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] Grief is not the only geography I know by Himring
Indis explains how she took to wandering around Valinor.
[Writing] One Flesh, One Soul. Part I by FellFireFan
As beautiful as he is dangerous, Aegnor, an elven prince, stands against the looming shadows of Angband. Brother to Galadriel, he commands the siege with a fierce intensity, a duty that exacts a heavy toll on him. Beneath the iron walls he has built lies a broken soul, haunted by a devastating…
[Series] Instadrabbling, 2026-Present by SWG Moderators
We get together from time to time on the SWG Discord and produce spontaneous fanworks based on randomly chosen prompts. This collection includes drabbles, ficlets, and other flash fanworks produced as part of our instadrabbling sessions beginning in 2026.
[Writing] A meeting at the Trees by ethanray
Nerdanel goes to the Two Trees after Fëanor is banished and meets Indis there
For March 2026 Instadrabbling
[Writing] The Tale of Tar-Ciryatan's Daughter by Kaylee Arafinwiel
Ailinel, orphan of Numenor, is one of the poor girls dowered by Tar-Ciryatan and titled a "King's Daughter", encouraged to sail East to his colonies and find herself a husband.
It doesn't take her that long.
But even after she and Shipman Gaerondur find love, life in the colony isn…
[Writing] In Early Spring by Serinquanion
In what Maedhros was re-embodied early and was sent back to Middle Earth on his volition with Glorfindel.
This isn't about what happened right then but years after Fall of Sauron when he still refused to return to Valinor.
He found a strange sapling at the shore of what remains of…
[Writing] Umnenyalië by Serinquanion
He was going to die. The molten rocks would burn him just like the cursed gem in his palm did. Maybe less painfully but still being burnt hurt and Maedhros knew it. He intimately knew it from his time in Angband where Þauron burnt him often in frustration and to toy with him and his master…
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
B-Movie
Prompts for this Matryoshka challenge are loosely inspired by the predictable plot arcs of hilariously abominable, eye-rollingly corny, so-bad-they're-actually-kinda-good horror films. 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 Fanworks
Include Beyond the Silmarillion Fanworks
On Oaths by Angelica
Oaths were a part of the history of many cultures across time and feature heavily in the legendarium as well.
Rewilding by Himring
It sounds as if none of the people of Enedwaith who were defeated by the Numenoreans returned.
But maybe a few did, once the Numenorean port was falling into ruin?
| Major Characters: Original Female Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: Restoration and Rebuilding |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 100 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
The Call of the Loon by SonOfMandos
Captured by Lúthien and her Marchwardens, Celegorm is the prisoner of the princess in Menegroth. Against his will, he finds himself the personal retainer of the daughter of Melian. Desiring to repent and heal his soul from his sins, Celegorm accepts his fate as a servant. Warned of the situation by Galadriel, Finrod tries to resolve it with his great-uncle. Naturally, Lúthien has a strange sense of humour and refuses to give the Fëanorian back to his family.
| Major Characters: Beren, Celegorm, Lúthien Tinúviel |
| Major Relationships: Beren/Luthien |
| Genres: Alternate Universe, Crackfic | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Sexual Content (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 3 | Word Count: 12, 538 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
L'imbécillité by SonOfMandos
S’il y avait une chose qu’Erestor méprisait, c’était l’imbécillité.
Alors Erestor, une personne « comme il faut », s'est donné le droit de rouspéter.
| Major Characters: Erestor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Crackfic | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 626 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Worthy of the Valar by Ellynn
Modern-day Maglor discovers one new drink invented by humans. He is doubtful at first, but after he tries it, the result will shock him.
| Major Characters: Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General, Humor | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 518 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Two Birds in Love by chrissystriped
Eonwe and Reviahûn have been a couple for many centuries. When Reviahûn manages to flee from his captivity in Angband, their world changes completely not only because the trees are gone.
| Major Characters: Eönwë, Maiar, Manwë |
| Major Relationships: Eönwë/Original Character |
| Genres: Hurt/Comfort, Slash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Warnings: No warnings apply | |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (0) |
Going to War by chrissystriped
Eonwe leaves to fight in the War of Wrath, hoping he'll be able to take vengeance for what Sauron did to Reviahûn. Reviahûn just hopes he'll come back home safely.
| Major Characters: Original Male Character(s), Eönwë, Sauron |
| Major Relationships: Eönwë/Original Character |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 382 |
| 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) |
Tamed Falcon by chrissystriped
When he can't bear wearing an elvish shape, Reviahûn turns into a falcon to find peace. But when he's starting to feel better, he realises he might enjoy it beyond that.
| Major Characters: Original Male Character(s), Eönwë, Maiar |
| Major Relationships: Eönwë/Original Character |
| Genres: Slash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings, Sexual Content (Graphic) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 995 |
| 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) |
Freedom is Mine by chrissystriped
Tarilanya, freed from Angband and back home in Valinor, enjoys her life.
| Major Characters: Original Female Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 148 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
To Grow a Forest by chrissystriped
A fire has destroyed part of a forest, but the elves are there to help it regrow
| Major Characters: Original Female Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Ficlet, General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 178 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
A Soul like broken Wings by chrissystriped
Reviahûn managed to flee from Angband when his body died, but he lost all sense of who he is. Eonwe tries to make his beloved remember, but when he finally does, it raises even more problems.
| Major Characters: Original Male Character(s), Eönwë, Manwë |
| Major Relationships: Eönwë/Original Character |
| Genres: Hurt/Comfort, Slash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings, Sexual Content (Graphic) |
| Chapters: 4 | Word Count: 9, 107 |
| 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) |
Galadriel: There and Back Again by Himring
A series of three vignettes from the life of Galadriel.
Home is behind, the world ahead (First Age): Shortly after her arrival in Middle-earth, Galadriel visits the beach of Losgar.
Does not apply (First Age): Galadriel in conversation with her eldest brother Finrod Felagund.
The world behind and home ahead (Third Age): Galadriel leaves Middle-earth, boarding ship at the Grey Havens.
Now added: an extra double drabble: "Star-glass", on the making of the phial of Galadriel
| Major Characters: Bilbo Baggins, Fingon, Finrod Felagund, Galadriel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Mature Themes |
| Chapters: 4 | Word Count: 1, 811 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (18) |
Caged Bird by chrissystriped
Reviahûn is guarding the Trees when Melkor comes to kill them but what can a Maia do against the mightiest of the Valar?
| Major Characters: Original Male Character(s), Eönwë, Melkor, Sauron |
| Major Relationships: Eönwë/Original Character, Sauron/Original Character |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Rape/Nonconsensual Sex, Torture, Violence (Graphic) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 215 |
| 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) |
What Brings Us Together by Aipilosse
crossposted on AO3
Life in Fourth Age Valinor is good for Celebrimbor. He has his students, he has his projects, and if life is a little less exciting than it was in Middle-earth, that’s probably for the best, right? So when a series of events conspires to bring Sauron the Dark Lord back into all of their lives, he must decide if he will help him regain his memories or if some things are better left in the past.
| Major Characters: Celebrimbor, Galadriel, Sauron |
| Major Relationships: Celebrimbor/Sauron |
| Genres: Adventure, Drama, Humor, Romance | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Sexual Content (Moderate), Torture, Violence (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 25 | Word Count: 133, 541 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
With Daisies in Her Hair by StarSpray
Sam has just settled himself on Tol Eressea when Galadriel comes to call.
| Major Characters: Galadriel, Samwise Gamgee |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Ficlet, Fluff, General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 897 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
"The House of a Friend" & other drabbles by Himring
The friendship of Narvi and Celebrimbor: Narvi and Celebrimbor work on the Doors of Moria and other scenes.
Now added: Exploring Upwards (extra double drabble)
| Major Characters: Celebrimbor, Dwarves |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: Akallabêth in August |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 8 | Word Count: 953 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (22) |
Answering Light by Anérea
Inspired by Surfacing, Into Light by Maggie Honeybite featuring Keiliss' Erestor and Gil-galad from Answers in the Dark, the sequel to Burning Bright: The Road.
- - -
Music: Come Back to Us · Thomas Newman
| Major Characters: Erestor, Gil-galad |
| Major Relationships: Erestor/Gil-galad |
| Artwork Type: Character/Portrait, Drawing/Painting, Illustration |
| Genres: Romance, Slash | Challenges: Restoration and Rebuilding |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (20) |
“The Burnt Hand Teaches Most About Fire”: Applying Trauma Exposure and Ecological Frameworks to Narratives of Displacement and Resettlement Across Elven Cultures in Tolkien’s Middle-earth by UnnamedElement
This two-part paper discusses different elven responses to trauma exposure and forced displacement in Beleriand and Middle-earth (absolutely not exhaustive!). The first half of the paper focuses on Elrond's response to traumatic stress, while the second half compares the impact of Galadriel and Oropher's migration into formerly Silvan realms. First given at the Tolkien Society's Diversity & Tolkien seminar in 2021.
| Major Characters: Elrond, Elros, Galadriel, J.R.R. Tolkien, Nandor, Oropher, Sindar |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General, Nonfiction/Meta | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 2 | Word Count: 5, 961 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (1) |
After The Fall by Grundy
A moodboard showing the path of the survivors of Gondolin.
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Artwork Type: Moodboard/Collage |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (1) |
The Wealth of Yavanna's Imagining by Grundy
A Yavanna moodboard featuring her creation of birds and other flying creatures.
| Major Characters: Yavanna |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Artwork Type: Moodboard/Collage |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (2) |
Helcaraxë by Anérea
The followers of Fingolfin Nolofinwë spent years (or decades, depending on which version of Tolkien's maths you subscribe to) on the treacherous crossing of the grinding ice between Aman and Middle-Earth.
| Major Characters: Elenwë, Elves, Fingolfin, Fingon, Finrod Felagund, Idril, Noldor, Turgon |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Artwork Type: Drawing/Painting, Illustration, Landscape |
| Genres: Adventure | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (2) |
For Godhood is Wrought of Blood by vaecordia
The swelling influence of the Elven kindgoms caught thus the notice of one who named himself Annatar, and to Eregion he arrived with little flourish yet with much to give. He came before Celebrimbor, and bowed deep in respect, which impressed the Lord for the humility of one so great as him, as a Maia, as one of the Ainur.
| Major Characters: Celebrimbor, Sauron |
| Major Relationships: Celebrimbor/Sauron |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Character Death, Torture, Violence (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 10, 584 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Angrod - Lord of Dorthonion by Gabriel
This artwork is a depiction of Angrod, son of Finarfin, and all that represents his life in Dorthonion. It is also a companion piece to a story I recently uploaded, 'Star In The Darkness.'
| Major Characters: Historical Character(s), Angrod |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Artwork Type: Moodboard/Collage |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (2) |
Storm Season by Independence1776
My first artwork for TRSB 2022. Huan washes ashore in Fourth Age Harad, where Maglor has been living for decades.
| Major Characters: Original Character(s), Huan, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Artwork Type: Moodboard/Collage |
| Genres: Adventure, Drama | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (6) |
Plaything by chrissystriped
Sauron wants to try a new invention on his subordinate. Mormirion is not amused.
| Major Characters: Original Male Character(s), Maiar, Sauron |
| Major Relationships: Sauron/Original Character |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings, Sexual Content (Graphic), Violence (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 3, 127 |
| 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) |
