The Tolkien fanworks community was abuzz this past week after the Tolkien Estate's FAQ on fanworks went viral on Tumblr. While we'd been leisurely planning our first Cultus Dispatches column for later in the month, we felt that the uproar around the Estate's FAQ justified pushing the column up and addressing the worries of many fans about what the FAQ means. So, this week, we are pleased to not only introduce our Cultus Dispatches column but also hope to ease the minds of our fellow creators that the FAQ does not spell the demise of Tolkien fanworks as we know them.

This week's column, which is linked below, was collaboratively produced, making this a good time to offer the reminder that the SWG is a community powered by the help of many volunteers. If you like this newsletter and would like to help us produce content, either writing an article or column of your own or collaborating with others, hit REPLY to this email and let us know, and we'll be in touch with how you can get involved!

SWG News

Sign-Up to Hand Out Scavenger Hunt Prompts
Our May challenge will be a Matryoshka built around a scavenger hunt. If you'd like to hand out prompts (and receive comments on your work for doing so!), you can sign up to do so.

New Challenge: Everyman
Create a fanwork about an ordinary character in the legendarium using a quote about an unnamed character as inspiration.

Cultus Dispatches: Fanworks, AI, and Resistance by Dawn and Grundy
The fan studies column Cultus Dispatches returns with a history of how Tolkien fanworks fandom has reacted and resisted generative AI by drawing strong boundaries in a way that is not typical for the fandom.

Instadrabbling Sessions for April, May, and June
Instadrabbling continues on the first Saturday of each month on our Discord server.

Update to Site Etiquette/Terms of Service

It is important, for legal reasons, that activity on the SWG remain strictly not-for-profit. And while this has been our de facto position for as long as the site has been in existence, we realized that this is never directly stated in any of our policies. Therefore, our Site Etiquette and Terms of Service has been updated to add the following language:

For legal reasons, the SWG must remain strictly not-for-profit. Do not use the SWG or its social media to request or offer commissions for money. If a fanwork was commissioned, do not mention that commission. Links in your profile, the fanworks you share, or on posts to SWG social media should not point to sites where you will make a profit, such as Kofi, Patreon, GoFundMe, Venmo, and similar sites. Violations of the above will be immediately taken down.

As always, if you have any questions, you can contact the moderators.

Sunsetting Our LiveJournal

The SWG's LiveJournal, along with Yahoo! Groups, was where the group originated back in 2005. Therefore, it is with mixed emotions that we announce that we will cease using our LiveJournal for official announcements from the group.

New Fanworks

The Endless Years by by Elrond's Library [Writing]

Elwing reckons with the passage of time.

Read more ...

dye me, nocturne by by skywardstruck [Writing]

Maglor without Maedhros, Daeron without Lúthien. Alone, they are nothing, but together, they can be something more.
Where do you turn, when you have no one else left?

Written for Tolkien Reverse Summer Bang 2023, featuring artwork by athlai.

Read more ...

a life freely given, a favor returned by by skywardstruck [Writing]

Finrod and Bëor stop for a while on the road to Nargothrond to rest. The bodies of the Secondborn often grow weary, and Finrod laments, massaging Bëor's back and renewing his beloved's vigor with the work of his hands. But Finrod has other burdens of his own, Bëor soon discovers, returning Finrod's favor in the best way he knows how.

Read more ...

Til We're on the Other Side by by StarSpray [Writing]

It was only the second time Finwë had come out foraging with them, and of course this would happen—of course the Hunter would come, the Dark Rider on his steed with its terrible, heavy footfalls, and the deep-throated laughter that held no mirth, only malice. 

In the dark woods near the Waters of Awakening, Finwë's brothers are taken.

In Valinor, when the Trees wither, Finwë is slain.

In the Fourth Age, things take place long thought impossible.

Read more ...

Updated Fanworks

Hill and Water Under Sky by by StarSpray [Writing]

a collection of drabbles and mini ficlets in the meanwhile the world goes on 'verse that aren't long enough to stand on their own

Read more ...

The Mirror Crack'd by by AdmirableMonster [Writing]

Rescued from a brutal Angband hunt, an ex-thrall with a strange and powerful artifact embedded in his spine is brought to Himring, for it is one of the only places in Beleriand which welcomes such folk. Though he has no memories of his life before, Anniavas slowly becomes accustomed to his new life and finds he has a queer connection with Maedhros, Himring's lord. As their intimacy grows, however, so do the dangers surrounding them, both without and within. What secrets are hidden inside the depths of Anniavas's lost memories--and how will those with whom he is forging and deepening bonds react, when those secrets are at last revealed?

Read more ...

A Hundred Miles Through the Desert by by StarSpray [Writing]

“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 the other side of it was a larger party than Maglor had ever seen in Lórien—five figures sitting in the grass. Huan barked again, and they all looked up. “It seems everyone has come to fetch us home,” Maedhros said, laughing, as all their brothers scrambled to their feet.

After years in Lórien, Maglor and Maedhros are ready to return to their family and to make something new with their lives--but to move forward, all of Fëanor's sons must decide how, or if, they can ever reconcile with their father.

Read more ...

Beyond the Silmarillion Fanworks

The Mirror of Galadriel by by skywardstruck [Artwork]

Smoke rises from the Mirror, where the Lady of Lothlórien awaits to share its visions.

Read more ...

Bar-en-Eladar by by Gabriel [Writing]

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.

Read more ...

Around the World and Web

April/May Teitho Challenge
Teithio is running a prompt challenge around the theme of "heartbreak."

Barduil Month 2026
A month-long Tumblr events all about the relationship between Thranduil and Bard the Bowman.

Tolkien Reverse Summer Bang 2026
The Tolkien Reverse Summer Bang is back for another summer of collaboration between artists and writers!

Leaf & Lore: A Tolkien Writing Month
Start a story, work on a WIP, finish a fic, dabble in drabbles, pen a poem, type a tale, or otherwise wrestle with words. Set your own goal: Leaf & Lore is all up to you.

Gondor Week 2026
A Tumblr week event focusing on the history of the realm of Gondor.

Angbang Week 2026
Angbang Week is a tumblr event focusing on the relationship between Morgoth and Sauron, running from May 5-11, 2026

Aspec Arda Week 2026
This week-long event celebrates asexual and aromantic spectrum interpretations and headcanons of Tolkien’s Legendarium.

Crablor Day
A day dedicated to everyone's favourite warcriminal crustacean - April 26, 2026