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 Gift by Elrond's Library
Findekáno sets out to retrieve Maitimo.
[Reference] 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…
[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 few moments in Gondolin by Quente
Instadrabbling prompts that took the shape of a few perspectives on Turgon's great city.
[Writing] The Last of the Old Gods by AdmirableMonster
Two members of the crew of the starship Vérië land on the planet Andúnië, investigating a location of interest called The Sleeping Garden.
(Introducing: a Space Opera Númenor AU. Let's be real, it was only a matter of time.)
[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…
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
Words of Wit and Wisdom
J.R.R. Tolkien wasn’t just the creator of Middle-earth. He was also a scholar of philology. One of his first jobs was with the Oxford English Dictionary, where he was assigned a welter of words beginning with W. In this month’s challenge, we’re presenting you a bingo card with Prof. Tolkien’s W words we hope will inspire a wealth of wonder, wit, worldbuilding, and general whimsy. Read more ...
New in References
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.
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.
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
SWG Vintage Challenge by Lferion
25 chapters assembled into five stories. Each chapter fills four prompts, one from each of the four cards in the SWG May 2022 Vintage Bingo Challenge, for a total of 100 prompts filled.
The five stories are not all in the same continuity/universe -- for one thing, Ilverien and Red Crow cannot coexist, though there are elements they have in common -- but all of them can be read as part of an overall set of ideas.
| Major Characters: Elrond, Elwing, Fingon, Gimli, Legolas Greenleaf, Littleheart, Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, Family, Fixed-Length Ficlet, General, Poetry, Poly, Slash | Challenges: Vintage |
| Warnings: No warnings apply | |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (0) |
Free Press by Lferion
Four colleagues work together on increasingly complex challenges in storytelling.
| Major Characters: Original Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Comic Strip, Drama, Fixed-Length Ficlet, General, Poetry | Challenges: Vintage |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 3 | Word Count: 1, 542 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (3) |
Red Crow by Lferion
Glimpses of life in Aman, after the events of arriviste's void junk and Idrils_Scribe's Wings of White and Silver-grey.
| Major Characters: Elrond, Elwing, Fingon, Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: Fingon & Maedhros, Fingon/Maedhros |
| Genres: Drama, Family, Fixed-Length Ficlet, General, Poetry, Slash | Challenges: Vintage |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Violence (Mild) |
| Chapters: 4 | Word Count: 2, 467 |
| 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) |
| Major Characters: Original Character(s), Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet, General, Poetry, Science Fiction | Challenges: Vintage |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 7 | Word Count: 1, 931 |
| 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) |
Candles and Confidences by grey_gazania
Elrond and Gil-galad play a game and discuss some painful truths about their families.
| Major Characters: Elrond, Gil-galad |
| Major Relationships: Elrond & Gil-galad |
| Genres: General | Challenges: Vintage |
| Rating: Creator Chooses Not to Rate | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 479 |
| 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) |
Music for the Breaking of the Heart by StarSpray
Daeron first fell in love beneath the dark tree-shadows of Neldoreth, not far from the starlit waters of the Esgalduin.
| Major Characters: Daeron |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Ficlet, Fluff, General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 581 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Down to the Harbor by grey_gazania
A Círdan fanmix.
| Major Characters: Círdan |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Music | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (1) |
Wrapped Up in Books by grey_gazania
Scenes from the lives of Caranthir and his wife Parmacundë.
| Major Characters: Original Character(s), Original Female Character(s), Caranthir |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Warnings: No warnings apply | |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (0) |
Wrapped Up in Books: A Fanmix by grey_gazania
A fanmix for Caranthir and Parmacundë, his wife.
| Major Characters: Unnamed Canon Character(s), Caranthir |
| Major Relationships: Caranthir/Unnamed Canon Character |
| Genres: Music | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on | Updated on |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (1) |
The World Is Wide by grey_gazania
A Nellas fanmix.
| Major Characters: Nellas |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Music | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (2) |
Russingon playlist by firstamazon
I've selected these songs thinking about Fingon and Maedhros' relationship. I have tried to put them in an order that would convey how I see their growing closeness, then their separation at Losgar, Maedhros' imprisonment in Angband, and, finally, their (happy) reunion :)
| Major Characters: Fingon, Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: Fingon/Maedhros |
| Genres: Music (Bossa Nova) | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (2) |
Letters to the West by daughterofshadows
Erferil writes letters to someone who once was very dear to her.
And even if Amrûn cannot reply, the letters still comfort her.
| Major Characters: Original Female Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Ficlet | Challenges: Vintage |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 506 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (8) |
Shadow'd from Heaven's Eye by kimikocha
Mairon is seduced during the Years of the Lamps.
| Major Characters: Melkor, Sauron |
| Major Relationships: Melkor/Sauron |
| Genres: Slash | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings, Mature Themes, Rape/Nonconsensual Sex, Sexual Content (Moderate), Violence (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 959 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
The Kids Are All Right Outtakes by grey_gazania
Scenes that didn't make it into "The Kids Are All Right", whether because I couldn't make them fit or because they were from the wrong POV.
| Major Characters: Original Male Character(s), Unnamed Female Canon Character(s), Celebrimbor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Alternate Universe, General | Challenges: Vintage |
| Rating: Creator Chooses Not to Rate | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 2 | Word Count: 1, 501 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
A Momentary Pause in the Act of Death by grey_gazania
It wasn't supposed to end like this.
A short scene in Doriath.
| Major Characters: Curufin, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Experimental | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Creator Chooses Not to Rate | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 236 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
Family by grey_gazania
Elrond has an uncomfortable conversation with one of Maedhros' followers.
| Major Characters: Original Female Character(s), Elrond |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Creator Chooses Not to Rate | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 657 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (3) |
Fathoms Below by Raiyana
Uinen moves, fluid as water, sinuous as a snake, her limbs – green-webbed fingers longer than fingers ought to be, skin decorated with the lumps of pale barnacles clinging to her, a body that is thick and feels strangely nurturing in a sense he does not quite understand, ending in a mass of squid-like tentacles each thicker than his legs – flowing like she is following her own current.
Ossë laughs, high and bright, and an elf-shaped hand darts into view, gripping his shoulder. The bruise beneath flares to life, hot and painful, and the best reminder than this is no drowning-dream.
He is fathoms below, dropped into the depths of the sea.
| Major Characters: Maglor, Ossë, Uinen |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 656 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Water Music by grey_gazania
Elrond, newly arrived to Balar, has a brief conversation with Gil-galad that makes him reassess his situation.
| Major Characters: Elrond, Gil-galad |
| Major Relationships: Elrond & Gil-galad |
| Genres: General | Challenges: Vintage |
| Rating: Creator Chooses Not to Rate | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 563 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
The hammer and the star by Chiara Cadrich
A voluble dwarf delights the inn with a legend adulterated by his drunken elucubrations. It's up to you to disentangle the true from the false...
| Major Characters: Narvi |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Horror | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Violence (Graphic) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 542 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Three Bredlik Poems by Himring
Three bredlik poems featuring an unnamed orc, Melian and Tilion.
| Major Characters: Melian, Orcs, Tilion |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Humor, Poetry | Challenges: Vintage |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 92 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (8) |
Full of Gorgeous Life by StarSpray
Three of Nerdanel's sons come home: a trio of double-drabbles.
| Major Characters: Caranthir, Celegorm, Curufin, Nerdanel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Family, Fixed-Length Ficlet, Fluff | Challenges: Vintage |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 623 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (9) |
Loyalty Outtakes by grey_gazania
Short scenes that didn't make it into Loyalty.
| Major Characters: Caranthir, Maedhros, Ulfang |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, General | Challenges: 10th Birthday Celebration |
| Rating: Creator Chooses Not to Rate | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 2 | Word Count: 748 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (3) |
Too Late, Cried the Gulls by grey_gazania
“Too late the ships of Círdan and Gil-galad the High King came hasting to the aid of the Elves of Sirion; and Elwing was gone, and her sons.” - The Silmarillion
| Major Characters: Celebrimbor, Círdan, Elwing, Gil-galad |
| Major Relationships: Círdan & Gil-galad |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: Vintage |
| Rating: Creator Chooses Not to Rate | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 3, 311 |
| 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) |
Darkness and Light by grey_gazania
Fingon's wife and daughter face their grief in the aftermath of the Nírnaeth Arnoediad.
| Major Characters: Unnamed Female Canon Character(s), Gil-galad |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Alternate Universe, General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Creator Chooses Not to Rate | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 3, 142 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
Half Past Ten in the Rose Garden by grey_gazania
Caranthir discovers that this romance thing is a lot harder than it looks.
| Major Characters: Original Character(s), Unnamed Canon Character(s), Unnamed Female Canon Character(s), Caranthir |
| Major Relationships: Caranthir/Unnamed Canon Character |
| Genres: Humor, Romance | Challenges: 10th Birthday Celebration |
| Rating: Creator Chooses Not to Rate | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 3 | Word Count: 5, 845 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (7) |
