Cultus Dispatches: Revelations from Marquette's Fanzine Dataset
In September 2026, Marquette University released a dataset about their Tolkien fanzine collection. Analysis of the data reveals what these fanzines contained and show how pre-internet Tolkien fandom responded to the publication of "The Silmarillion."
SWG News
New Challenge: Unquote
Choose a prompt from our selection of misheard, miswritten, and misrepresented unquotes that are in no way part of the actual "Silmarillon."
Site Etiquette Update: Fandom and Money
We have updated our policy in our Site Etiquette around linking to sites that collect money.
Character of the Month: Eönwë
This month's biography focuses on Eönwë, who started with a variety of identities but settled into the role of Manwë's herald, exemplifying the values of strong leadership and justice.
New & Updated Fanworks
[Writing] A Language Deeper than Words by gaydhros
Colour now has returned to him. His cheeks and nose are pink with the early morning chill, his grey eyes are bright, and he is well enough to manage daily walks along the lakeshore with Fingon, a few dawn-quiet moments stolen together before the rest of camp wakes.
[Artwork] Fingolfin‘s Last Stand Monument by Fuin
Fingolfin‘s Last Stand Monument on the Square of the High Kings in Tirion, digital art.
[Artwork] Thangorodrim by Fuin
Night spreads from the peaks of Thangorodrim, digital art.
[Writing] Silmarillion Non-Con November 2026 by AngbandThrallNo.1035
This is my collection of ficlets for the various prompts of Non-Con November 2026, I'll update the tags as I upload my fics, each prompt will be a new chapter. This writing event specifically focuses on the absence of consent, so keep that in mind!
Day 1: Groping (Maeglin/Dark!…
[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] Disco Demolition by kimikocha
“We’ve worked together,” says the stranger with fire in his hair. “We’re investigators.”
Everything he says is technically true.
Inspired by Disco Elysium and written in the game's style, but not a crossover. Familiarity with the game isn't necessary for this fic.
Current Challenge
Unquote
Choose a prompt from our selection of misheard, miswritten, and misrepresented unquotes that are in no way part of the actual "Silmarillon." Read more ...
Random Challenge
B2MeM 2009
Back to Middle-earth Month in 2009 offered a daily prompt connecting our personal experiences to our creative work. Read more ...
New in References
Fandom before the Time of the Trees: Revelations from Marquette's Fanzine Dataset by Dawn Walls-Thumma
In September 2026, Marquette University released a dataset about their Tolkien fanzine collection. Analysis of the data reveals what these fanzines contained and show how pre-internet Tolkien fandom responded to the publication of "The Silmarillion."
Across the history of the "Silmarillion," Eönwë's role settles on a character who leads without taking upon himself the power to mete out justice and who acts with equanimity across some of the most harrowing conflicts in the early legendarium.
Speak Friend and Enter: Trends in Fandom Entry Year by Dawn Walls-Thumma
Across three surveys and ten years, the Tolkien Fanfiction Survey has document when authors began writing. These data reveal trends in how film promotions, the films themselves, the books, and other historical contexts have influenced not only who writes but how long they stay.
Featured Themed Collection
Beyond the Silmarillion
[Writing] For a Better World by Ellynn
Thirteen years before the War of the Ring, an orcling — more intelligent and more curious than most — is born in Mordor. His curiosity will lead him to both incredible discoveries and perilous situations, all of which will shape him into a leader unlike any Mordor has ever known. But to become…
[Writing] The High Pass to Gondor by octopus_fool
Eorl heard it before he saw it: the sliding of stones as they crossed the high pass into Gondor.
[Writing] Aftermath of a Riot by Susana_R
It's never fun to wake up with a concussion. Fortunately for Faramir, he has Elrond, Aragorn, and the rest of Aragorn's family to help him make the best of a difficult day.
Around the World and Web
Tolkien Siblings Week 2026
A fandom event focused on sibling relationships in the Tolkien legendarium, running November 23rd to 29th, 2026!
Ainur Week 2026
A Tolkien fandom week dedicated to the Ainur!
Glorthelion Week 2026
A week dedicated to Glorfindel x Ecthelion relationship
Nolofinwëan Week 2026
Nolofinwëan Week is Tumblr fandom event celebrating the House of Fingolfin, running from November 9th - 16th
The White Oliphaunt 2026
The White Oliphaunt gift exchange, a yearly event where Tolkien fans sign up to exchange humorous gifts with each other.
SWG News
Middle-earth Olympics Live Events
Posted by Dawn Felagund on . Last updated on .
We have several live events forthcoming for the Middle-earth Olympics, all held on our Discord server. All are welcome!
- Sunday, July 25, 15:00 UTC: Relay Writing
- Sunday, August 1, 1:00 UTC: Instadrabbling
- Sunday, August 1, 15:00 UTC: Instadrabbling
- Sunday, August 15, time TBA: Medal Ceremony
More information on relay writing and instadrabbling can be found on the Middle-earth Olympics challenge page.
Not a member of our Discord server but want to be? There are several ways to join!
- If you're an SWG member, when you log in, you will find a link in the footer of the site.
- You can contact the mods at any time for an invite.
- We will post an open invite shortly before an event begins on our site (here!) and our social media.
Middle-earth Olympics Opening Ceremony on Sunday, July 18
Posted by Dawn Felagund on . Last updated on .
The Middle-earth Olympics are coming!
While we will post prompts on the 15th as usual, we will officially kick off our challenge this month with an opening ceremony, held on the SWG's Discord server. In keeping with the Olympic spirit, we will host a live reading on the theme of cultural harmony.
The opening ceremonies will be held on Sunday, July 18, at 15:00/3:00 PM UTC. Find the opening ceremony date and time in your own timezone.
How to Sign Up for the Reading
- Anyone is welcome to read. You do not need to be an SWG member, though you will need to join our Discord server for the duration of the event.
- You can read an excerpt from Tolkien or a fanwork you wrote. The reading should relate to the theme of cultural harmony.
- If you read a fanwork, you must be the author.
- Please limit your reading to five minutes.
- If you know you plan to attend and read and would like to be on the event program, you can sign up for the opening ceremony reading here. There will be an open mic time open to anyone who wants to read, whether they signed up or not.
If you just want to listen to the reading, you are very welcome as well!
How to Join the SWG Discord
You can join the SWG Discord here.
Opening Ceremony Reading Program
Opening Remarks and Introductions of the Teams
In Praise of the Feastat Ivrin by Himring
Excerpt from Song of the Stone by Dawn Felagund
Open Mic! Anyone who wants to read is welcome to do so!
Closing Remarks
Middle-earth Olympics Team List Now Available
Posted by Dawn Felagund on . Last updated on .
The Middle-earth Olympics are coming! If you want to check out the teams that have registered so far, see our team list. To join a team, contact the team captain or contact the SWG mods to join. New team registrations are welcome through Sunday, July 11. Once we have the list complete on July 12, you will be able to register for a team via form.
Remember that you don't need to join a team to participate. Individual participants are very welcome! For full details on the challenge, see the Middle-earth Olympics challenge page.
Website Errors
Posted by Dawn Felagund on . Last updated on .
Update: All issues with the website should be fixed. Please report any errors or problems you may encounter to the moderator team or by emailing us at moderator@silmarillionwritersguild.org.
The website is currently throwing errors on some pages (known problems are on user and reference pages). We're aware of the problem and working on it so no need to report issues.
Character of the Month: Idril Celebrindal
Posted by Dawn Felagund on . Last updated on .
This month's character biography brings to life Idril Celebrindal, a character at the center of some of Tolkien's oldest and most important writings whose tale can be stitched together from a patchwork of sources. Read Idril Celebrindal's biography, written by Lindariel, here.
Middle-earth Olympics Team Sign-Ups Open
Posted by Dawn Felagund on . Last updated on .
Quick Links: Register a Team | Team List
The Summer Olympics … a time when the world unites to cheer on their favorite teams in popular sports while pretending to understand the finer points of the more obscure events. Sports and games were likewise a part of the legendarium, whether the Galadriel's prowess as a swimmer, undertaken in Arda's salad days, or Maedhros's single-handed fencing skills and similar militaristic exercises from Middle-earth's darker eras.
This month, in honor of the 20201 Summer Olympics and sport in Middle-earth, we present our own Olympic games! This month will feature a series of prompts that can be done as an individual or a team. Want to join a team? Sign-ups are open to set up a national team for your favorite group of characters from the legendarium!
Right now, registration is open for national teams. If you'd like to register a team, check out the Middle-earth Olympics guidelines and register your team for Middle-earth Olympics. If you'd like to join a team, see the team list and contact the team captain or the mods to join. If you want to participate individually, you don't need to do anything at all yet--just create something for one or more of the challenge prompts when they open on July 15!
Important Dates
July 11: Last day to create a team
July 12: Open sign-ups for teams begin
July 15: Challenge prompts posted
July 16: Last day to join a team
July 17, time TBD: Opening Ceremony on Discord
August 10: Last day for challenge entries
August 15, time TBD: Medal and Closing Ceremonies
In order to receive a stamp for your fanwork, your response must be posted to the archive on or before 10 August 2021. For complete challenge guidelines, see the Challenges page on our website.
New Challenge: Back to the Future
Posted by Dawn Felagund on . Last updated on .
"I imagine the gap to be about 6000 years: that is we are now at the end of the Fifth Age, if the Ages were of about the same length as S.A. and T.A. But they have, I think, quickened; and I imagine we are actually at the end of the Sixth Age, or in the Seventh."
J.R.R. Tolkien, "Letter 211 to Rhona Beare" (1958)
In the same letter to Ms. Beare quoted above, Tolkien also wrote, "I have, I suppose, constructed an imaginary time, but kept my feet on my own mother-earth for place," leading many fans to interpret our current time as the Seventh Age. However, as the quote shows, Tolkien was far from certain of that conclusion--and the rapidity with which his ideas were evolving at this point in his work on The Silmarillion casts similar doubt on just about anything he wrote during this time. (Dome of Varda, anyone?)
This month's challenge asks you to put a character, culture, or place in Arda in the Seventh Age. When the Seventh Age actually is--is it right now? in the future? or was Tolkien totally wrong and it's actually passed?--is completely up to you.
Furthermore, June is Pride Month, and as in years past, fanworks that include LGBTQ+ charcters will receive a special stamp.
In order to receive a stamp for your fanwork, your response must be posted to the archive on or before 10 July 2021. For complete challenge guidelines, see the Challenges page on our website.
New Challenge: Book by Its Cover
Posted by Dawn Felagund on . Last updated on .
Were you ever told, as a child, not to judge a book by its cover? Well, this month, we're telling you to throw that advice away!
This month's prompts will be book covers: gorgeous, cringey, perplexing, and everything in between. You can use any element of the book cover to create a fanwork. If you'd like to receive a prompt for this month's challenge, comment on our Dreamwidth, comment on our LiveJournal, send us an ask on Tumblr, or email us at moderator@silmarillionwritersguild.org.
As the prompts are old book covers, their default form is as an image. If you would prefer a description instead, please let us know when you request your prompt.
In order to receive a stamp for your fanwork, your response must be posted to the archive on or before 10 June 2021. For complete challenge guidelines, see the Challenges page on our website.
Volunteers Needed: Scouts for Around the World & Web
Posted by Dawn Felagund on . Last updated on .
Around the World and Web has been a long-running part of our site where we post announcements and links to events and content outside of the SWG. We are looking for scouts to help us maintain this part of our site so that SWG members are connected with the broader Tolkien fandom. Of course, we're interested in help from members willing to share announcements and links that they find as part of their participation in fandom. Scouts can also include admins and moderators of events who want access to post about their events on the SWG.
There is no minimum commitment to becoming a scout! You can share as much or as little as you would like.
Interested in learning more? Our FAQ about what and how to post an Around the World & Web announcement is a good place to start.
If you'd like to become a scout, or if you have questions about the role, contact our moderator team.
Character of the Month: Tar-Minastir
Posted by Dawn Felagund on . Last updated on .
A man of his times, Tar-Minastir perpetuated Númenórean policies of the past and foreshadowed those that would follow. Read Tar-Minastir's biography here.
And don't miss our award-winning character biography collection here!
