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] 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…
[Writing] Changing Styles by StarSpray
“What did you do to your hair?”
Current Challenge
Epic 80s
Create a fanwork using on of our righteous prompts based on popular culture from the 1980s. Read more ...
Random Challenge
Sibling Rivalry
Create an AU fanwork where an original character--you!--tries to influence his or her canon sibling in some way or in which you choose a sibling to influence you. 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 Gen Week 2026
Tolkien Gen Week will run from July 6-12, 2026 to appreciate all of the incredible characters and relationships within Tolkien’s legendarium that fall under the broad category of “gen.”
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.
In the Heart of the Storm by IgnobleBard
Ossë shows Círdan the passion at the heart of the storm.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Círdan, Ossë |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Erotica, Romance | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 4, 829 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (8) |
The Wolf and the Woman by chrissystriped
Carnlóme finds some of his soldiers about to have their way with a prisoner and steps in to protect her. He soon comes to like her.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Original Female Character(s), Original Male Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: Original Character/Original Character |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings, Violence (Graphic) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 126 |
| 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) |
To Tell the Truth by chrissystriped
After his rebirth Nolofinwe knows he can't lie to Anaire any longer, even if the chance of Maedhros to ever be reborn is slim.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Anairë, Fingolfin, Fingon |
| Major Relationships: Anairë/Fingolfin, Fingolfin & Fingon |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Incest, Mature Themes |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 3, 475 |
| 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) |
Fitting, In A Way by Anérea
Helevorn stirs from her repose.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Unnamed Female Canon Character(s), Caranthir |
| Major Relationships: Caranthir/Unnamed Canon Character |
| Artwork Type: Character/Portrait, Drawing/Painting, Illustration |
| Genres: Romance | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (8) |
Winds of the Western Shore by Anérea
Minyelmë discovers the far Western shore of Aman.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Original Character(s), Original Female Character(s), Elves |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Artwork Type: Character/Portrait, Drawing/Painting, Illustration |
| Genres: Adventure | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (14) |
Artifacts of Ice by Lferion
Fingon's new hröa did not cross the Ice.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Fingon |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, Fixed-Length Ficlet, General | Challenges: Book by Its Cover, New Year's Resolution |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 105 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
The Shipwright and the Hobbit by daughterofshadows
Belladonna goes to the sea and understands something of importance.
Círdan is there for emotional support, even if he doesn't know it.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Belladonna Took Baggins, Círdan |
| Major Relationships: Belladonna Took Baggins & Círdan |
| Genres: Adventure | Challenges: New Year's Resolution, Queens of the Quill, Words of Wit and Wisdom |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 712 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (8) |
King of beech and oak and elm by polutropos
Thingol contemplates the carvings of Menegroth, remembering Lúthien.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Elu Thingol, Lúthien Tinúviel, Melian |
| Major Relationships: Lúthien & Thingol |
| Genres: General | Challenges: New Year's Resolution, Times of Bliss |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 453 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (6) |
Light in a Ruined House by Himring
Celebrian asks Elrond about Maedhros and Maglor.
Elrond does not find it easy to talk to her about them, so he begins in a somewhat roundabout way...
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Celebrían, Elrond, Maedhros, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: Celebrían/Elrond |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: Holiday Party, New Year's Resolution, Queens of the Quill |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 201 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (8) |
The Last Home at the End of the World by elennalore
After stepping into a chasm filled with fire, Maedhros finds himself in an eerily familiar house.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Maedhros, Nienna |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, Hurt/Comfort | Challenges: New Year's Resolution, Queens of the Quill |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Mature Themes, Suicide |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 961 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (6) |
Adanel: never have I ever by Anérea
A young Adanel in two drabbles from the Holiday Party Instadrabbling event using the "Never have I ever" prompt.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Adanel, Finrod Felagund |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Adventure, Fixed-Length Ficlet, General | Challenges: Holiday Party, New Year's Resolution |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 209 |
| 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) |
Pallando & Alatar: never have I ever... by Anérea
Two journeys of the Blue Wizards in two drabbles from the Holiday Party Instadrabbling event using the "Never have I ever" prompt.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Alatar, Pallando |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Adventure, Fixed-Length Ficlet, General | Challenges: Holiday Party |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 2 | Word Count: 204 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (6) |
Elendil! Elendil! by Himring
Fixed length-ficlets featuring Elendil the Tall, one set during this childhood in Numenor, the other after the Fall of Numenor.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Elendil, Inzilbêth |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: Holiday Party, New Year's Resolution |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 2 | Word Count: 304 |
| 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 (8) |
Queen's Counsel by StarSpray
It was not Melian’s wont to speak against her husband in public. When she did she tried to do so gently. She would not undermine his authority before his people—she was not one of Bauglir’s creatures to bend others by force to her will.
But in the privacy of their chambers it was a different matter.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Elu Thingol, Lúthien Tinúviel, Melian |
| Major Relationships: Melian/Thingol |
| Genres: Family, Ficlet, General | Challenges: Gnome Tome, New Year's Resolution |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 663 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
Stars, hide your fires by Lyra, Independence1776, Fernstrike, Raiyana
All things in Arda are filled with Song, and each Song is a story - even for that which does not seem to have its own voice. This is the tale of one such thing; of a smith, a dwarf, and a bowman, and the fallen star that sang its way through their histories.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Original Character(s), Bard, Maeglin |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Experimental | Challenges: Block Party |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Violence (Mild) |
| Chapters: 9 | Word Count: 3, 445 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (7) |
In Light Of Dreams by Anérea
FA346: Estolad, East Beleriand, and circa FA150: near the Orocarni Mountains, Eastern Middle-earth
Zimrahin, wife of Malach and mother of Adanel & Magor, relates a tale of one of their ancestors to a young Adanel, wise-woman-in-training.
(Third in my Hildórien to Beleriand series, connecting Adanel with her earlier OC ancestors.)
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Original Female Character(s), Adanel, Zimrahin |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Ficlet, General | Challenges: Holiday Party |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 186 |
| 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) |
First Risings From Hildórien by Anérea
FA125: West of the Orocarni Mountains, and FA0: on the shores of of Hildórien
A great great grandmother relates her memories of the first time she saw the moon rise.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Original Character(s), Original Female Character(s), Men |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Alternate Universe, General | Challenges: Holiday Party |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 681 |
| 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) |
Hildórien to Beleriand Series by Anérea
Tolkien briefly mentions the Awakening of Men and then over 300 years later they appear in Beleriand with fully-formed culture and an apparently exciting and interesting history that's barely hinted at in the Athrabeth Finrod Ah Andreth.
The latter describes an oral tradition passed down through many generations, so while the Tale Of Adanel may contain a core of truth, the precise details of their ancestors' lives would naturally become embellished or forgotten according to each storyteller's memory and understanding, morphing and evolving over time.
The stories in this series explore the possible early history of Adanel's ancestors, the keepers of their wisdom traditions. (Adanel and her Brother happen to themselves be the ancestors of most of the First Age Edain and Peredhil heroes.)
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Original Character(s), Original Female Character(s), Original Male Character(s), Adanel, Maiar, Men, Zimrahin |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Warnings: No warnings apply | |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (0) |
The Elf's Lullaby by Anérea
A pair of young twins are lost in the wood.
In the tradition of folktales changing over time, I've written three endings, narrated in different voices. So this tale comes in three sizes: happy, medium, and sad. (And I'm not entirely sure myself which is which.)
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Original Character(s), Original Female Character(s), Original Male Character(s), Maglor, Men |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Adventure, Drama | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 3 | Word Count: 2, 119 |
| 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: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: New Year's Resolution, Words of Wit and Wisdom |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 23 | Word Count: 2, 349 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
Summoned to Council by Lindariel
A road trip in six drabbles.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Celeborn, Galadriel |
| Major Relationships: Celeborn/Galadriel |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet, General | Challenges: Book by Its Cover, New Year's Resolution |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 6 | Word Count: 615 |
| 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) |
nightmares by Fernstrike
In which Legolas has a bad dream.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Unnamed Canon Character(s), Legolas Greenleaf, Thranduil |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: Holiday Party |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 320 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (3) |
letters from the front by Fernstrike
Isildur contemplates what to to tell his wife as he writes home from the siege of Barad-dûr.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Isildur |
| Major Relationships: Isildur/Unnamed Canon Character |
| Genres: General | Challenges: Holiday Party |
| 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 (0) |
Limits of Defiance by Himring
Finduilas considers the question whether she ever had a rebellious phase and remembers an episode from her childhood.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Finduilas |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: Holiday Party |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 100 |
| 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) |
Pack the Parcel by daughterofshadows, Idrils Scribe, Grundy
A collection of stories for the Pass the Parcel prompt for the Holiday challenge!
If anyone else would like to join, contact Grundy to be added to the list of authors so you can add your chapter.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Original Female Character(s), Elwing, Nellas, Túrin |
| Major Relationships: Nellas & Túrin, Elwing & Nellas |
| Genres: | Challenges: Holiday Party |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 3 | Word Count: 1, 333 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (22) |
