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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 (working title) by cuarthol
For the Tengwar prompt challenge. To be updated as new prompts are completed.
Current up through 'Anca'
[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
Let the Games Begin!
Create a fanwork centered around games and contests. 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.
Discovery
Every year in August, we give special attention to the Second Age and stories set during this time. In the spirit of the Númenórean taste for seafaring and discovery, our challenge theme for this month is Discovery and prompts this month will come from two songs from Moana, a film inspired by the Polynesian wayfinders, possibly the greatest seafarers in the history of Modern-earth.
You can use any aspect of either video as your prompt: the lyrics to or a line from the song, an image from the video, a theme relative to the video such as courage or discovering one's cultural identity, historical details of canoe-building and wayfinding in Oceania--whatever inspires you! Fanworks do not have to be set during the Second Age or concern seafaring.
If you're interested in learning more about Polynesian wayfinding, check out this TEDEd video on Polynesia navigation; PBS has a companion website for their documentary on wayfinding; and the Polynesian Voyaging Society (who still sail the world using traditional methods, by the way) have resources on wayfinding, the star compass, and more.
This challenge opened in .
Prompts
Choose your prompt from the collection below.
- View Prompts
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"How Far I'll Go" by Auli'i Cravalho
"We Know the Way" by Lin-Manuel Miranda and Opetaia Foa'i
Fanworks Tagged with Discovery
Dust in Desert Winds by Raiyana
Gondor after the death of Isildur is weak, ripe for the pickings - but what stirs among her neighbours is not what Elrond feared, and Erestor’s talents are put to a wholly different test than either expected when he and Glorfindel head into the desert to explore the sentiments of the region post the fall of Barad-dûr.
Written for the Tolkin Reverse Summer Bang 2018
Come So Far by Tyelca
Nerdanel sails to Middle-Earth in search of her last surviving son.
We Know Some Things (But Not All) by LadyBrooke
Celebrimbor is seeking something, though Maeglin does not know what.
Celebrimbor sees too much of his family's mistakes in Maeglin.
Together, they dig a tunnel.
How Far I'll Go by Grundy
Elros muses on his future as he sails to the island that will be the new home of his people.
There, Not Back Again by eris_of_imladris
Primula Brandybuck Baggins is faced with the toughest decision of her life after a near-fatal accident in the Brandywine River. While deciding her destiny, she shares a meal with an ancient elf whose own experiences will influence Primula’s fate, and the world’s.
Written for TRSB18!
West we will return by Failisse
For those mariners Turgon sent west, but of whom only Voronwë returned. A short story for August's Discovery Challenge
A Halt in a Long Voyage by Himring
Tuor and Idril must go on voyaging on Earrame forever.
But their friends on Tol Eressea find a way to help them deal with it.
Name Every Star by StarSpray
After Doriath's fall, Nellas heads east, with Dior's sons in tow.
Most Bright by Lyra
A collection of short ficlets about Princess Ancalimë, who will become the first Ruling Queen of Númenor.
Newly added: "Exit, Pursued", for B2MeM and the Hidden Figures challenge.
