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.
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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.
[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.
[Writing] The Message by Flora-lass
Borondir carries Steward Cirion's urgent request to Eorl the Young, with the help of his horse but at great personal cost.
Epic 80s
Create a fanwork using on of our righteous prompts based on popular culture from the 1980s. Read more ...
Love Conquers All
Show how one character helps another to overcome a difficulty in his or her life through love. 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.
Forgive my redundancy, but I have to say it again: you have created so much tantalizing detail with a few brushstrokes in "Lack of Privacy." Maitimo lets us in on uptight political Nolofinw, and with one sweep of his arm, Káno indicates that living under the roof of the more tolerant but highly controlling Fëanáro isn't a much better option.
The interchange with Macalaurë regarding Finwë's suggestion is a good one. And Finwë's opinion (as relayed by Káno) that Fëanáro is something of a helicopter parent is a striking one. And I just like Macalaurë in this piece in general (as well as in Mereth Aderthad, of course).
The "smut" ;^) is handled well (no double entendre intended). As a reader, I'm really picky about the slash genre. More often than not, the pairing comes across as a man and a woman-in-a-man's body. You are among a very few writers who are able to convey such pairings as two men. An example: "Findekáno grabbed him in a retaliatory neck lock and butted his head against him gently." Not too mention Maitimo complaining about the catapulting, exuberant Káno as being too heavy!
But this says it all to me in this "smutty" gift for IgB:
"But who could stay gloomy in the presence of the ever-tactile Findekáno of the quicksilver smile and heart as big as the sea."
Truly. I certainly can't stay gloomy. Your Káno is a fantastic character, and I'm always eager to see him.
Thanks so much for commenting. You make it sound so good. I'll buy this review! I do love these characters and am happy that the points you make here reflect exactly what I hope the reader will get out of the story. Actually, this story came first into my head, but I had no intention of writing it anytime soon, if ever. I can't even write a "Do You Believe in Ghost?" crazy gag of a story without a backstory I guess. I do see Feanor as likely to have been one of the very first helicopter parent. That is one of my justifications for the attachment of his seven sons to him. That comes across in Dawn's AMC and even in her Light of the Roses, which is AU to her main storyline.
As much as I enjoyed "Do You Believe in Ghosts?" the wonderful story you wrote for my birthday, I also love this Maitimo and Findekano interlude. Only you could take a great little ficlet and get a plot bunny for a gapfiller that moves your M/F story arc along. You're incredible. As always, the two lovers are in top form, sparring and making up amid the swirl of family and the oversight of parents with very different world views. Thanks for this additional present. I'm one lucky guy!
Thank you! But you are not lucky--you earn it. You have helped me so much. Meanwhile, I do still owe you a ficlet/drabble on the topic you gave me. It's a promise. I am so happy that you like it and thanks for causing me to write both stories.
How sweet, in the best possible sort of way, truly!
I've enjoyed your Maedros and Fingon cycle a great deal and have to say I agree with Pandemonium in that I am a picky gal about slash and that I think you do make it clear that these are two young, lovely and very masculine men in very physical and passionate love with one another rather than the guy and woman-in-man's body sort of deal (which, not to detract from anyone's right to identify with whatever gender and gendered traits they chose sometimes seems like the revenge of Krafft-Ebing). It was also most impressive because you managed to use an interlude to explore some of the tensions within the house of Finwe, especially with the righteous and political Fingolfin and the overbearing Feanor (helicopter parent, oh my!).
Terrific! Thanks!
Lil
Thank you so much for reading and such a thoughtful comment. IgnobleBard couldn't resist insisting on the scene referred to in his silly Halloween story, because he knew there was a back story. Thanks also for your kind comments on my story cycle.
Aww, poor things, lol. I'm glad they found a little bit of alone time. Loved the last line, it was sweet and hot.
The references to Maglor's wife are awesome! The seems like a really interesting character and he clearly loves her.
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Comments on Lack of Privacy
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