must be diplomatic in their reviews. Yes, this means that constructive criticism is acceptable (and will be counted toward word-count totals). No, you may not act like Orcs or any other minions of Morgoth.
- Only original, relevant, and on-point review content will be counted. This means that quotes (from the story or from anywhere else) will not count toward the totals. Rambling for 2,000 words about your day does not count toward the totals. The SWG moderators and administrators reserve the right to make this decision. In the instance that we feel that content is not on-point enough to be counted, we will attempt to contact the reviewer and give him or her the option to edit the review to add relevant content, if s/he wishes.
- No, you may not review your own entries. Well, actually, you may (the software allows it), but we will not count these reviews toward your total.
- If you have any questions--no matter how silly they may seem--please do not hesitate to contact our friendly mods at moderator@silmarillionwritersguild.org. We're always happy to help!
The Technical Details
How do you participate?
First and foremost, you must have an account with the SWG archive. They're free … so to sign up, please visit us here.
If you are entering a piece in the contest, add the story to the archive as you usually would using My Account --> Add New New Writing. On the "Add New Writing" screen, you will have the option to choose any challenges that the story satisfies. Choose "Anniversary Contest" here, and this will add you to the challenge group with the other entries.
If you have any trouble with this, simply designate in your summary that it is a contest entry, and an administrator will add your story for you. Or drop us a line at moderator@silmarillionwritersguild.org and let us know that you'd like your story added.
If you are reviewing entries in the contest, you may view all entries by visiting the Anniversary Contest page. From there, simply review as usual; we'll take care of the rest!
Happy writing and reading and, of course, a happy anniversary, Silmarillion!
This challenge opened in .
Fanworks Tagged with Anniversary Contest
House of the Setting Sun by Robinka
No hope, no regrets. An AU take on Mablung's coming to terms with the passing of Melian and the consequences thereof.
A Greater Fire by Elleth
For the Anniversary Contest: An AU of the what-if persuasion.
Chapter One: After the Darkening, the Kinslaying and the Flight of the Noldor, Nerdanel retreats to Alqualondë. What and whom will she find there, and where will her steps lead afterwards?
In-Betweens by Elleth
The story (or stories) of Nerdanel and Fëanor. The little things, the in-betweens that are not mentioned in the Silmarillion or History of Middle-earth, starting with the beginning of their romance.
The Fourth Station by MithLuin
Maedhros meets someone he does not expect in the Halls of Mandos.
First Place (Short Works) - SWG's Silmarillion Anniversary Contest (2007)
The Making of the Werewolves by IgnobleBard
Sauron's creation of the werewolves.
My Shining Stars by oshun
And now for something a bit controversial: Elrond stands on the deck of the ship carrying him to Aman writing notes in a journal.
MEFA 2008, Second Place, Elves: House of Elrond
SWG Silmarillion Anniversary Contest, Third Place Winner, Short Works
The last stand by Rhapsody
During the final moments of the Nírnaeth Arnoediad, a captain and his men rescue two elves during their last and desperate stand.
~MEFA 2008 Second place in Times: First Age and Prior: General, thank you Pandemonium for nominating it!~
Expecting. by ford_of_bruinen
Miriel spends a morning by the foot of Laurelin, thinking of the son she is carrying.
Awakening by ford_of_bruinen
Iminye wakes for the first time. Poetry
Innocence by ford_of_bruinen
An elf awoken at Cuivienen looks back at a simpler way of life.
Early Winter at Himring Hill by oshun
Written for Dawn Felagund's 2007 birthday, in response to a request for something about Fingon and Maedhros later in their life than the period I have been covering in my Maitimo and Findekáno story cycle. Fingon visits Maedhros at Himring Hill, after the Dagor Aglareb during the watchful peace of the Siege of Angband.
MEFA 2008, First Place, Romance: Elven Lands
Prey for the Hunter by Sulriel
A tale of loss and love in the wilds of Beleriand
Echoes from the past, reflections of yesterday by Idnarrac Serdna
The end of the Third Age is seen through the eyes of Olórin, who observes it as a completion of events of the past ages of Arda.
Like Roses over a Fence by Ellie
Indis, Nerdanel, and Anairë on their grief and their duty to help in healing the Noldor.
Journeys of Vása by Dawn Felagund
A series of vignettes about the first rising of the Sun, from the perspectives of different characters. Check the Table of Contents for more specific summaries and warnings. MEFA 2008 nominee.
