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.
[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.
[Writing] A Thousand Winds that Blow by StarSpray
When uneasy dreams bring him back into Beleriand, Daeron finds a pair of twins who have lost their home, and an enemy who has lost himself. The Shadow's reach is growing ever longer, and if they are to survive, they must do it together.
Epic 80s
Create a fanwork using on of our righteous prompts based on popular culture from the 1980s. Read more ...
Strangers in Strange Lands
Your character arrives for the first time in a new place. Maybe he journeyed there with a purpose, or maybe she ended up there by accident. What does she perceive? What new experiences and conflicts will he have? This month's challenge asks you to bring a character to a new, strange place for the first time and to develop a story around his or her experiences there. 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 how you embedded details of the image in your descriptions!
It is nice to think Elros's early home in Numenor was like that. I hope his invitation will be succesful!
Oh gosh, this has so much in it! It's so easy to keep forgetting that they went to an undeveloped island. I really enjoyed Elros' houghts about the differences between Manish and Elvish styles, and this live particularly: "like a jewelbird from the south country inexplicably landed among a flock of northern ducks in their winter colors."
And he's setting some sensible precedents, thank goodness.
You've incorporated the text as well as the imagery so well, and your words are as vibrant as vibrant as the colours I love this: "The one that was his was orange. At least, from the outside. But from the inside, where it was just him, when the light hit it right, it was full of memories. Sometimes it was the shade of Maedhros’ hair, other times it was the red he remembered from the banners of the home he still held in his heart."
This is such a great snapshot of early Numenor, and also of Elros! I love his colorful tents, and I especially love that he starts building his more permanent residence gardens first. Very Elvish indeed!
"Elros’ tents looked by contrast like a jewelbird from the south country inexplicably landed among a flock of northern ducks in their winter colors."
That is such a wonderful way of describing it!
I also love that Elros is creating his gardens first. Who needs a house when you have pretty greenery around?
I hope his plan works and Elrond comes to visit soon!
Love this glimpse at early King Elros!
like a jewelbird ... landed among a flock of northern ducks in their winter colors.
it was also a rather elvish order of operations.
Ha! A little too Elvish for Men yet!
At least he’d carried his point that the tents should be sized for the number of occupants, not the size of their purses.
A wise king indeed. I like how this also has shades of the early line of having to decide between vying parties for the same piece of land. I hope he showed the same wisdom there.
Sometimes it was the shade of Maedhros’ hair, other times it was the red he remembered from the banners of the home he still held in his heart.
Oh! My heart! That one was unexpected... but that final little letter to his brother was just perfect! <3
What a rich little piece. I love this Elros, not sure what to think of Turgon (hear, hear!) and luring Elrond with gardens. :) And the almost-Feanorian personal tent. Lovely.
I love the relationship between Elrond and Elros! And all of this colourfull tents reminds me so much of Elros personality...
Beautiful!
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Comments on My Tent Is Always Open To You
The Silmarillion Writers' Guild is more than just an archive--we are a community! If you enjoy a fanwork or enjoy a creator's work, please consider letting them know in a comment.