New Challenge: Title Track
Tolkien's titles range from epic to lyrical to metaphorical. This month's challenge selected 125 of them as prompts for fanworks.
SWG News
Our Annual Amnesty Challenge: New Year's Resolution
Start 2026 off with creativity! If you missed a challenge or didn't get to finish or post a challenge fanwork, complete any 2025 challenge before 15 February to receive the stamp.
"The Fëanorian Zine" Available to Read and Download
We are pleased to be able to offer "The Fëanorian Zine" to read and download on the SWG for free.
Call for Artists for the 2026 Challenge Stamps
We are soliciting help from artists who want to help create the stamps we award to challenge participants.
New & Updated Fanworks
[Writing] A Hundred Miles Through the Desert by StarSpray
“Come on.” Maedhros grabbed his hand and pulled him along down the path, both of them quickening their pace now, until the trees opened up into a wide meadow filled with flowers, bright yellow celandine and dandelions and sweet-scented pale chamomile mingling with cornflowers and irises. On…
[Writing] Who Will Hear Me? by XirinOfArvada
A lonely elf finds a flute half buried beneath the sand and wonders if its owner will hear him when he calls.
[Writing] Loyal, Faithful by Himring
Late in the Second Age, one of the Faithful reflects critically on past developments. (Free verse.)
[Writing] East Away! by Flora-lass
Aldarion storms off towards Middle-earth. For the Title Track challenge.
[Writing] Don't You Ever Look Away by Elrond's Library
“They can’t just assume we’ll let them leave us behind.”
“But they are, and they will. Our fathers are the Heads of their Houses. Fëanáro is king. Defiance would be treason, beloved.”
“I am his firstborn.”
“You are his only daughter.”
“I have…
[Writing] Break Me by Elrond's Library
“You’re not going to break me,” Russo huffed, finally cracking open his eyes, which were bright with amusement. “They could not, what makes you think you could?”
For Scribbles and Drabbles 2025 SFW Slide 33
[Writing] Three Black Islands by Idrils Scribe
When Celebrimbor's attempts at forging the Rings of Power fail yet again, Annatar knows where to find the missing know-how.
For all the wrong reasons, Celebrimbor agrees to an expedition to the ruins of Angband to search Morgoth's own laboratory, deep in the icy Northern Wastes.
What…
Current Challenge
Title Track
Create a fanwork using our collection of 125 titles from Tolkien's books, chapters, essays, poems, and fragments as inspiration. Read more ...
Random Challenge
Taboo
What is taboo? Use a bingo card of taboo-related prompts to inspire your fanwork. Read more ...
New in References
Tolkien, Lunatic Physicists, and Abnegation by Cynthia (Cindy) Gates
This presentation for Mereth Aderthad 2025 discusses the parallels between the concept of abnegation in the scientific work surrounding the atomic bomb and in The Silmarillion. The relinquishment of self-interest in favor of the interests of others, abnegation was identified by Tolkien as a powerful act of spirit and reason. The legendarium has many examples of the complexities of abnegation, which parallel similar discussions held by physicists during and after World War II.
Twilight, Child Of: Comparisons Between Tinúviel, Lómion, and Undómiel by JazTheBard
This presentation for Mereth Aderthad 2025 discusses the many similarities between Tolkien's three "twilight children," Tinúviel, Lómion, and Undómiel (Luthien, Maeglin, and Arwen) in terms of appearance, plot, and cultural background. Yet these three characters play very different roles in the text.
The Aromantic in Tolkien by daughterofshadows
Presented at Mereth Aderthad 2025, this paper makes the case thata, although the term "aromantic" had not yet been coined in Tolkien's day, many of his characters can be read as aromantic. The paper takes a closer look at Aredhel, Bilbo, and Boromir as three examples of characters who can be read as aromantic.
Featured Themed Collection
Beyond the Silmarillion
[Writing] here you will dwell, bound to your grief by Elrond's Library
Arwen grieves, and loves.
[Writing] Faramir's Verse by losselen
“Come, Faramir. Let us not stand in ceremony. I think words are due between you and I, and not only those between a King and his Steward.”
Faramir has speech with Gandalf and his King.
[Writing] In a Hole in the Ground... by StarSpray
“There’s a goblin hiding in the taters, Dad!” Pippin hefted the pan, which was much too big for him to carry, let alone wield.
Around the World and Web
March Challenge - Tolkien Short Fanworks
Tolkien Short Fanworks is running a challenge for the month of March to create a Back to Middle-earth Month themed challenge.
Tolkien Fashion Week 2026
This two-week-long Tumblr event is dedicated to honoring the world of fashion and textiles Tolkien wrote about in his books.
Celegorm and Curufin Week 2026
Celegorm and Curufin Week is a Tumblr week celebrating the relationship between Celegorm and Curufin Feanorion
Back to Middle-earth Month 2026
Back to Middle-earth Month is returning for it's 20th year with many prompts and archival efforts.
New and Updated Artwork
A view of a volcano somewhere on Arda (or off it, I guess, if we want to take this to some other planet the Valar have visited, lol, who knows).
Major Characters: No major characters listedMajor Relationships: No major relationships listed
Challenge: No challenge listed
Rating: General
Warnings: No warnings listed | | |
A craban and jellyfish somewhere on Arda. The hatchling craban mistakes the jellyfish for an 'octofish (octopus) fren'. Inspired by octopus_fool, though anyone can fill this
Major Characters: No major characters listedMajor Relationships: No major relationships listed
Challenge: No challenge listed
Rating: General
Warnings: No warnings listed | | |
Black background, white stars (linked by a thin line) - the constellation Pisces, The Fish.
Major Characters: No major characters listedMajor Relationships: No major relationships listed
Challenge: No challenge listed
Rating: General
Warnings: No warnings listed | | |
It looks like a doodle or a sketch, or maybe it's a coded message? Who knows, just enjoy. Someone is drawing/encoding something, let it be whoever, whenever, and whyever you want. Could be Silmarillion, or beyond.
Major Characters: No major characters listedMajor Relationships: No major relationships listed
Challenge: No challenge listed
Rating: General
Warnings: No warnings listed | | |
Three different characters, all named as children of twilight, their pasts, and their presents.
Major Characters: Maeglin, Arwen, Lúthien TinúvielMajor Relationships: Beren/Luthien, Aragorn/Arwen
Challenge: No challenge listed
Rating: General
Warnings: No warnings listed | | |
Rían sitting on the arm of her Entwife girlfriend.
Major Characters: Rían, EntwivesMajor Relationships: No major relationships listed
Challenge: Birthday Bash
Rating: General
Warnings: No warnings listed | | |
Maedhros and Fingon, ie Russo and Finnu from Prayers to Broken Stone, 19 years old and up to no-good at all. If you want to know why they’re dressed up like a Mecca pilgrim and a Roman cardinal, check out the snippet in the notes!
Major Characters: Maedhros, FingonMajor Relationships: Fingon/Maedhros
Challenge: Swinging 40s
Rating: General
Warnings: No warnings listed | | |
Two scenes from the third kinslaying: the sack of Sirion and the adoption of Elrond and Elros by Maglor and Maedhros.
Major Characters: Maglor, Maedhros, Elrond, Elros, Círdan, Gil-galadMajor Relationships: No major relationships listed
Challenge: No challenge listed
Rating: Teens
Warnings: Violence (Mild) | | |
If more of us valued food and cheer and song above hoarded gold, it would be a merrier world by bunn
A silver treasure shows the stories and even more coveted treasures of the past.
Major Characters: Beren, Lúthien Tinúviel, Frodo, Samwise GamgeeMajor Relationships: Beren/Luthien
Challenge: No challenge listed
Rating: General
Warnings: No warnings listed | | |
Four characters show the broad spectrum of aromanticism across the ages.
Major Characters: Tar-Ancalimë, Aredhel, Boromir (Fellowship), Bilbo BagginsMajor Relationships: No major relationships listed
Challenge: No challenge listed
Rating: General
Warnings: No warnings listed | | |
The mind of Tolkien freed the fantastical to become a part of our world.
Major Characters: J.R.R. Tolkien, C.S. LewisMajor Relationships: No major relationships listed
Challenge: No challenge listed
Rating: General
Warnings: No warnings listed | | |
Elu Thingol is a character who exists in shades of grey.
Major Characters: Elu ThingolMajor Relationships: No major relationships listed
Challenge: No challenge listed
Rating: General
Warnings: No warnings listed | | |
Three children are born under vastly different circumstances and yet receive the same name: Child of Twilight.
Major Characters: Arwen, Lúthien Tinúviel, MaeglinMajor Relationships: No major relationships listed
Challenge: No challenge listed
Rating: General
Warnings: No warnings listed | | |
Abstract art for "Love, Grief, and Alliterative Verse in Tolkien’s Legendarium" by Paul D. Deane
Major Characters: No major characters listedMajor Relationships: No major relationships listed
Challenge: No challenge listed
Rating: General
Warnings: No warnings listed | | |
A glass paperweight that brings to mind the fire and fury of an atomic detonation.
Major Characters: No major characters listedMajor Relationships: No major relationships listed
Challenge: No challenge listed
Rating: General
Warnings: No warnings listed | | |
A moth, attempting escape, perhaps out of the artist's studio.
Major Characters: No major characters listedMajor Relationships: No major relationships listed
Challenge: No challenge listed
Rating: General
Warnings: No warnings listed | | |
A Hobbit home in the desert of Harad
Major Characters: HobbitsMajor Relationships: No major relationships listed
Challenge: Birthday Bash
Rating: General
Warnings: No warnings listed | | |
