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] Changing Styles by StarSpray
“What did you do to your hair?”
[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] 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] Star of Hope by Fuin
A new star shines in the sky. They claim it brings hope.
[Writing] The Message by Flora-lass
Borondir carries Steward Cirion's urgent request to Eorl the Young, with the help of his horse but at great personal cost.
[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.
Current Challenge
Epic 80s
Create a fanwork using on of our righteous prompts based on popular culture from the 1980s. Read more ...
Random Challenge
Halls of Mystery
Explore the place and ideas behind one of the most mysterious locations on Arda, the halls of Mandos, or the ideas of Elven "death" and rebirth. 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.
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 | | |
