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.
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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.
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
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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.
[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…
[Writing] Winter Warmth by Serinquanion
A winter night in Himring. But inside the quarters where fire blazed in hearth was warmer, and not only from the fire or quilt.
[Writing] A Hundred Miles Through the Desert by StarSpray
“Come on.” Maedhros grabbed his hand and pulled him along down the path, both of them quickening their pace now, until the trees opened up into a wide meadow filled with flowers, bright yellow celandine and dandelions and sweet-scented pale chamomile mingling with cornflowers and irises. On…
[Writing] Who Will Hear Me? by XirinOfArvada
A lonely elf finds a flute half buried beneath the sand and wonders if its owner will hear him when he calls.
[Writing] Loyal, Faithful by Himring
Late in the Second Age, one of the Faithful reflects critically on past developments. (Free verse.)
[Writing] East Away! by Flora-lass
Aldarion storms off towards Middle-earth. For the Title Track 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 ...
Kids These Days
Create a fanwork using a bingo card of prompts based on common gripes about kids and teens. Read more ...
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.
[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.
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.
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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