[Maram68]

Hey people! (listening to echo)

Here are the running challenges (with open deadline) to get your muse started, shaken or stirred:

"Letters from..."

Any character - good or bad - sending letters to their family members, and saying funny stuff (what's going on, where they are at, and what's on their mind is a few examples). Idea came from 'Letters from Mordor' by Viv. No word limit, but the writer must have it in letter format: the date, who the letter is for, and signed by whatever character they choose to use. Also, have it like it's a monthly letter to the family member.

"But it's my first time!"

Version 1:
Describe the first time a major character experienced something character defining, e.g. the first time Gandalf came to ME as a Wizard, the first time Faramir realized he was second best (to Denethor), first time Boromir slew an orc, first time Aragorn left Rivendell on his own, first time Elrond beheld Rivendell etc.

Version 2:
In the First Time forum thread, writers expressed some interest in stories that focus on the first sexual experience of a *male* character. So, this challenge may also be used as a vehicle for exploring that notion. (Many thanks to Thuriniel for raising the topic.)

"First Age Philandery"

The Elves of the First Age were still young and firey by comparison to the later Elves, and the Men were greater still. The most beautiful/greatest *fill in blank* ever lived in the First Age (Luthien, Finrod, Dior, Turin, Tuor, Feanor, etc.).

Choose the First Age Character/s who were (or you would like to see) paired up and whose pairing might cause familial embarassment or even serious repercussions.

Pairings must have in-canon potential (i.e., characters were at least were in the same place at the same time). For example: Finrod-Luthien, Turin-Finduilas, Galadriel-Beleg, Aegnor-Andreth, Idril-Glorfindel, Aredhel-Ecthelion. However, for the sake of self insertion in all its forms, only one participant need be from the Index of the Silmarillion. Just keep it plausible.

PWP not necessary but encouraged.

The Noldor thought the Valar restrictive, why not the L&C too...

(Note: This challenge has no word limit or deadline. Multi-chapter explorations of first age characters are welcome and encouraged. Thank you Inglor for suggesting this challenge!)

"LACE Trim"

LACE (Laws and Customs of the Eldar) tells us that elves are monogamous, that they only make whoopie with their spouses, that they aren't lustful ("they are seldom swayed by the desires of the body only"), that they become ghosts if they stay in Middle-earth too long.

Pick a factoid from LACE and write a story explaining how that factoid is not always necessarily so. Reasoning should draw from other parts of canon (yes, you can use Galadriel and Celeborn as an example of premarital lovers).

"Stuck (Really) in Middle-earth"

We've read them before: 21st c. gal is zatted back to Middle-earth.

But what would it *really* be like for a modern person to find herself (or himself) in Middle-earth? Fic should tackle such issues as getting lost, not having appropriate survival skills, craving twinkies and other processed-food treats, having no air conditioning, being surprised by the plumbing (or lack of it) situation, experiencing uncomfortable allergies to dragon scales, etc.

The intrepid time-traveller could also answer, once and for all, those niggling questions (do elves wear underwear??) and set the record straight.

I know this scenario has been done a thousand times. Your challenge is to do it again ... but with a twist.

There is no deadline on this challenge, but no previously posted stories should be submitted in response. Only new stuff.

Write on...

[Aelinmir]

Captian Jack Sparrow meets the Fellowship... [Follow the river, look to the black ships.] what if one of those black ships was the Pearle?

[Alassante]

Anyway the seven deadly sins challenge can be reopened? Pretty please with sugar on top?

[Rhapsody]

[Viv]

So ....

A few open challenges just aren't gathering much interest, so I'm pondering closing them, unless someone is just really burning to submit stories for ...

--Do's and Don'ts of Writing Fanfiction
--LaCE Trim
--First Age Philandery

Going once, going twice ...

[NancyBrooke]

I am still working on the "But It's My First Time!" challenge, believe it or not. Closing those three above would be fine with me, at any rate ...

[dolarabee]

Fine with me too.

do.

[Alassante]

[Viv]

[Viv]

[vladazhael]

[sivan]

I have 2 stories that touching the theme.

How do i add them as a reply to it? Just a question.

*Hugs*

Sivan Shemesh

[Viv]

[Viv]

New general challenge now open in both the Tolkien and the TV/Movies archives:

New Arrivals

Write the reaction of any character (or characters) to the birth or sudden arrival of another character. (Challenge is open in both Tolkien Archive and TV/Movies Archive. Make sure you sign up at the archive for which you want to write this challenge -- you can submit one “New Arrivals” challenge response for each archive.)

Deadline is 1 May 2008.