Cultus Dispatches: Six Demographic Takeaways from the 2025 Tolkien Fanfiction Survey
Ten years of demographic data from the Tolkien Fanfiction Survey show consistencies in who reads and writes fanfiction, as well as a few key demographic shifts.
SWG News
New Challenge: Epic 80s
This month's challenge features hundreds of fresh prompts from the bodacious decade of the 1980s.
Cultus Dispatches: Communities Do Comment
Comment data from the SWG underscores community as an essential component to a robust commenting culture.
Instadrabbling Sessions for July, August, and September
Instadrabbling continues on the first Saturday of each month on our Discord server.
New & Updated Fanworks
[Writing] Shepherd Princess by Himring
A princess and her sheepdog. (Drabble featuring a young Ancalime.)
[Writing] A Thousand Winds that Blow by StarSpray
When uneasy dreams bring him back into Beleriand, Daeron finds a pair of twins who have lost their home, and an enemy who has lost himself. The Shadow's reach is growing ever longer, and if they are to survive, they must do it together.
[Writing] From That Rubble by StarSpray
Fëanor shrugged, studying the contents of his wine glass. “Something must be done about that house. It will fall down eventually.”
“It does not follow that it must be you that tears it down single-handedly. Are you sure you do not want help?”
“It’s not as though I…
[Writing] A Song Amidst His Torment by Elrond's Library
Of course it was a trap.
Maitimo has to survive. He must. But what price is too high to pay for survival?
[Writing] Nasyalossë by Lovimmy3365
Erestor lay up against a tree, brown washed to black in the wet of the snow. The black disc of the new moon sailed across the dark sky. Erestor wished it were gone. He had no need to look into dark eyes any longer.
He was dying.
(AKA Erestor unwittingly travels back in time to the…
[Playlist] Yacht Rock Silmarillion by Dawn Felagund
Have you ever wondered what would happen if the characters in The Silmarillion were smoooooth like they were sippin' a Sex on the Beach on a party barge in the harbor at Alqualondë? The "Yacht Rock Silmarillion" retells The Silmarillion as though the characters all had perms…
[Writing] and let's be winners by mistake by atlantablack
"Move farther north," Caranthir says to her a month after the attack, gaze steady on her even as his hands continue briskly gutting fish. "There is plenty of land closer to my fortress, and my people can help protect yours if there is another attack."
Haleth looks up from her…
Current Challenge
Building Middle-earth
While Tolkien is known for his vast natural landscapes, those expanses are populated by people—and the buildings they construct. Whether a cottage tucked into the forest or the soaring spires of a grand city, the architecture of Arda can send the imagination adventuring through settings ethereal and astonishing. This month's challenge uses architecture to inspire fanworks. Read more ...
Random Challenge
Soft Underbelly
Create a fanwork that shows how a character failed due to a weakness. Read more ...
New in References
Six Demographic Takeaways from the 2025 Tolkien Fanfiction Survey by Dawn Walls-Thumma
Data from the 2025 Tolkien Fanfiction Survey shows demographic changes in participant gender, age, and education and new revelations about neurodiversity.
Communities Do Comment: Expanding the 3C's of Commenting with SWG Data by Dawn Walls-Thumma
Expanding on my 2018 article "Why People Don't Comment," comment data from the SWG underscores community as an essential component to a robust commenting culture.
Fandom Draws the Line: Fanworks, AI, and Resistance by Dawn Felagund, Grundy
By definition, fanworks fandom does not draw a lot of boundaries, but community archives and events have taken a strong stance against AI-generated fanworks due to ethical considerations and member input.
Featured Themed Collection
Beyond the Silmarillion
[Writing] Down the Long Years by Isilme_among_the_stars
Bilbo, the strange old hobbit with the wandering feet, senses something special in young Frodo the first time he sees the lad; as they become close, they find in each other a cameraderie not well understood by other hobbits. Five poignant moments between Bilbo and Frodo Baggins over the course…
[Artwork] The Mirror of Galadriel by skywardstruck
Smoke rises from the Mirror, where the Lady of Lothlórien awaits to share its visions.
[Writing] Bar-en-Eladar by Gabriel
Out of the shadow, light is born anew.
A Chieftain is dead. And whilst the events surrounding his death are unclear, a son tries to come to terms with his loss.
Around the World and Web
Celedriel Week 2026
A Tumblr event week focusing on the relationship between Celeborn and Galadriel.
Esoteric Tolkien Week 2026
A fandom event dedicated to the strange, otherworldly, and inexplicable in Middle-earth and beyond.
Tolkien Disability Pride 2026
This Tumblr event focuses on ALL creative works focusing on disability in Tolkien's universe.
Scribbles and Drabbles 2026
Scribbles & Drabbles is a fic and art exchange with a minimum word count of 100 words.
Truly All Fanworks
This page includes all fanworks from the main SWG archive and the Beyond the Silmarillion section.
Setting a Precedent by Elwin Fortuna
When one woman threatens another in the marketplace, Finarfin must judge the circumstances and determine consequences.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Finarfin, Original Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 3, 778 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
Northern Skies by Idrils Scribe
Elrohir's perilous odyssey across Middle-earth finally brings him home to Rivendell. Sadly all is not well: the Elf-child that was abducted into Umbar is now a Man grown. Forty years of war and darkness left Elrohir deeply scarred, and the Hidden Valley harbors ancient conflicts of its own. Will the love of his family be enough when Elrohir finds himself a stranger in a strange land?
This story is part of the Under Strange Stars series, but it can perfectly well be read on its own. STORY COMPLETE!
Many thanks to my excellent beta Dawn Felagund. Any remaining mistakes are mine.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Elrohir |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Adventure | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 32 | Word Count: 103, 416 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (40) |
He Who Harps by StarSpray
While on a walking tour of the Shire, Bilbo goes looking for Elves in the Woody End. He finds one.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Bilbo Baggins, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 904 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
We Keep Living Anyway by StarSpray
Finally, Gil-galad said, "Why did you come out here alone?"
Elrond didn't answer right away. He picked up a seashell and turned it over in his fingers. "I was—angry," he said finally. "It would not be befitting for the lord of Imladris to stand in the middle of Mithlond and scream at the sky, I thought."
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Elrond, Finduilas, Gil-galad |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Alternate Universe, General, Hurt/Comfort | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 264 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
A Gift Like No Other by Raiyana
In the aftermath of Curufin's exile, Celebrimbor receives a package.
It changes... everything.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Celebrimbor, Orodreth |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 582 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
On Northern battlefields long ago by turlas
Bragollach with Finrod's eyes
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Edain, Edrahil, Finrod Felagund |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Adventure | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Violence (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 357 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Ryhme of Letters by turlas
A smal chant made up by the schoolboys of Minas Tirith to help remember the Quenya names of the tengwar. In it the high and the low, the funny and the grave are strangely mixed, as it is pieced together from trivia of the Elder Days and notions relating to the then recent events of the War of the Ring
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Poetry | Challenges: In Rare Form |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 643 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
The Legend of Fasta and Nykr by Raiyana
A Dwarven fairytale involving some Scandinavic folkloric creatures
I originally wrote the bones of this for a Fíli ficlet; it is a tale told to Dwarf-children, but I thought it fitted the challenge so well I had to polish it up a little.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Original Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: In Rare Form |
| Rating: Creator Chooses Not to Rate | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 502 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
Blue and Silver, Black and Gold by Lferion
Fingon the legend juxtaposed with Fingon the person.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Fingon |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Poetry | Challenges: In Rare Form |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 317 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
Flames and Moths by HannaGoldworthy
Vignettes of relationships between Elves and Men, with the addition of one small detail.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Caranthir, Haleth |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Alternate Universe, Drama | Challenges: In Rare Form |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Character Death |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 042 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
My Dearest Makalaurë by StarSpray
Before he departs for Middle-earth, Gandalf takes pity on Nerdanel and offers to carry a letter for her.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Gandalf, Maglor, Nerdanel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Family | Challenges: In Rare Form |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 2 | Word Count: 3, 016 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
Let Me Play Among The Stars by Grundy
Elves in space. Or at least, elves on a space station.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Fingon, Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Science Fiction | Challenges: In Rare Form |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 973 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
Without a Word by Independence1776
Haunted by the past two years of his life, Maglor returns to the home he vanished from. Maglor in history.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Maglor, Original Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Family, General, Hurt/Comfort | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 3, 379 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Under strange stars by Idrils Scribe
Barely a long-year after the Last Alliance all is not well in Imladris. Elrond's household has been dealt a crippling blow: a very young Elrohir has disappeared. After decades of false leads he is found in the Far South of Middle-Earth. Can Glorfindel find and rescue the descendant of Earendil once more? There is just one problem: Elrohir has no memory of who he was, and little interest in leaving his people's fight against the Black Nùmenoreans of Umbar...
A huge thanks to my beta, the irreplaceable Dawn Felagund, who made this tale at least twice as good as it was originally. All remaining mistakes are mine.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Celebrían, Elladan, Elrohir, Elrond, Erestor, Glorfindel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Adventure, Drama, Suspense | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Violence (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 11 | Word Count: 29, 826 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (8) |
The Art of Ending by Idrils Scribe
“I'll never see them again. I know that. And they know that. And knowing this, we say farewell.”
Haruki Murakami, Kafka on the Shore
When Elrohir left Harad to go home to Rivendell, what -or who- did he leave behind? Glorfindel never noticed anything unusual about Elrohir's companion, but Mortal loves are strange to the Elves ...
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 519 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (1) |
A Song of Staying by Himring
In the far future, in a galaxy far, far away, a few lines from the Silmarillion still serve as inspiration.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Finrod Felagund, Original Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Science Fiction | Challenges: In Rare Form |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 3 | Word Count: 913 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (6) |
Bits of Elven Glass by Himring
This is an attempt to weave the different accounts of the making and the history of the Elessar into a coherent narrative.
Now added: intervening chapter on Gil-galad.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Celebrían, Celebrimbor, Enerdhil, Eärendil, Fingon, Finrod Felagund, Galadriel, Gandalf, Gil-galad, Idril, Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: B2MeM 2012, B2MeM 2013, B2MeM 2015 |
| Rating: Creator Chooses Not to Rate | Warnings: Mature Themes |
| Chapters: 10 | Word Count: 5, 827 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (40) |
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: In Rare Form |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 101 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
The appeal of an ending by Tyelca
Fëanor writes a letter to Nerdanel.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Fëanor, Nerdanel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: In Rare Form |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 100 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Blood on Bone for a Lover's Burial by heget
After the Dagor Bragollach, Wise-woman Andreth demands that their dead be buried. Her great-nephews, Baragund and Belegund, escort her to the ruins of Barathonion, to search for bones.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Andreth, Baragund, Barahir (Fourth Age), Belegund, Beren, Men, Urthel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Family, Romance | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Mature Themes |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 200 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Band of Gold by Keiliss
On a request meme pandemonium_213 asked for: The War of Wrath has ended, and Beleriand is no more. Refugees, scattered due to the cataclysm, now reunite, including Galadriel and Celebrimbor who have not seen one another for...well, you tell me. :^)
Or: Galadriel and Celebrimbor have some catching up to do.
Or: Never assume.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Celeborn, Celebrimbor, Galadriel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, Family | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 467 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (3) |
Trash Fire by oshun
This is a prequel (intro?) to a story of how young Fëanor and Nerdanel find an important cache of old documents. Posting it now while people are reading other entries into the Notion Club Revival Challenge--the element used herein is the Cave System Map: parchment fragment of a cave system map with labeled features. I get a kick out of the idea of Nerdanel and Fëanor, young and newly enamored with one another. Hope you enjoy it.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Fëanor, Nerdanel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: Notion Club Revival |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 527 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Notes of a Song by LadyBrooke
Sauron is now Ar-Pharazôn's greatest adviser.
Tar-Míriel has a letter with notes concerning a song of power and a kinslayer to comabt this.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Ar-Pharazôn, Maglor, Sauron, Tar-Míriel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: Notion Club Revival |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Violence (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 626 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (5) |
tide will dry by kimaracretak
The child Ancalimë makes plans for a kingdom.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Erendis, Tar-Ancalimë |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Family, General | Challenges: Notion Club Revival |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 068 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
The Writing on the Wall by HannaGoldworthy
On an archeological expedition to Tol Himling, young Elrond and his girlfriend Celebrian encounter some First Age graffiti.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Celebrían, Elrond |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Family, Fluff, General, Humor | Challenges: Notion Club Revival |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 264 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (6) |
