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] 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] 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.
Building Middle-earth
Receive a prompt of an architectural style or a location on Arda—or both!—to inspire your fanworks. Read more ...
Sibling Rivalry
Create an AU fanwork where an original character--you!--tries to influence his or her canon sibling in some way or in which you choose a sibling to influence you. 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
Thank you for writing this. I loved this tender and atmospheric story very much! Mairon's perspective when he realizes that he's unexpectedly falling in love is spot on. So THIS is what there was between Aulë and Yavanna, he thinks, and is shocked because it goes against his plans, but at the same time he can't stop loving his elf.
And because he is Mairon, he tries to overthink it. He's such a worrywort, and I love it how Celebrimbor in this story notices it at once. They know each other so well! And Mairon's answer "Nothing to worry about" is so suspicious, Celebrimbor must know that something IS wrong. I love it how he tries to make Mairon feel better.
He needed the Ring to have a reinsurance, if Celebrimbor took it badly.
Oh no, Mairon! That's where it starts to go wrong. The Ring doesn't help you!
Once he’d finished the ring project, he’d tell him the whole truth. He’d make him understand somehow so they could be together forever.
I love it how sincerely he hopes that he wouldn't need to lie to Celebrimbor anymore. But it's so heartbreaking that he makes that ring project as his insurance against Celebrimbor's rejection, and the project always comes first, even before their love. He has a lot to learn.
I'm so happy you like it!
He did not plan for this, it didn't even occur to him that he might to start having feelings for Celebrimbor, let alone fall in love with him! He knows it's going to complicate his plans. But he can't not love him. He needs to find a way to keep him!
Mairon's biggest problem is his lack of trust (and his wish to rule the world entirely on his own conditions). He doesn't want to lie to Celebrimbor, but he also can't tell him the truth now, because if Celebrimbor takes it badly, he won't have a contingency plan. He tries to convince himself that Celebrimbor will accept him, if he knew the truth, but he doesn't have it in him to trust him. He thinks he needs the Ring to make sure he'll win, whatever Celebrimbor is going to do with the truth (because he still thinks that keeping the upper hand is the most important for him). And, of course, the way Celebrimbor finds out is a catastrophe, Mairon didn't mean it to happen like that! And he can't trust Celebrimbor, either, that he'd take him back, even now, if he doesn't come back at the head of an army...
Celebrimbor knows he's hiding something and wishes he'd convide in him so he can help. But then, he guesses that 'Annatar' has secrets and that him being an ambassador from the Valar might not be the whole truth. So he doesn't pry, because he knows how it is to have a somewhat complicated past.
Love this intimate moment with the ominous future lurking in the background!
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Comments on I've Fallen in Love just a Little
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