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
Gates of Summer
Create a fanwork based on prompts about summer taken from Tolkien's life, canon events, and quotes from his letters and stories. 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.
Time and Tide by Keiliss
Early in the second age, Celeborn and Galadriel take a walk on the beach and talk about the future.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Celeborn, Galadriel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 007 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Seahorses. by hennethgalad
Finarfin first meets Eärwen in Alqualondë.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Eärwen, Finarfin, Írimë |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 393 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
A Part of the Sky. by hennethgalad
Finrod and Turgon go exploring.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Finrod Felagund, Turgon |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 524 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Flight of Fancy. by hennethgalad
Aredhel welcomes Galadriel to Tirion.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Aredhel, Galadriel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 926 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Gil-galad, Original Male Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Alternate Universe, Drama, Slash/Femslash | Challenges: Pride |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 366 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
Will you remember who kissed you by Himring
Yavien, great-granddaughter of Elros, is summoned to her long-time lover's deathbed, in the fisher village of Nindamos.
(Now with extra drabble on footwear)
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Original Female Character(s), Yávien |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Romance, Slash/Femslash | Challenges: Pride |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Character Death |
| Chapters: 2 | Word Count: 1, 426 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (8) |
Sun and Shadow by Idrils Scribe
Under Strange Stars is Glorfindel's story, and the Lord of the Golden Flower certainly enjoys the telling! The epic tale of his dangerous journey deep into the blazing deserts of Far Harad in search of Elrond's missing son never fails to have the Hall of Fire hanging on his every word.
A riveting tale for sure, but every story has two sides. Today we tell Elrohir's.
Many thanks to my wonderful beta Cherepashka!
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Glorfindel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Hurt/Comfort | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 3, 364 |
| 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) |
The Space Between by Grundy
Ecthelion's reaction to the Fall of Sauron, a double drabble.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Ecthelion of the Fountain |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: Pride |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 202 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
By the Sea by Lferion
Fingon and Maedhros share a moment by the sea.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Fingon, Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fluff, Slash/Femslash | Challenges: Pride |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 599 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (7) |
Summer Storm by oshun
Written for the 2019 Pride challenge,
My prompt: “The people I respect most behave as if they were immortal and as if society was eternal.” ~ E.M. Forster
Not gonna explain how this ficlet fits the prompt. But it does. You have to trust me.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Fëanor, Fingolfin, Fingon, Finwë, Indis, Nerdanel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: Pride |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 612 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (10) |
Dancers by Independence1776
Celebrían and Mithrandir have a brief talk.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Celebrían, Gandalf |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Alternate Universe, Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: Pride |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 200 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (10) |
The Curious Case of the Paternity of Ereinion Gil-galad by elvntari
Many theories circulate around Middle-earth about the parentage of the High King, and Gil-galad has heard them all. As he senses the end of an era with his reign (and his life) coming to a close he ponders on where it all began. What is the truth? Only one man knows, and it isn't him.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Aegnor, Caranthir, Celebrimbor, Círdan, Dior, Fingolfin, Fingon, Finrod Felagund, Gil-galad, Lalwen, Maedhros, Orodreth |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 4 | Word Count: 9, 734 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Lovelier than Love by StarSpray
Not long come from Mandos, Minyelmë is visiting Tirion with her sister, and meets Lalwen for the first time.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Lalwen, Original Female Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Romance, Slash/Femslash | Challenges: Pride |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 066 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
Deep Roots are Not Reached by Frost... or Shadow by Raiyana
A burial beneath the branches of the Great Greenwood at some point in the First Age.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Original Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: Pride |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Character Death |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 357 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (9) |
Joined by hennethgalad
Glorfindel and Aistalar dine with Olórin
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Ecthelion of the Fountain, Glorfindel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Erotica | Challenges: Pride |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Sexual Content (Graphic) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 4, 472 |
| 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) |
Shadowmere by Himring
There is some suggestion that Tirion continued to be inhabited after the fall of Numenor.
How did its inhabitants feel about the fact that Pharazon's army was buried so close to the city?
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Fingon, Finrod Felagund |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: B2MeM 2019 |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 614 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (7) |
Dark Vala & Fire Maia (Drabble) by lovelytimes
An Angbang warm-up drabble with the hitching of breath, whispered words, and the ironlike grasp of Melkor on the wrists of Mairon.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Melkor, Sauron |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Erotica, Suspense | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Sexual Content (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 325 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Beech Ridge by hennethgalad
Glorfindel and Aistalar move to Beech Ridge.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Glorfindel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Erotica | Challenges: Pride |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Sexual Content (Graphic) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 4, 595 |
| 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) |
2019 Summer Solstice Drabbles by Ismene
A series of instradrabbles from the 2019 summer solstice!
| 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: 5 | Word Count: 907 |
| 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) |
Solstice instadrabbles 2019 by NelyafinweFeanorion
three 100 word Drabble written for the discord summer solstice instadrabbles.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Erestor, Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 3 | Word Count: 300 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Instadrabbles by Kaylee Arafinwiel
Starting off with Oropher and Thranduil, unsure who else may show up as I participate in other ones. Various OCs of mine and AfricanDaisy's (Emma) will appear.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Oropher, Thranduil |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Family | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 3 | Word Count: 743 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Insta-Drabbles 2019 by Alquien
These aren't really true drabbles per se, but they are what I came up with. Also, these are un-beta'd. Hope you enjoy!
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Maedhros, Maglor, Nerdanel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Experimental | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 6 | Word Count: 905 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
Mercy by Independence1776
Olwë sentences Maglor.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Maglor, Olwë |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Alternate Universe, Drama | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 298 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
Always Been Best for Discovering (Drabble) by lovelytimes
Short drabble written for the 2019 Solstice instadrabbling challenge.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Melkor, Sauron |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 113 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
What the mirror showed by Raiyana
The gift of a mirror reveals more than expected.
The result of a kink request that derailed into some family feels drama xD
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Original Female Character(s), Original Male Character(s), Thranduil |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Family, Fluff, Romance | Challenges: Hidden Figures |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 573 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
