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] 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
Middle-earth Museum
Stroll the halls of an imaginary Middle-earth Museum and choose one (or more!) objects from our prompt list to inspire the creation of a fanwork. 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.
Sirens and Songstresses
This month, in honor of Legendarium Ladies April, prompts will be a song by a female artist or a band with a female lead. You can use any part of the prompt that inspires you - the mood, (part of) the lyrics, visuals from the video or whatever else works for you. While we encourage participants to celebrate LLA with a fanwork featuring a major female character, this is not required. If you are using the SWG challenge alongside LLA, please make mention in your story notes so that we can award you the appropriate stamps.
April is also Poetry Month, so as always, we encourage poetry or fanworks that include poems as challenge entries.
To request a prompt, comment on our Dreamwidth, comment on our LiveJournal, send an ask on Tumblr, or email us at moderator@silmarillionwritersguild.org.
This challenge opened in .
Prompts
Choose your prompt from the collection below.
- View Prompts
-
- Gloria Gaynor, "I Will Survive," Video | Lyrics
- Belinda Carlisle, "Heaven Is a Place on Earth," Video | Lyrics
- P!nk, "What About Us," Video | Lyrics
- Rihanna, "Diamonds," Video | Lyrics
- Gossip, "Perfect World," Video | Lyrics
- Beyoncé, "Halo," Video | Lyrics
- Irene Cara, "What A Feeling," Video | Lyrics
- Dami, "I'm Alive," Video | Lyrics
- Alanis Morissette, "Precious Illusions," Video | Lyrics
- Aretha Franklin, "Respect," Video | Lyrics
- Janelle Monáe, "Dance Apocalyptic," Video | Lyrics
- Björk, "Human Behaviour," Video | Lyrics
- Sarah McLachlan, "Possession," Video | Lyrics
- Tracy Chapman, "Fast Car," Video | Lyrics
- Billie Holiday, "I'll Be Seeing You," Video | Lyrics
- Ella Fitzgerald, "Dream a Little Dream of Me," Video | Lyrics
- Bette Midler, "The Rose," Video | Lyrics
- Ofra Haza, "My Aching Heart," Video | Lyrics
- Melanie C, "Northern Star," Video | Lyrics
Fanworks Tagged with Sirens and Songstresses
Twice Burnt by Lferion
Fingolfin Returned reflects on petitioning for the release of Feanor
Through a Mirror Darkly by HannaGoldworthy
Year 2510 of the Third Age: Celebrian arrives in Valinor during Sovalle, a new (for her) feast of repentance and reconciliation. And, much to her suprise and discomfort, she's not the only new face hanging around...
... of Passion by Raiyana
Gwindor's captivity in Angband involves the torture he might have expected... until Gorthaur hatches a new plan to fulfil an old desire.
Perchance to Dream by Grundy
Finduilas is not ready to leave the Halls of Mandos yet.
Busy by eris_of_imladris
Summary: Finwë hopes his best is good enough. A follow-up scene to “Confessions of a Teenage Drama Prince.”
Inspired by Nina Simone’s performance of “Don’t Let Me Be Misunderstood” for SWG’s Sirens and Songstresses challenge.
A New Place by Independence1776
Maglor decides to explore Rivendell.
The Carriage held but just Ourselves by StarSpray
Melian cannot know death. Of her daughters, one embraces it, one rejects it, one accepts it, and one does not understand.
Secret Passages by hennethgalad
Idril enlists the aid of Glorfindel and Ecthelion in preparing an escape route from Gondolin.
The heart, it hides unimaginable things by Himring
One night in Mithrim, Maglor helps Maedhros through a panic attack.
