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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.
Sitcom
This month's theme is Sitcom and features a bingo card for participants to self-select a prompt or prompts to inspire their fanworks. While the prompts are based off of sitcom tropes, your fanwork doesn't have to be a sitcom or inspired by one; it doesn't even have to be (or attempt to be!) humorous. To participate as a creator, you need only to create a fanwork using one prompt; however, for the more adventurous among us, we encourage you to combine prompts, complete rows, or attempt one of the dozen variations of card patterns. You may use multiple prompts in a single fanwork or use prompts to inspire multiple fanworks.
This challenge opened in .
Prompts
Choose your prompt from the collection below.
- View Prompts
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- Sitcom Bingo Text-Only Prompts
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If you need assistance at any time, including devising prompt combinations that fill rows or other bingo patterns, please email the SWG moderators at moderator@silmarillionwritersguild.org.
B1: talking in one's sleep
B2: dramatic reveal
B3: put the "fun" in dysfunction
B4: Are we there yet?
B5: jerk with a heart of gold
I1: roommates
I2: contrived coincidence
I3: laugh track
I4: average suburban family
I5: getting volunteered
N1: Will they? or Won't they?
N2: Is this thing still on?
FREE SPACE
N4: sophisticated as hell
N5: the exit is this way
G1: double entendre
G2: breaking the fourth wall
G3: workplace weirdos
G4: chain reaction
G5: failure is the only option
O1: a very special episode
O2: We need a distraction!
O3: You did what??
O4: dumbass has a point
O5: running gag
Fanworks Tagged with Sitcom
By Fate Mastered by Lyra
For Túrin, nothing turns out as he planned.
A series of drabbles (according to Libre Office) inspired by (of all things) the Sitcom! Bingo challenge and the Narn i Hîn Húrin.
A Bridge to Tomorrow by Independence1776
Maglor rescues Celebrían before the orcs take her deep into their caves. Life in Imladris will never be the same.
Forbidden Lavender by Raiyana
The brewing of ale and beer was a woman's work, and thus (because Bunn is a terrible enabler) this little ficlet about Anairë and Nerdanel and some unexpected lavender happened.
Amnesty sitcom fic for the You did WHAT?!? prompt.
Shame and Grief by LadyBrooke
Maglor has always talked in his sleep.
What A Tangled Net We Weave... by Grundy
Young Artanis, Irissë, and Ambarussa were left to amuse themselves while their fathers were in a meeting at the palace. What could possibly go wrong?
Agley. by hennethgalad
Gildis hopes that Írimë will cheer her up.
(free space, sitcom bingo !)
Graveyard Shift by Himring
After the First Kinslaying, Maglor's wife ends up with a grim duty.
Has she been volunteered by others?
Or maybe she did choose it herself, after all?
In the confusion of the times, that may not be an easy distinction to make.
Dispossessed For Ever by StarSpray
After Elwing casts herself into the Sea, Maglor finds her sons.
Aware. by hennethgalad
Fingolfin reads the thoughts of two prisoners to see who is telling the truth.
(reading 'Orcs' first would enrich this)
for the 'Sitcom' challenge "Sophisticated as hell."
Aftermath by hennethgalad
Hador and Gildis have their first row.
Arms. by hennethgalad
Hador begs the forgiveness of Gildis.
Ajar. by hennethgalad
Even on the night of his wedding, Hador turns to Fingolfin.
