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] Dibbly Fresh, an Elfling-Sitters Club Story by annarobots
Need an elfling-sitter? Save time! Call The Elfling-Sitters Club and reach seven six experienced sitters.
Fingon, President
Daeron, Vice-President
Pengolodh, Secretary
Finrod, Treasurer
Maglor…
[Writing] The Orphan Princess and the BFG by octopus_fool
Elwing is fleeing towards the Havens of Sirion when she spots a nightly visitor.
During a visit to Círdan, Finrod discovers a new hobby involving tying ropes around various objects. Now, he's ready to take it to the next level, but there is a small kink in the plan - he wants a spotter to make sure everything goes well. Fortunately, Edrahil is available.
[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?
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
Restoration and Rebuilding
Create a fanwork around a prompt focused on the theme of rebuilding and restoration. 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.
New and Updated Fanworks
Include Beyond the Silmarillion Fanworks
Nothing Collapses by StarSpray
Dor Firn-i-Guinar did not sink with the rest of Beleriand, and it is a place heavy with memory.
| Major Characters: Elrond |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: B2MeM 2020 |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 310 |
| 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) |
The Straight Path. by hennethgalad
The Eldar become aware of the reshaping of the world after the fall of Númenor.
11: 'The Milky Way'
| Major Characters: Círdan, Elrond, Galadriel, Gil-galad, Lindir |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: B2MeM 2020 |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 715 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
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Shield-House by Lferion
The House of Shields is more than a bar. A double drabble.
| Major Characters: Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Crackfic, Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: Crackuary |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 201 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
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| This fanwork is complete. |
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Considering Cards by Lferion
A three-card spread that changes everything.
| Major Characters: Elrond, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Family, Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 251 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
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| This fanwork is complete. |
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Casting Omens, Reading Cards by Lferion
Maglor read the cards too well
| Major Characters: Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Crackfic, Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: Crackuary |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 302 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
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| This fanwork is complete. |
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Modern solutions by Lyra
Fingon's rescue of Maedhros, Red Bull commercial style. I apologise for everything.
| Major Characters: Fingon, Maedhros, Thorondor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Comic Strip, Crackfic | Challenges: Crackuary |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
None might restrain him by Lyra
One fine morning, Fëanor wakes up in Fingolfin's body. It goes exactly as well as you'd expect. Not actually featuring Fingolfin.
Implied (canon) character death.
| Major Characters: Fëanor, Mandos, Manwë |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Crackfic | Challenges: Crackuary |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Character Death |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 079 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (8) |
Diplomacy. by hennethgalad
Gimli and Glóin after the Council of Elrond.
9: "They had begun to forget: forget their own beginnings and legends, forget what little they had known about the greatness of the world.” (Unfinished Tales, Part Three, III, The Quest of Erebor)
| Major Characters: Gimli |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: B2MeM 2020 |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 995 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
The Nights Your Heart Shivers by StarSpray
"All right, hunting down Daeron the Minstrel: that sounds like fun. But where would we even begin to look for him?"
| Major Characters: Daeron, Eluréd, Elurín, Ents, Nellas |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Adventure, General, Hurt/Comfort, Suspense | Challenges: B-Movie, Crackuary |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Mature Themes |
| Chapters: 2 | Word Count: 7, 845 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
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| This fanwork is complete. |
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| Major Characters: Fëanor, Nerdanel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Crackfic, Family, Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: Crackuary |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 101 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
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| This fanwork is complete. |
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Pollen and Honey by Lferion
Nerdanel contemplates names for her new-born twins.
| Major Characters: Amras, Amrod, Nerdanel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Crackfic, Family, Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: Crackuary |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Sexual Content (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 304 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
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| This fanwork is complete. |
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| Major Characters: Fingon, Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Crackfic, Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: Crackuary |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 102 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
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| This fanwork is complete. |
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Sky-Sailors by Lferion
Elves took to sailing sky as readily as they did sea
| Major Characters: Eärendil |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Crackfic, Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: Crackuary |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 102 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
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Regency Drama by Lferion
Boodle’s Gentleman's Club was not normally a place of drama and excitement.
| Major Characters: Fëanor, Fingolfin |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Alternate Universe, Crackfic | Challenges: Crackuary |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 100 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
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Conversation Overheard in an Avallonë Cafe by Lferion
Laurësirya had been in that competition performance. She'd been in the battle as well.
| Major Characters: Original Character(s), Original Female Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Crackfic, Family, Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: Crackuary |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 201 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
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| This fanwork is complete. |
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Light Defiant by Lferion
"See us!" shouted the lamps, the candles.
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Crackfic, Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: Crackuary |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 100 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
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Other Physics by Lferion
One could fall up forever, did not the ground hold fast.
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Crackfic, Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: Crackuary |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 100 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
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Fell Winter. by hennethgalad
Bilbo tells Frodo of the heroics of hobbits in the Fell Winter.
8: the aftermath of a disaster.
| Major Characters: Bilbo Baggins, Frodo |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: B2MeM 2020 |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 404 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Irmo's Children by Lferion
They had come here as in a dream, to the far North of the world.
| Major Characters: Fingon, Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Crackfic, Drama, Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: Crackuary |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 300 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
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Slippage by Lferion
Fingon, recently Returned, an old head on young shoulders, is not having an easy time.
| Major Characters: Fingon |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Crackfic, Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: Crackuary |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 202 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
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Free Space by Lferion
Whither away to the stars, my love
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Crackfic, Fixed-Length Ficlet, Poetry | Challenges: Crackuary |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 100 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
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Quite Batty by Himring
In The Book of Lost Tales, Fui Nienna's hall is roofed with bats' wings.
In later canon, it is a certain other female character who is associated with bat wings.
There can be no connection, though, surely?
| Major Characters: Nienna, Thuringwethil |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: Crackuary |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 99 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
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Endless Night by Lferion
It isn't Sims, it's Silms, and it all goes round and round, a loop of effort and agony
| Major Characters: Fingon |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Crackfic, Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: Crackuary |
| 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. |
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Astronomer's Daughter — Luinasolmë Elentiriel by Lferion
Only a watcher: a watcher of stars
| Major Characters: Original Female Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Crackfic, Family, Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: Crackuary |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 100 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
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Hound, Running by Lferion
Celegorm and Huan have a special relationship. Two 100 word drabbles.
| Major Characters: Amras, Amrod, Celegorm, Huan |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Crackfic, Family, Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: Crackuary |
| 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 (2) |
