Sign-Up to Hand Out Scavenger Hunt Prompts
Our May challenge will be a Matryoshka built around a scavenger hunt. If you'd like to hand out prompts (and receive comments on your work for doing so!), you can sign up to do so.
SWG News
New Challenge: Everyman
Create a fanwork about an ordinary character in the legendarium using a quote about an unnamed character as inspiration.
Cultus Dispatches: Fanworks, AI, and Resistance by Dawn and Grundy
The fan studies column Cultus Dispatches returns with a history of how Tolkien fanworks fandom has reacted and resisted generative AI by drawing strong boundaries in a way that is not typical for the fandom.
Instadrabbling Sessions for April, May, and June
Instadrabbling continues on the first Saturday of each month on our Discord server.
New & Updated Fanworks
[Writing] How Tolkien Presents Ordinary People in "The Silmarillion" by Dawn Felagund
Inspired by collecting the prompts for the Everyman challenge, this essay considers how ordinary people are subsumed and silenced in The Silmarillion, which begins a three-book arc that ends with the rise of the humble and ordinary.
[Writing] Blessed are the Leave-takers by Isilme_among_the_stars
As prince Curufinwë Fëanáro makes an historical speech from the high court of the King upon Túna, those at the back of the crowd strain to hear.
A silly little scene inspired by Monty Python's "Blessed are the Cheesemakers" scene from The Life of Brian, written for …
[Writing] After the Kinslaying by Deborah Judge
A Teleri fishing boat captain turns to farming on abandoned Noldor lands after her ship is stolen. A Noldor farmer returns with Finarfin to find that his land belongs to the Teleri now.
[Writing] I Sit and Think of Times There Were Before by Erdariel
In his old age, Isildur's former esquire Ruinamacil, known to later histories only as Ohtar, writes his own account of his escape from the ambush at Gladden Fields and journey to Imladris, and the history of his friend whom Isildur ordered to flee with him.
[Writing] Until the Stars are All Alight by Dagstjarna
Reembodied in Aman, Celebrimbor decides to return to Middle earth to help heal the darkness and hurt wrought by the ring.
[Writing] a riot of shadow and shine by Elrond's Library
These were simply flashes, a hint of a wider, greater world. A tantalizing glimpse of more, always at the edge of awareness, never within reach. Míriel would grasp it, if something as intangible as the concept of color could overflow in bounteous wonder over her hands.
But…
[Writing] The Exchange by Elrond's Library
An exchange is made during the Great Journey
Current Challenge
Everyman
Create a fanwork about an ordinary character in the legendarium using a quote about an unnamed character as inspiration. Read more ...
Random Challenge
Tengwar
A daily prompt of a Tengwar letter per day. Read more ...
New in References
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.
Grief, Grieving, and Permission to Mourn in the "Quenta Silmarillion" by Dawn Walls-Thumma
In a book as full of death as the Quenta Silmarillion, grief and mourning are surprisingly absent. The characters who receive grief and mourning—and those who don't—appear to do so due to narrative bias. Grief and mourning (or a lack of them) serve to draw attention toward and away from objectionable actions committed by characters.
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.
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
Week of Kiliel
A Tumblr event dedicated to the relationship between Kili and Tauriel.
Aspec Arda Week 2026
This week-long event celebrates asexual and aromantic spectrum interpretations and headcanons of Tolkien’s Legendarium.
Angbang Week 2026
Angbang Week is a tumblr event focusing on the relationship between Morgoth and Sauron, running from May 5-11, 2026
April/May Teitho Challenge
Teithio is running a prompt challenge around the theme of "heartbreak."
Tolkien Reverse Summer Bang 2026
The Tolkien Reverse Summer Bang is back for another summer of collaboration between artists and writers!
New and Updated Artwork
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 | | |
Sketches inspired by the 2025 Birthday Bash challenge prompts!
Major Characters: No major characters listedMajor Relationships: No major relationships listed
Challenge: Birthday Bash
Rating: Creator Chooses Not to Rate
Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings, Creator Chooses Not to Warn | | |
Drawing my favorite Gil-galad origin headcanon, wherein Fingon stumbles across a stray war orphan in the battlefield.
Major Characters: Fingon, Gil-galadMajor Relationships: Fingon & Gil-galad
Challenge: Musicals
Rating: General
Warnings: No warnings listed | | |
Young Andreth in a moth cloak
Major Characters: AndrethMajor Relationships: No major relationships listed
Challenge: Dark Matter
Rating: General
Warnings: No warnings listed | | |
Adaptation of a concrete poem by Christian Morgenstern for the Dark Matter Challenge.
Major Characters: No major characters listedMajor Relationships: No major relationships listed
Challenge: Dark Matter
Rating: General
Warnings: No warnings listed | | |
In a mostly-starless void, the Star of Earendil is shown glowing within reach of a silver full Moon with the last flower of Telperion upon it. Drawn using MS Paint. A poem called "Connection" is also shown:
As Earendil
rises for the first
time
He sees Tilion
And knows that
he is not the
Only watcher
over Arda.
There is a
connection
forged.
Major Relationships: No major relationships listed
Challenge: No challenge listed
Rating: General
Warnings: No warnings listed | | |
Melian and Thingol awake from their enchantment in Nan Elmoth.
Major Characters: Elu Thingol, MelianMajor Relationships: Melian/Thingol
Challenge: Arda on Ice
Rating: General
Warnings: No warnings listed | | |
Artwork created for Mairon 30-Day Character Study
Major Characters: SauronMajor Relationships: No major relationships listed
Challenge: 30-Day Character Study, Jubilee
Rating: General
Warnings: No warnings listed | | |
An illustrated infographic timeline of the various sources of illumination of Arda from its creation to the sun.
Major Characters: No major characters listedMajor Relationships: No major relationships listed
Challenge: Jubilee, Secret Gate, Tolkien Meta Week
Rating: General
Warnings: No warnings listed | | |
![Meme format depicting two people talking to each other. Person A: "Tolkien Linguistics is second nature to us NoMe fans, so it's easy to forget that the average Tolkien fan probably only knows about Feanor's invention of the Tengwar and one or two hand languages. " Person B: "And 'It is false to make Dwarves [?uncreative] or poor linguists.' of course." Person A: "Of course."](/sites/default/files/styles/thumbnail/public/2025-02/1linguistics_0.jpg?itok=a0qtkIeT)
A meme created for the prompt: ''It is false to make Dwarves [?uncreative] or poor linguists.'' for the Gnome Tome and Jubilee challenges
Major Characters: Fëanor, DwarvesMajor Relationships: No major relationships listed
Challenge: Gnome Tome, Jubilee
Rating: General
Warnings: No warnings listed | | |
A drawing of a pink flamingo surrounded by yellow flowers.
Major Characters: No major characters listedMajor Relationships: No major relationships listed
Challenge: No challenge listed
Rating: General
Warnings: No warnings listed | | |
Two moodboards depicting Tarn Aeluin
Major Characters: No major characters listedMajor Relationships: No major relationships listed
Challenge: Dip the Ladle, Jubilee
Rating: Creator Chooses Not to Rate
Warnings: Character Death | | |
An instadrawble painting
Major Characters: No major characters listedMajor Relationships: No major relationships listed
Challenge: Holiday Party, Jubilee
Rating: General
Warnings: No warnings listed | | |
