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.
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: 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.
Cultus Dispatches: Communities Do Comment
Comment data from the SWG underscores community as an essential component to a robust commenting culture.
Instadrabbling Sessions for July, August, and September
Instadrabbling continues on the first Saturday of each month on our Discord server.
[Playlist] Yacht Rock Silmarillion by Dawn Felagund
Have you ever wondered what would happen if the characters in The Silmarillion were smoooooth like they were sippin' a Sex on the Beach on a party barge in the harbor at Alqualondë? The "Yacht Rock Silmarillion" retells The Silmarillion as though the characters all had perms…
[Writing] and let's be winners by mistake by atlantablack
"Move farther north," Caranthir says to her a month after the attack, gaze steady on her even as his hands continue briskly gutting fish. "There is plenty of land closer to my fortress, and my people can help protect yours if there is another attack."
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Of course it was a trap.
Maitimo has to survive. He must. But what price is too high to pay for survival?
[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] Star of Hope by Fuin
A new star shines in the sky. They claim it brings hope.
Epic 80s
Create a fanwork using on of our righteous prompts based on popular culture from the 1980s. Read more ...
Duel of Songs
Try your hand at poetry for National Poetry Month. Read more ...
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.
Fandom Draws the Line: Fanworks, AI, and Resistance by Dawn Felagund, Grundy
By definition, fanworks fandom does not draw a lot of boundaries, but community archives and events have taken a strong stance against AI-generated fanworks due to ethical considerations and member input.
[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.
Celedriel Week 2026
A Tumblr event week focusing on the relationship between Celeborn and Galadriel.
Esoteric Tolkien Week 2026
A fandom event dedicated to the strange, otherworldly, and inexplicable in Middle-earth and beyond.
Tolkien Gen Week 2026
Tolkien Gen Week will run from July 6-12, 2026 to appreciate all of the incredible characters and relationships within Tolkien’s legendarium that fall under the broad category of “gen.”
Tolkien Disability Pride 2026
This Tumblr event focuses on ALL creative works focusing on disability in Tolkien's universe.
Scribbles and Drabbles 2026
Scribbles & Drabbles is a fic and art exchange with a minimum word count of 100 words.
I like this very much. The details of the ruined world are interesting. I love the evocation of the Elven love of earth. The tension between Eka’s view of herself and other’s view is moving. I like that the story’s end is so focused on one clear image, and yet is open-ended About what happens next.
Thank you, Tomour! (And my apologies for taking so long to reply to your comment.) I very much wanted to leave the end open. What happens when she takes off that mask? I personally like to think that she survived, either in body or spirit form, but another reader pointed out that even if she didn't, it was likely better than her life in that world anyway.
I really appreciate you reading and commenting on my story! :)
Very sad, to think of the last of humanity so reduced. Poor Eka.
I read the end as saying that she was about to die, but at least she had had that vision of something else?
I left the end open intentionally, and it was been fun to see the different ways different readers imagine it turning out! :D
Thanks so much, as always, for reading and commenting!
I loved (and hated, and I mean this in the best way) this! You know it's effective when I am tempted to use the back button. ;) The dystopian world you are showing us here is terrible and the barest layer of civilisation can't hide human nature in catastrophes.OMG Eka's father getting her pregnant, but also the gruesome punishment??!!? D: D: I wanted to hide under my desk.
I feel sorry for Elladan that he has to see what has become of this world he chose to stay in, but I am glad for Eka that he found her and gave her something nice, even if she is barely able to understand what it is! I wonder if Eka will become a hero of her people, but in a way that doesn't hurt everyone else? And also, I am totally seeing Eka in the tree from my inktober pieces. <3
Horror is definitely a genre where saying, "It was awful!" can in fact be a compliment. :D I'm proud of you for making it through without resorting to that BACK button!
That's an interesting thought, about Eka becoming--and redefining--her people's understanding of a hero. Because I left the ending so open, it's been interesting to hear what different readers think happened after the story ends. I have to say I'm rooting for her to have a happy ending, as in a place in the world where she can help to heal the world. (Why am I suddenly hearing Michael Jackson and seeing that emoji that looks like the devil dressed up as MJ?! :D) So I love your vision of the ending!
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