#TRSB2020 Summer Showcase

[tolkienrsb]

Welcome to the TRSB 2020 Summer Showcase!  No standard banner on this one, because today we bring you a lovely TRSB artist:

ArlenianChronicles

DA: ArlenianChronicles - Hobbyist, Digital Artist 

https://archiveofourown.org/users/ArlenianChronicles 

https://cassandramclean.wixsite.com/website  

I drew my first digital piece of Silmarillion fanart in 2017, featuring Maedhros and Elrond, but I didn't start drawing regular fanart until 2018. That was when I entered the Tolkien fandom.

My fandom activities include drawing designs for the Silmarillion characters, developing my AU for Maedhros, Elured, and Elurin, thinking about the platonic and familial relationships in the Silmarillion, and worrying a lot over future adaptations of Tolkien's works.

My non-fannish hobbies include drawing my original characters and writing their stories, sitting at the computer, and eating food.

How I'm joining in TRSB20: I'm an artist! :D

Link to my piece:

https://www.deviantart.com/arlenianchronicles/art/Star-dome-844958746

Piece title: Star-dome

Piece rating: G

Info about my piece:

After finishing this painting, I was Inspired to write this quote for it:

"Elerondo you named me; your Vault of Heaven. Throughout the sky will I stretch, and the stars shall be my eyes."

This painting goes more with Tolkien's other version of canon where Maedhros and Maglor found the twins in a cave near a waterfall. If I remember correctly, Elrond stayed in the cave while Elros played in the waterfall. They were named as such, and I assume that Maglor was the one to name them (and perhaps Maedhros, as well).

My headcanon for this version of events is that Maglor called them Elerondo and Elerosse (the attested Quenya translations of Elrond and Elros) whenever he spoke to Maedhros about them, and the twins caught on to it. Eventually, Maglor made the decision to formally name them in Sindarin, since they wouldn't have known Quenya at the time.

Both Star-dome and Vault of Heaven are translations for Elrond's name (and they essentially mean the same thing too XD). Tolkien once translated it as "Elf of the Cave." I thought I'd draw Elrond and Maglor together because I haven't drawn the Feanorians with the El twins for a long while (save for Maedhros and the Elu twins lol), and those guys were the ones I got into when I first entered the Tolkien fandom. Elrond is glowing here because ... maybe he's doing some healing business? :D

And yes, that's a star-dome behind Maglor XDD

Tips for fellow participants: Remember to breathe, drink water, stay safe, and have fun. You're doing great! :D

[tolkienrsb]

Hi folks!  In today’s Summer Showcase we bring you a lovely writer...

Jaz-the-bard

I'm on ao3 at JazTheBard, and on SWG with the same name, but my works aren't up there yet. 

Tumblr: @jaz-the-bard

I'm writing for TRSB20, which is my first fandom event! I'm very excited.

I only recently started writing fanfic, and finished the silm for the first time in March. I've never read The Hobbit or LotR in their entirety. Currently I'm working on a cosplay of Glorfindel.

Storytelling Wanderer

G, standard silm warnings apply because the plot of silm is discussed and Maglor is not in the best mental state.

Our favorite four hobbits are in Bree, but instead of a mysterious Ranger called Strider, they meet a nameless elf who leads them to Rivendell while telling stories of the Elder Days. It's partly a reunion story with a good dash of angst, and also a warm-up of sorts for when I properly rewrite the Silmarillion in fairytale style.

[tolkienrsb]

Hello, Tolkien fans!  Reveals are drawing ever closer, and to whet your appetite for the big day, today we are bringing you a terrific movieverse piece from the lovely...

Mulasawala

I am fairly new to the fandom, although I read the hobbit in elementary school. I am listening to the audiobooks of The Two Towers now, because I finished the Fellowship of the Ring a few days ago. Where can we find you?  I am Mulasawala everywhere! Ao3, twitter, tumblr (@mulasawala), etc How are you joining in with TRSB20?  I am an artist! I drew two pictures and am working with two amazing authors :3

An Unexpected Friend

Teen and Up.  No Warnings Apply. Info about your piece: A different first encounter between Bilbo and Smaug changes the course of history, and an unlikely friendship conspires to redraw the map of Middle Earth. It's Thorin/Bilbo - I created it because I am weak and hate sad endings TuT

Top creative tips/words of wisdom for fellow participants: my only tip is to have fun!

[tolkienrsb]

Showcase time again, folks!  Today, we have the wonderful...

Tethys_resort

I have been a Tolkien fan since being handed a set of the Lord of the Rings in the fourth grade as a gift from a beloved aunt.  Being a dedicated reader, I immediately dove into the books and was appalled when we got to the end of the Fellowship of the Ring and it ended on a cliffhanger: I had never encountered a series before and the idea that a storyline would be continued in the next book was entirely new.  However, I did not find out that the Hobbit existed until high school, and the Silmarillion until college! 

Primary fandom activities: writing both prose and poetry.  (I can’t draw, much to the despair and amusement of my college professors.)  I started writing fanfiction because I needed writing practice and this seemed entertaining. Turns out, it is entertaining to just keep going!

Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/tethysresort

AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/users/Tethys_resort 

Courting Gifts

Teen rating mostly because I worry about G ratings.

Elrond trying to come up with the perfect courting gift for Celebrian with Erestor, Glorfindel and Lindir’s help. And having an attack of insecurity along the way.  Like a great deal of my stuff, light and fluffy. Everything I write is pretty much created for my own personal enjoyment.  Inspiration in this case came from a book on the architecture of Japanese castles.  (Yeah, I know it wandered in from left field.)  Choosing a story was hard because I love everything I get as far as posting up…

How are you joining in with TRSB20?

Writing.  If I get done with my chosen two to my satisfaction in time (likely because I type fast) I might do a gift.

Top creative tips/words of wisdom for fellow participants (optional!)

If you get stuck, brainstorm all the ways it DOESN’T happen.  For me it tends to work out the hitch, and if it doesn’t it’s at least a good laugh.

[tolkienrsb]

Good evening, Tolkienites!  It’s time for another showcase post, and today’s creator in the spotlight is...

Venwe

(@venwe )

Fun fact: I've been into Tolkien for pretty much my entire life, and in this case, that's not even an exaggeration! My mom says that I used to listen to this audio drama adaptation of the LOTR for little kids (which was, apparently, only a thing in Russia) for hours on end and drive the nannies at the kindergarten crazy by reciting the whole thing to them literally every day. I don't remember my early childhood very well, but that does sound like something I would do back then (or even now, if I'm being totally honest).

Where can we find you?  tumblr, AO3

How are you joining in with TRSB20? Writing \o/ I'm going to bring so much drama to the table since my artist has been pretty bad at dissuading me from doing it (by being a total enabler).

Marriage of Convenience

Link to your piece: https://archiveofourown.org/works/22587130  

Piece title, rating, and any warnings: "Marriage of Convenience", G, Maedhros/Finrod, pre-slash, crack

Info about your piece: Fëanor is trying to play smart by setting Maedhros up with Finarfin's eldest. Maedhros is not too enthusiastic about it. 

Alternatively, Fëanor hasn't been paying enough attention to his nephews and nieces all these years.

Top creative tips/words of wisdom for fellow participants: The only lesson I've learnt from this quarantine is that healthy sleep habits are important. I had ignored that for years, but honestly? Going to bed and waking up at the same time every day, as well as doing some proper stretching/relaxation before bed can actually drastically improve your general well-being! I may be one step closer to being a boring well-adjusted adult now, but it's not that bad up here. It counts as a creative tip as well, because it really boosted my productivity among other things.

[tolkienrsb]

Hope you all had a great weekend!  We’re back with the Summer Showcase, this time starring the wonderful...

Storyforsomeone

I’m a 22 year old writer from the UK, and whilst I’ve only recently started contributing to the Tolkien fandom, I have been in love with Middle Earth and Tolkien's characters ever since I first read the Hobbit age 12. My primary fandom activities include writing, setting Tolkien’s poems to music, coming up with Tolkien-inspired recipes (the Lembas Bread is nearly perfected) and generally obsessing over the talent of creative output in this fandom, which continues to astound me with its quality. I’m writing for TRSB20.

In my alternate fandom lives, I’ve written a slightly mad Harry Potter/Avengers crossover ‘Of Wizards and Heroes’, and have an ongoing Merlin reincarnation spy fic ‘You Only Live Twice’ which is just about to break 300k and I’m both cursing and loving the onset of untimely inspiration stretching it out into eternity.

Tumblr: @storiesforsomeone

AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/users/storyforsomeone

Forever is composed of nows

Rating: Teen and Up Audiences

Archive Warnings: Major Character Death; No Archive Warnings Apply

"Because peace may not be something you fall upon or finish but it’s certainly something you can build. Stone by stone; moment by moment.

Luckily for all of them, Dwarves are rather good at building things that endure."

A series of moments after the Battle of Five Armies: of grief, healing, rebuilding, and finding home.

This was my first work in the Hobbit fandom, inspired by rewatching BOTFA and essentially going *nope* because after all that suffering and fighting these characters deserved to find a little peace rather watching everything they fought for turn to dust. Written according to the '1sentence' alpha set of 50 one word prompts on LJ (with gratuitous liberty taken as to what constitutes a sentence), it was sort of an exercise in concision. I wanted to write something that told a story within the small, everyday moments, because often they’re the most meaningful. By limiting myself to telling the story only through the details — through 50 one word prompts — it gave a different angle on time passing, and how we often remember things through the trivial, specific bits: the planting of an acorn, how the cold bites at your fingers, a rare smile, the smell of rain, a particular turn of phrase, stolen moments of soft murmurs and rise of skin against lips.

It’s about the rejoicing of the everyday, quiet victories, cherishing the present, and finding forever in the nows. 

Aside from the one-word prompts, two main sources of inspiration were Emily Dickinson's poem ‘Forever is composed of Nows’, from which the title was derived (quoted in full at the beginning of the work), and additionally, this rendition of ‘Last Goodbye’ (Additional soundtrack suggestion ♫) on guitar was my companion during the writing process, musically manifesting my ‘alternate ending’.

Top creative tips/words of wisdom for fellow participants: Write what you love, and write it for yourself first. Do that, and you’ve already won.

[tolkienrsb]

Welcome back to the TRSB2020 Summer Showcase!  Today we bring you a wonderful TRSB writer...

Drag0nst0rm

I've loved Tolkien's work for years, but I only became an active fan when I got sucked into the Silmarillion corner of the fandom about two years ago. I love exploring alternate universes where things are at least a little better for the characters . . . and occasionally an AU or two where things manage to get even worse. This year I am writing and have also signed up to work as a pinch hitter, if necessary!

AO3: Drag0nst0rm (https://archiveofourown.org/users/Drag0nst0rm/pseuds/Drag0nst0rm)

Tumblr: @sweetteaanddragons (https://sweetteaanddragons.tumblr.com)

How to Train Your (Evil) Dragon

Rating: G   

Warnings: None

Everything is fine, and nothing is even slightly on fire. Or at least that's what Fingon is going to try to tell his father. (In which Fingon somehow manages to accidentally acquire both a baby and a dragon.) 

Top creative tips/words of wisdom for fellow participants: If you get stuck in your writing, try talking the problem through out loud. Having someone to listen is optional - just articulating the problem outside my own head helps me figure out where my problem really is and work around it. It might work for you too!

[tolkienrsb]

Welcome back to the TRSB Summer Showcase!  Today we bring you the fabulous...

Fingolfinsilme

I'm much too involved in this fandom but I do mostly RP and fanfiction although I've started doing art and gifs, or at least trying.

Also, I have a younger sister who has never ever read Tolkien but knows all about it because I talk about it so much with her (her latest achievement is remembering that Annatar, Sauron and Mairon are the same person!!)

How are you joining in with TRSB20?

Writing!

Where can we find you?

Tumblr: @hauntedsiriel

AO3: FingolfinSilme

A Song for the Souls of Mandos  

General Audiences, No Warnings Apply

This is a short poem I wrote ages ago after reading The Silmarillion for the first time mostly because I became obsessed with the star aesthetic among the Eldar.

Top creative tips/words of wisdom for fellow participants: Have fun!!! If you're writing, chat with your artist, come up with wild headcanons and become friends!!! There are so many awesome people participating and on Tumblr in general and this event is a perfect occasion to meet them so seize this chance!

[tolkienrsb]

Hello, Tolkien lovers!  In the spotlight today to help us get over the midweek hump, we have...

Ingenious_Spark // Bird

 I'm Bird, and I'm signed up as an author for the TRSB! This is the third year running I have participated. I've been in the fandom since my husband dragged me into it back when we first met in college, a good 7 or 8 years ago now. I'm a writer, though I seem to write mostly weird niche stuff. I'm quite content in my corner, though. You can find me on:

 AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/users/ingenious_spark

Tumblr: https://dreamychaos.tumblr.com -or- https://oopsbirdficced.tumblr.com - @oopsbirdficced

Discord: eldritchdreamingchaos#0921

 of a harsh and caustic nature (the root of hope)

 Rating: T/PG13

Pairing: Caranthir/Finrod

Warnings: minor violence

Story summary: 

You could not find two people cut of a more different cloth than Findaráto Ingoldo Arafinwion and Morifinwë Carnistir Fëanárion. It is, perhaps then, Fate's cruel whims or the One's idea of a particularly entertaining joke that they be bound together in a sacred union.

They survive.

Notes: This was mainly inspired by the idea that Caranthir is supposed to hate Finarfin's sons the most, and what might happen if he was bound to Finrod in a truly inescapable way, I.E. through a soulmate bond. As such, it's a trope inversion and an extremely slow burn. Additionally, it's got elements of political drama, homesteading, and high seas hijinks.

[tolkienrsb]

Good evening, everybody!  Today’s creator in the spotlight is the fabulous...

Kalendeer/Calendille (@quarantined-feanor)

Tumblr: @calendille

Also found on the SWG discord, on AO3 (I like to chat in the comments!, pseud is Calendille.

This year I’m art-ing for the first time, writing for the second time!

A Feast of Ashes is my first novel ever, and a dream come true. I've been writing for several years, but short stories and never finished novels were my speciality. Well, no more! I hope a lot of readers will come and party with me at the end of this big project, that spanned 8 months this year!

A Feast of Ashes

T with some extra warnings for specific chapters.

Now High King of the Noldor in Middle Earth, Fingolfin decides to host a feast to reunite the free people of Beleriand, the Noldor, and his own family. What he did not expect is to be reunited with dead relatives, spies from Angband, dark secrets from Cuivienen, and a fair share of angst.

A Feast of Ashes is a Silmarillion novel spanning more or less 150k, from Cuivienen to the end of the Feast of Reuniting. As I write this summary, I am writing the last chapter of this story; small epilogues are planned through the summer, but if you start reading now, you are 100% certain of getting the ending!

Top creative tips/words of wisdom for fellow participants: Writing a big piece is a pain, don't do it unless you are ready to write every week, even when you are tired, even when you don't want to, even when your writing sucks. However, there's nothing like the feeling of finishing a story and sharing it with people!

Last word of widsom: send love to the supermods. SEND LOVE! They work super hard!

***

Mod note: we promise we didn’t ask her to add that last part! :D

Don’t forget, if you liked a creator’s work, show them some love - comment, kudos, reblog, let them know!  

See you tomorrow for another Summer Showcase.

xoxo, Raiyana and Narya

[tolkienrsb]

Hello, hello, hello!  Welcome back to the TRSB Summer Showcase; today we have the fabulous...

Eris_of_Imladris

( @erisofimladris )

I'm Eris, 27 years old, and quarantining with an adorable almost-14-year-old goldendoodle named Reese <3 I've been a Tolkien fan since I was 9 years old and started writing fanfic shortly after, although most of my early pieces have been lost. I discovered a deep love for the Silmarillion two years ago. In addition to wearing my elf dress around the house, my hobbies include video games, reading, and attempting to plot a fantasy novel.

Where can we find you? 

AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/users/eris_of_imladris/works, 

Tumblr: https://www.tumblr.com/blog/erisofimladris, 

LotRO: Erisuithiel, on the Landroval server

How are you joining in with TRSB20? Writing and pinch hitting

Fourth Father

Rated T, no Archive warnings apply

Info about your piece: I've always loved Elrond, but felt intimidated to write him. I was certain that my first attempt would be criticized heavily, especially since I was writing about his relationships with his father figures and included a positive relationship with the Feanorians, which is one of my favorite headcanons. I was so pleasantly surprised to see people enjoying this story! To date, this is my highest-rated story on ao3 and I was even requested to write a sequel for the very first time! This fic helped me realize that headcanons aren't something to be ashamed of and others may enjoy what we've got in our heads!

Top creative tips/words of wisdom for fellow participants: Trust in your ideas - even if you think others might judge them, there's no way of knowing what other people will think unless you share with them!

[tolkienrsb]

Hello, folks, and welcome back to the TRSB Summer Showcase!  Today we have a lovely TRSB writer...

Elesianne

I wrote my first Lord of the Rings fic when I was twelve, kept writing fics in my native language for a few years, and returned to the Tolkien fandom in my mid-twenties when I reread the Silmarillion and was inspired to write fanfiction again, this time in English. I've posted 53 fics in the 3,5 years since. I studied English language and philology at university in part because I was inspired by Tolkien and his passion for languages.

 I'm elesianne on Tumblr ( @elesianne) , AO3 and fanfiction.net.

 I'm writing a fic for this year's Tolkien Reverse Summer Bang. May we all have lots of inspiration and fun working on our submissions for this event!

Ever-beloved

Rating: Teen and up audiences

Warnings: Major character death (of an elf, so not permanent) and some canon-typical violence

 Wordcount: ~9,700 words

Through all the struggles and triumphs of the Noldor, Angrod and Edhellos hold on to their love and their faith in each other.

I wanted to explore the tumultuous events that the Noldor cause and experience through the eyes of some less-known characters, so I wrote the story of Angrod and his wife Edhellos/Eldalótë whom Tolkien mentions very briefly. The fic is as canon-compliant as I could make it, and it is both a love story and a story about the Noldor.

[tolkienrsb]

Goooooood evening, folks; today’s TRSB Summer Showcase piece is a comic by the wonderful Foxleycrow!

Tumblr: @foxleycrow 

Deviantart: foxleycrow

Twitter: foxcrows

IG: foxcrows

AO3: Grond

My primary involvement in fandom is drawing pictures of Silmarillion characters, but I thought it would be fun to sign up for TRSB as a writer. I started an AO3 account for Tolkien writing, and this event looked like a good way to get started. I love both drawing and writing, and I can often be found doing one or the other, whenever I have the time. I enjoy making comics, too, as it combines both of my interests. I hope to have the time and motivation to draw another Tolkien-themed comic in the future.

Of Thingol and Melian, a comic in two parts

Rating: G, general audiences; no warnings

Of Thingol and Melian, pt 1

Of Thingol and Melian, pt 2

This is a comic about the meeting of Thingol and Melian, as told by Daeron. I love the Sindar, and I've always enjoyed the story of how Thingol went missing due to love—and how his people waited for him. 

The comic was drawn on toned paper, with white and black ink, which was a new technique I was experimenting with.

[tolkienrsb]

TRSB2020 Summer Showcase!

As a new initiative this year, we’ve launched the Summer Showcase, bringing the spotlight on our lovely participants.

Keep an eye on this space as we introduce a wide array of writers and artists to you, showing off previous works that mean a lot to them!

As always, stay safe and hydrated :D

xoxo, Mods Raiyana and Narya

ps. all Summer showcase posts will be tagged TRSB2020 Summer Showcase

[tolkienrsb]

It’s showcase time again, and today we have the lovely...

Rogercat

Swedish by nationality, living with a Siberian cat and lover of history and fantasy such as Tolkien's world of Arda and The Goblin Emperor by Katherine Addison, as well some Japanese manga series that I gladly either reads online on websites or buys the English translation of, if I can get a hold on them without needing to buy them overseas. My author name on AO3 and FFN actually comes from our old family cat Roger, and my Siberian female cat Nelya, named after one of my favorites in Silmarillion, is a great source of inspiration and funny situations for any of my fanfics where cats shows up. It is not uncommon for me to do a lot of research for fanfics in order to match the setting, such as suitable fashion and social status, inspiration from non-European cultures and other things 

Where to find me: 

AO3: https://archiveofourown.org/users/Rogercat/pseuds/Rogercat

FFN: https://www.fanfiction.net/u/5469648/Rogercat

Deviantart: https://www.deviantart.com/nelyasun

Joining in with TRSB20: Writing as Rogercat and Art-ing as Nelyasun

To Move North

Fandom: Silmarillion, with some LOTR and Hobbit characters showing up too

Rating: Teens and up 

Warnings: Mentions of suicide, unhealthy family life,, loss of family, minor mentions of death and violence 

Info about story: Summary: Celegorm finds himself in the role as a foster father to a young teenager named Dior, and from there he carefully guides the youth into the world 

Background to story: I wanted to try a Modern AU that is set around 2001 but still a little more advanced than RL due to the presence of Feanor and other genius characters from Tolkien's world. I also wanted to try a story showing how the modern world would affect the characters and their relationships, as well giving a few minor characters a chance to shine. The House of Feanor seemed like a good choice and I also wanted to try how Celegorm and Dior Eluchil would be in a world where they are not enemies 

[tolkienrsb]

Today in our summer showcase we have the lovely FirstAmazon, and her fic...

Half-brother in blood, full brother in heart

Mature, M/M; Romance, angst, drama, UST - WIP

Kind of AU and definitely fix-it of Fëanor/Fingolfin, and it's a romance inspired by a lot of people, but mostly Spiced_Wine's "Thou shall lead and I will follow" and Encairion's "The Revolutionary and the Usurper" (the other influences I've had appear inside the chapters with links to the authors). The romance follows them since they were kids and tries to deal with the political aspects of their lives, as well as their growing romance.

A little bit of info about yourself: Been in the fandom for far too short a time (since last October). Love writing, reading (my favorite genre is fantastic realism), and painting (mostly with watercolors). My favorite mood is to be snuggled under a blanket while it's rainy and cold, with coffee, plumcake, a book in my hands, and my husband nearby.

Where can we find you?

AO3 https://archiveofourown.org/users/firstamazon

Faerie http://faerie-archive.com/viewuser.php?uid=618

SWG http://www.silmarillionwritersguild.org/archive/home/viewuser.php?uid=1125

Deviantart https://www.deviantart.com/firstamazon

How are you joining in with TRSB20?I made one piece of art and will be writing one, as well :)

Top creative tips/words of wisdom for fellow participants: Something that I'm trying to live by: writing is supposed to be fun! If it's not fun, give it a break and find other inspiring things to do.