Discussion post for 2007In 2007
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there_n_back once more spearheaded Back-to-Middle-earth Month with a fun challenge, which may be found
here, which also included the first of the alphabetical title prompts.
Here is a list of the fun and unusual prompts they used:
A: Like an Antagonistic Arwen
B: Like a Bathing Boromir
C: Like Certain Circumstances in the Citadel
D: Like a Dirty Dragon
E: Like an Evil Elrond
F: Like a Fearful Faramir
G: Like a Gasping Galadriel
H: Like a Hale Halbarad
I: Like Inspiring Ilúvatar
J: Like Juggling the Jewels of Fëanor
K: Like Kissing the King of Númenor
L: Like a Legacy of Legolas
M: Like Marrying Merry
N: Like a Nimble Nimrodel
O: Like an Ornery Oromë
P: Like a Pink Pippin
Q: Like a Querulous Quickbeam
R: Like a Radiant Radagast
S: Like a Sordid Sauron
T: Like a Turgid Turgon
U: Like Unsavory Urges in Umbar
V: Like a Visiting Varda
W: Like a Wet Warg
X: Like Excruciating Exertions on the Way to That Crucial X on the Mouldering Map
Y: Like a Yawning Yavanna
Z: Like Zooming Around Zirakzigil
: the G-rune - like Gandalf is no goon
Ð - eth - like a thirsty Third Marshal on the Thrihyrne.
Þ - thorn - like Þoughtful Þéoden.
Æ - like Ælfwine came ærly.
There were several people who contributed to that challenge, some only doing part of the prompts, others doing all or almost all of them. Several of the participants later archived the stories elsewhere under an anthology name.
In addition, the Silmarillion Writer's Guild issued a challenge to its members:
March Is Back to Middle-earth Month
Once again, it is March! And March--as many of you know--is Back to Middle-earth Month.
Different groups and individuals have plans for Back to Middle-earth Month this year. Last year's meme asked Tolkien fans to choose a day of the week and make an effort to post something Tolkien-related to their blogs or journals on that day. Just like last year, those of you who will be using March as a time to remember and reflect upon your own discoveries of Middle-earth are welcome to share your entries here as well.
However, I can't help but to feel that the spirit of B2MeM is somewhat lost for many of us. After all, we continue to journey to Middle-earth through stories, artwork, and discussion every day. So going back to Middle-earth doesn't exactly describe the journey for many of us, who feel that we have never left.
And so when thinking about the best way for SWG to commemorate Back to Middle-earth Month, I was somewhat at a loss. After all, how do we go back when we're still there? And recalling the heyday of the movie trilogy does little to promote The Silmarillion, which is what this group is about. And then I started to think about my own relationship with Tolkien's world and how it compares to the purpose of B2MeM, and I realized how much my focus has narrowed since I read The Silmarillion for the first time three years ago. I used to devour any piece of writing that I could find that mentioned Tolkien's world. Now, I have my favorite characters and my preferred eras of history. Rarely do I venture outside of these bounds. Running SWG, writing my own stories, beta-reading, and researching means little time to take chances on new authors and new ideas.
Sound familiar?
For many of us, I think that it will.
And so for B2MeM 2007, I think of it not so much as going back to Middle-earth as trying to look anew at the world that has enriched our lives. Each day for the month of March, I offer a quote from The Silmarillion from a different "stop" along our journey through the history of Arda. What should you do with these quotes? Why, whatever you'd like! Perhaps they will inspire stories or drabbles or poems. Or maybe allow you to recall an old favorite story that you haven't read in years and wish to share with others. Or draw a picture. Or just read and remember the first time you went to Nan Elmoth or Alqualondë or Avallónë. If the quotes inspire something that you wish to share, of course, feel free to share it or a link to it on that day's post.
The journey begins with the creation of Arda and can be found here.
Did you participate in the 2007
there_n_back Alphabet Challenge or the SWG's Quote Challenge? Did you make posts or write stories for it? If you did, please share your experience with us here in the comments. Give us links, share your anecdotes and memories.
Did you miss out on it, but find yourself curious about it? Check out the comments and ask questions and join in the discussions! And if you check out previous works, be sure to let the creator know how you liked them.
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