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."
Haleth looks up from her…
[Writing] Changing Styles by StarSpray
“What did you do to your hair?”
[Writing] A Song Amidst His Torment by Elrond's Library
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 ...
Dark Matter
Create a fanwork using anti-prompts: prompts that don't appear in your fanwork. 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.
Good to see you cross-posting it here!
Looking forward to the next chapter--I really enjoyed this one (if "enjoyed" is the right word considering some of the darker hints).
And Maedhros throwing a snowball at Curufin is a welcome bonus!
Thank you. I have always had a headcanon that one Fëanorian family council at Himring descended into a seven way snowball fight and I was pleased to get the chance to have it see the light of day.
Thank you for commenting.
What a great story! My favourite part so far (sorry boys!) is the Nîd-naur. Really scary - probably playing on my claustrophobia. And Uncle Maedhros is as fantastic as ever.
I'm so glad the Feanorians are talking to you again - Talking Hurts is probably one of the reasons why I'm here. (Incidentally, it was me who contacted you back in 2010 about saving your stories in the Library of Tirion :D)
Oh goodness, thank you ever so much. I am shocked anybody remembers me, thank you so much for taking the effort to email me, I had completely forgot about it and then I discovered my stories were already archived here when I heard HASA was going down. It amazes me constantly the effort wonderful people put in to keeping this fandom alive. I'm in awe of you.
I'm 3/4 way through a degree right now so I've had to take a break from SoN for a few weeks, but I hope to update again in the New Year. Thank you so, so much for the encouragement. It means so much.
Ohh, I wrote a long-overdue review on one of your other stories, and completely failed to notice there was a new one!
This story is fascinating. I like the banter between the...ghosts?...in Mandos. It's humorous but also insightful. And you've done something I thought impossibe; you've made me feel sympathy for Maeglin! He's always one of those characters I was quick to write off, and now I'm feeling guilty for it, haha.
Great story!
Why do all people hate Eol? I refer to a tale by Marnie, in which his thoughts are explained very well.
And then his son, Maeglin, torn between two worlds, without someone to guide him, like Erenion by Cirdan...
I think, it is a good explanation, he only wants to marry Idril, to get the love,the appreciation, he is missing so badly.
And then this idea, Enerdhil, the one, who made the green stone for Galadriel, in one of Tolkien' s stories, to be the alias of Celebrimbor, who forced it in a different, and both of them are meant to have done it for love? Excellent!
Okay, I read your bio, that was explanation...
You are Welsh, you may use welsh words...
But, please, please, please!
Go on writing with this story!
Lia
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Comments on Smith of Nargathrond
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