New Challenge: Allusive
Literature and art constantly refer back to each other using allusions, and this month's prompts are inspired by allusions to literature, myth, art, and history.
SWG News
Cultus Dispatches: "The Rings of Power" Is a Ripple (So Far)
Tolkien Fanfiction Survey data for 2025 shows that "The Rings of Power" TV series has not had the same impact on the fandom as the film trilogies did ... so far.
New Challenge: Building Middle-earth
Let global architecture be your inspiration in this challenge, where you will work with a prompts that are architectural styles, locations in Arda, or both.
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.
New & Updated Fanworks
[Writing] House of Finwë by softmoonlightmelody
One drabble per Finwëan. Currently on first and second generations.
[Writing] The Mirror Crack'd by AdmirableMonster
Rescued from a brutal Angband hunt, an ex-thrall with a strange and powerful artifact embedded in his spine is brought to Himring, for it is one of the only places in Beleriand which welcomes such folk. Though he has no memories of his life before, Anniavas slowly becomes accustomed to his new…
[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 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] Into the West by Grundy
Dawn does not call sailing off into the unknown with a guy they've only known a few days a great plan.
[Writing] Explain This by Elrond's Library
Melkor demands an account of Mairon’s failures.
[Writing] Message in a Bottle by StarSpray
Over the course of his very long life he had found a handful of messages in bottles, but it had been a very long time. So when he found the glass bottle on his little stretch of pebbly beach, he picked it up with the intention of tossing it into his recycling. But it wasn’t, he found, just…
Current Challenge
Random Challenge
Start to Finish
Choose one of the famous first lines from the list below and use it to start your story. If you are creating a fanwork other than writing, you may use one of the first lines to inspire your fanwork. Read more ...
New in References
"The Rings of Power" Is a Ripple (So Far) by Dawn Walls-Thumma
The Lord of the Rings and Hobbit film trilogies mark perhaps the most influential events in the history of the Tolkien fanfiction fandom. As the Rings of Power show approaches its third season, data from the Tolkien Fanfiction Survey shows that it is not even close to matching the impact of the films ... yet.
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.
Featured Themed Collection
Beyond the Silmarillion
[Artwork] A Memento of Faery by Grundy
TRSB26 art 144 - an artifact brought back from Faerie by a Starbearer.
[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…
Around the World and Web
Sindar Week 2026
A Tolkien event week for the Sindar, the Grey-Elves, from the Years of the Trees to the Third Age.
Finwean Sibblings Prompt Fest 2026
A prompt-based fandom event aiming to focus on celebrating Finwë's children: Fëanor, Findis, Fingolfin, Lalwen, & Finarfin - ships, gen relationships, or character-centric
Tolkien Sapphic September
Tolkien Sapphic September is a month long event focusing on Sapphic relationships and characters in Tolkien and adjacent materials.
Gigolas Week 2026
Gigolas Week is a tumblr event focusing on the relationship between Legolas and Gimli
Innumerable Stars 2026
A character-based Tolkien fandom gift exchange is returning for another year of gifting.
New and Updated Fanworks
Include Beyond the Silmarillion Fanworks
Little Drop of Poison by grey_gazania
Maedhros is injured, and Elrond discovers his talent for healing.
Written for Tolkien Gen Week on Tumblr (prompt: grey spaces).
| Major Characters: Original Character(s), Elrond, Maedhros, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: Elrond & Elros & Maedhros & Maglor |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Creator Chooses Not to Rate | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 339 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (1) |
A Miracle of Infectiousness by kimikocha
It's supposed to be impossible for the Ainur to get sick, but Mairon has always been exceptional.
| Major Characters: Melkor, Sauron |
| Major Relationships: Melkor/Sauron |
| Genres: Crackfic, Fluff, Humor | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Creator Chooses Not to Rate | Warnings: Expletive Language, Mature Themes, Sexual Content (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 577 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Tolkien Fanworks Scholarship Bibliography by Dawn Felagund
This collection includes links to online open-access scholarship about Tolkien-based fanworks.
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Reference Collection | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Creator Chooses Not to Rate | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (1) |
Aurë Entuluva by StarSpray
Gil-galad comes face to face with Sauron.
| Major Characters: Gil-galad, Sauron |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, Ficlet, General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Violence (Mild) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 293 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
Sawdust by StarSpray
Findis watches, entranced, as he takes up his tools and begins a new carving, taking a shapeless lump of wood and turning it into a leaping hound before her eyes.
| Major Characters: Findis, Finwë |
| Major Relationships: Findis & Finwe |
| Genres: Family, Ficlet, General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Character Death |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 559 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (5) |
Calls from the other end of the galaxy by daughterofshadows
Sometimes you just need a little help with a code from the author, even if you've been working with it for decades. If only they would answer their dang phone!
So, instead Maeglin calls an old friend, hears an amusing anecdote and passes on a message.
It's all in a day's work.
Except for the autopilot. That took a lot longer.
| Major Characters: Celebrimbor, Maeglin |
| Major Relationships: Celebrimbor & Maeglin |
| Genres: General | Challenges: Also Appearing |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 601 |
| 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 (6) |
So It Is Said by StarSpray
Elros befriends some gulls
| Major Characters: Elros |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Ficlet, Fluff, General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 364 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (1) |
Walking in the Woods by daughterofshadows
Welcome to Eryn Lasgalen, the only space station with trees.
Yes, you heard that right. Actual, real life, full-sized trees.
Not the tiny shrubs they have over on Balar.
They may not quite reach the glory of the forests of old Doriath (before it all burned, of course), but what truly can?
Join Thranduil's spouse Alcarinna for a walk in the woods as she contemplates the past, meet Oropher and his husband, Ethuilass, newly returned from their diplomatic mission and despair with Legolas' older brother, Beriathal, and Tauriel over younger siblings who cannot stay in the same spot for longer than a minute, dammit!
| Major Characters: Original Female Character(s), Original Male Character(s), Original Nonbinary Character(s), Oropher |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Family | Challenges: Also Appearing |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 135 |
| 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) |
Not Too Far by grey_gazania
Celebrimbor has a conversation with his cousin and ponders the future of his estranged father and uncles.
Written for Tolkien Gen Week on Tumblr (prompt: family). Part of my Woman King AU.
| Major Characters: Celebrimbor, Gil-galad |
| Major Relationships: Celebrimbor & Gil-galad |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Creator Chooses Not to Rate | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 783 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (1) |
A long ripple of notes by Himring
Before the Fall of Eregion, a minstrel who once was taught by Maglor is asked to revive a performance of his songs in the Hall of the Jewel-smiths in the presence of Celebrimbor.
| Major Characters: Original Female Character(s), Gwaith-i-Mírdain |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Ficlet, Poetry | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 901 |
| 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) |
Bór by Himring
As one of the loyal Easterlings during the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, Bór and his sons reflect Tolkien's development of lands and peoples beyond Beleriand.
The Rain against My Window by Himring
Rain reminds Gil-galad of his childhood in Hithlum.
| Major Characters: Gil-galad |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Family, Ficlet | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 304 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
While the Arrow Flies by Himring
While the arrow flies: that's the arrow in "speed now this feathered shaft".
What to do in the time we have?
Especially if the eagle never comes.
| Major Characters: Fingon |
| Major Relationships: Fingon/Maedhros |
| Genres: Alternate Universe, Poetry | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Creator Chooses Not to Rate | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 122 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Love and Superstition by grey_gazania
A fanmix for Curufin and Nyellë, his wife.
| Major Characters: Unnamed Female Canon Character(s), Curufin |
| Major Relationships: Curufin/Unnamed Canon Character |
| Genres: Music | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Creator Chooses Not to Rate | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (0) |
Proceedings of the Angband Poets' Society by kimikocha
Selections from the latest edition of the Angband Poets' Society magazine.
What's that, you say? You didn't realize Angband had a poets' society? Well, now you know.
| Major Characters: Original Character(s), Balrogs, Orcs, Sauron |
| Major Relationships: Melkor/Sauron |
| Genres: Crackfic, Humor, Poetry | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Creator Chooses Not to Rate | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 3 | Word Count: 1, 701 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (1) |
Down Through the Ages by StarSpray
Five times Daeron meets Maglor by accident, plus one time it happens on purpose.
| Major Characters: Daeron, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: Daeron/Maglor |
| Genres: Ficlet, Fixed-Length Ficlet, Fluff, Slash | Challenges: Also Appearing |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Sexual Content (Mild) |
| Chapters: 6 | Word Count: 2, 253 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (11) |
The Nargothrond Cordial by jamcake_muses
A recipe from Finrod's cookbook "From the Pans of Beleriand".
| Major Characters: Finrod Felagund |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Crackfic, Humor | Challenges: Also Appearing |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 428 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (8) |
✓ Seen by polutropos
Present day. Daeron has a boring office job, Maglor works for a children’s theatre school. They read dirty slash about themselves. Rated for the dirty slash.
| Major Characters: Daeron, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: Daeron/Maglor |
| Genres: Humor | Challenges: Also Appearing |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Expletive Language, Sexual Content (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 886 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (10) |
gold & burgundy by hanneswrites
“Forgive me,” Finrod muses, the ends of his lips twitching up in a teasing smile as he ties a delicately embroidered burgundy sash around Maglor’s waist, “I had forgotten that you only hang out with me for the fashion advice. No other reason.”
Years of the Trees Gen Slice of LIfe fic
| Major Characters: Finrod Felagund, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: Finrod & Maglor |
| Genres: Ficlet, Fluff | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 523 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
In Dreams by grey_gazania
Fingon visits Maedhros before the Third Kinslaying. Is he a dream, or is he a ghost?
A fixed-length ficlet.
| Major Characters: Fingon, Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: Fingon/Maedhros |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: Also Appearing |
| Rating: Creator Chooses Not to Rate | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 036 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (8) |
Gil-Galad Was No Elven-King by kimikocha
An elven conspiracy theorist discovers the truth about Gil-galad's parentage. The results of their inquiry are here written in verse.
| Major Characters: Original Character(s), Gil-galad |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Humor, Poetry | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 168 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
Touch The Stars by cuarthol
Sacrifices must be made, but there seems to be some lingering disagreement on exactly who it is that is going to be making them.
| Major Characters: Celebrimbor, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: Celebrimbor & Maglor |
| Genres: Alternate Universe | Challenges: Also Appearing |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 174 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (8) |
Steppe Ghost Story by Lferion
Love endures, and nothing is truly forgotten if even one person remembers it. A triple drabble.
| Major Characters: Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Drama, Fixed-Length Ficlet, Mystery, Slash | Challenges: Also Appearing, Pride |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 306 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (7) |
World Turned Upside Down by grey_gazania
A Fëanor/Nerdanel fanmix.
| Major Characters: Fëanor, Nerdanel |
| Major Relationships: Fëanor/Nerdanel |
| Genres: Music | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (0) |
A Favor for the Prince by Rocky41_7
Feanor has a proposal for Nerdanel.
| Major Characters: Fëanor, Nerdanel |
| Major Relationships: Fëanor/Nerdanel |
| Genres: Erotica, Het, Romance | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Sexual Content (Graphic) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 4, 448 |
| Posted on | Updated on |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
