July Challenge: Dip The Ladle

[grundyscribbling]

But if we speak of a Cauldron, we must not wholly forget the Cooks. There are many things in the Cauldron, but the Cooks do not dip in the ladle quite blindly. Their selection is important. The gods are after all gods, and it is a matter of some moment what stories are told of them. … Small wonder that spell means both a story told, and a formula of power over living men.
~ Tolkien, On Fairy-stories

Tolkien is often credited with establishing the modern fantasy genre as it is known today. Certainly, his work has inspired authors, artists, filmmakers, and other creatives for decades. However, as his 1938 lecture On Fairy-stories attests, he saw his own work as a "cauldron of story," drawing with skill from centuries of myth, legend, and tales to come before him.
 

This month's challenge considers Tolkien's many inspirations, from the books and poems he read, to the illustrations they contained, to the places important in his life. If you wish to participate this month, you will be assigned a prompt by a moderator that you can use to create a fanwork. As always, you can interpret your prompt however you want and use any part or parts you want—we encourage creative uses of our prompts! If a prompt doesn't speak to you, let one of our moderators know, and we'll dip the ladle again. To receive a prompt, comment here, send us an ask on Tumblr, post in the #monthly-challenges channel on our Discord, or message us through the SWG site. If you have a preference for the type of prompt we send you, please specify if you would like an image of a location, an image of a book cover/illustration, or a quote.
 

In order to receive a stamp for your fanwork, your response must be posted to the archive on or before 15 August 2023. As July is Disability Pride Month, we also offer a stamp for any fanworks featuring a character with a disability. For complete challenge guidelines, see the Challenges page on our website

Comments

[starspray]

I would like a prompt please! No preference on the type.

[grundyscribbling]

Absolutely. How about this one?

Stow-on-the-Wold (photo by Martyn Gorman)

[hlinspjalda]

May I have a location prompt, please?

[dawn_felagund]

Let's try:

Chateau, Somme

If this one isn't clicking for whatever reason, let me know, and I'll try again!

[narya_flame]

May I have a prompt, please? Preference for a location. (I feel bad, I am accumulating prompts and not finishing the fanworks that go with them, but that's what the amnesty is for, yes?!)

[dawn_felagund]

Let's try this one:

Otmoor, Oxfordshire

And there is nothing wrong and we do not mind at all if prompts don't get used! Unassigned prompts go into the collection at the end of the month for amnesty if they're not assigned, so they're available for amnesty either way.

[narya_flame]

And there is nothing wrong and we do not mind at all if prompts don't get used! Unassigned prompts go into the collection at the end of the month for amnesty if they're not assigned, so they're available for amnesty either way.

OK, good. 😁

Is there any chance we could try a different image? I'm not sure about this one.

[dawn_felagund]

Sure! Let me know if this one comes up blank too.

Kynance Cove, Cornwall

[narya_flame]

Oooh, that works! I might actually work this into one of my TRSB fics.

ETA - thank you 😊

[hhimring]

If the Otmoor location prompt is still looking for a home, could I have that one, please?
If not, can I have a quotation prompt?

[grundyscribbling]

Otmoor is yours!

[hhimring]

Thank you very much!