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.
Founded in 2005, the Silmarillion Writers' Guild exists for discussions of and creative fanworks based on J.R.R. Tolkien's The Silmarillion and related texts. We are a positive-focused and open-minded space that welcomes fans from all over the world and with all levels of experience with Tolkien's works. Whether you are picking up Tolkien's books for the first time or have been a fan for decades, we welcome you to join us!
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 Challenge: Epic 80s
This month's challenge features hundreds of fresh prompts from the bodacious decade of the 1980s.
[Writing] The Judgement of Fëanor by Kingsdaughter613
Fëanor arrives in the court of Mandos. Let he judges be judged.
[Writing] Thoughts of Írimë, daughter of Indis by Alvian
Lalwen listens to the songs of the Edain and considers the strange shape their love and grief take. An exercise in Elven zuihitsu.
[Artwork] Weight of a Mythic Past by silmalope
Maglor reflects on the past after returning to Valinor. Created for the August 2026 "Building Middle-Earth" challenge.
[Writing] Alone Yourself and Nameless by StarSpray
It was easier than he had thought it would be to leave his name behind—to put on a new one when needed, like changing one set of clothes for another.
[Writing] Kesäkuningattaret by Erdariel
Celebrían ja Varyandë viettävät kesäpäivää Imladrisin puutarhassa.
[Writing] Wound Care by StarSpray
He’d ventured into the little fishing village in search of food and maybe a dry place to sleep for a night of rain and wind—he hadn’t expected this, to be bullied into a hot meal and a healer’s attention.
[Writing] Swelling from the Sea by annarobots
Tuor and Elwing’s recreational sailing excursion goes terribly awry when a carnivorous siren casts her gaze upon their vessel. With her song, she enchants the mariners and boards with evil intent. She kills and eats their crewman, she demands Tuor’s hand in marriage, and for dessert…
Building Middle-earth
Receive a prompt of an architectural style or a location on Arda—or both!—to inspire your fanworks. Read more ...
Strangers in Strange Lands
Your character arrives for the first time in a new place. Maybe he journeyed there with a purpose, or maybe she ended up there by accident. What does she perceive? What new experiences and conflicts will he have? This month's challenge asks you to bring a character to a new, strange place for the first time and to develop a story around his or her experiences there. Read more ...
"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.
[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.
Innumerable Stars 2026
A character-based Tolkien fandom gift exchange is returning for another year of gifting.
Silvergifting Week 2026
A week dedicated to Celebrimbor/Mairon | Annatar | Sauron pairing, aka Silvergifting. August 10-16, 2026
What a sad story... The house of Húrin got the short end of the stick where fate was concerned.
I laughed so hard at your description of Tuor's decision! I reread that part and you're right XD But I always assumed he'd gone to ask for help too.
Thank you very much for reading and commenting! Hurin certainly makes you think about the reward for heroism. In his case, it can't even be argued that he brought it on himself in any way, as you might for his son. But as far as this story is concerned, I think perhaps the saddest part is that by the standards of the time Sador's niece isn't all that unlucky and she knows it. For every escaped thrall that reached the Havens, there must have been many that were caught and made an example of or died in the wilderness or were captured by orcs. But she managed to get her brother there in one piece--and the people of the Havens did the best they could for her
I'm glad you put that bit on Tuor's midlife crisis into the end notes - that made me laugh. I was on the verge of sniffling before that. Which is not a bad thing, really, because it means that the story got to me - but it's always so embarrassing to cry over a story.
Anyway! Despite the sniffling, I enjoyed this story - thanks for writing and sharing!
Thank you! I'm afraid this story reads almost as if I were trying to earn my Boxes of Tissues, although, as I wrote in the summary, the original idea for the plot antedates the Birthday Celebrations. I'm glad you enjoyed it in spite of that!
I like this story. It's very bleak, but also very well-written.
The fate of the people of Dor-lómin after Túrin's chaotic visit is one of the many tragedies of the Silmarillion that Tolkien implies more than describes, and it isn't something I've seen explored a lot in fanfic. I like how this story brings one of those people to life, in the person of the unnamed narrator. I also think it's fair to consider, as this story does by implication, what responsibility the Elves and the Valar have for their situation.
It's deeply sad and moving to me how the narrator and her mother still have faith in King Fingon and dream of him coming to save them -- but then, they have so little hope otherwise. I like this description of Idril visiting the hospital: "Lady Idril never forgets to smile at everyone before she goes in. She never remembers to smile at anyone when she leaves." It underlines what the narrator is realizing, that the Elves can't fend off death and tragedy either. And this is beautiful and evocative: "I hope my lady Idril is going home, back to the country where the light comes from, the place where she was born and that King Fingon also hailed from, they say." I like the description of her half-admitted love as "a last late gift of life." The poor narrator has had so little good in her life, so I'm glad for whatever bits of hope or comfort she can find at the end.
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Comments on Sea Wing
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