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] 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] Nasyalossë by Lovimmy3365
Erestor lay up against a tree, brown washed to black in the wet of the snow. The black disc of the new moon sailed across the dark sky. Erestor wished it were gone. He had no need to look into dark eyes any longer.
He was dying.
(AKA Erestor unwittingly travels back in time to the…
[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] 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…
Epic 80s
Create a fanwork using on of our righteous prompts based on popular culture from the 1980s. Read more ...
Songs of Arda
Create a fanwork about music. 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 hope you don't mind me C&P my review from AO3!)
I know I'm biased, but this is exactly why I love fandom so much. You take a character and a culture who were allotted a few sentences in canon, and bring them to life. I know you were a bit anxious about how you wrote Haleth, but I really, really like how some of her worries come through, but she soldiers on nontheless. Haleth is damn great role-model for me (because insecurities make us human, but you have go on anyway, even if there isn't an army of orcs breathing down your neck!) just as Elwar was for her. HALETH. ♥
And Argant! Elleth, you are so great with making original characters who are characters in their own right. I love the camaraderie between her and Haleth, their easy intimacy...
Just all around great work! I hope more people give it a chance and read it (and be blown away!)
(I don't mind at all, thank you. ♥ And I'm going to c/p my own answer because it would be much the same again either way.)
Those are some of my favourite stories as well, and while I'm kind of hesitant to put this fic into the same category ("a bit anxious" is very kindly put), I am happy that this is how it's being read, and I'm glad she and Argant work as characters in their own right with their own dynamics. :) You're too kind! ♥ Thank you so much for such a lovely review.
First of all: eeeeeeeeeeeee. Also, dsknfakengfkdnfkdnf. And, UH. UM. WOW.
...Sorry. I had to get the flail out of my system before attempting coherence. ♥♥♥
Haleth's companionship with her warriors, and their banter, and how they believe in her, are very gorgeous, especially "We have known each other since childhood. We grew into women fighting together. How do you not expect me to?". I also adore the moment with the torc, and how much everyone believe in Haleth, because she's shown she can, that she's capable, and she won't abuse that capability.
Haleth herself I adore! She's such an interesting character, and I know I'm using the word capable too much, but capable is what she is. And that's a compliment! Capable of so many things, of leadership and inspiration and capable of being a warrior, and just all round capable. Not flashy, not one for 'heroic' gestures, but capable of getting the job done.
And the relationship she has with Argant is lovely! Companionship and banter and how familiar they are with each other, warriors together, and sharing, and just...♥♥♥
I love the connection between the Drúedain and the Haladin. It wasn't something I was very familiar with, and it's interesting, to say the least. *files away information in back of head*
And Elwar's story! Women playing main roles in a culture's mythology is one of my favourite things, and Elwar is such a fascinating, legendary character, and her story—whether it's true or not (though I hope it is, because she'd be a very interesting character!)—is gorgeous.
All-round, a beautiful, well written story, and one I lovelovelove! Although that's not a surprise.
I have the biggest grin on my face right now - thank you so much for all the love! ♥♥♥ I'm so, so happy that there is such a ton you enjoyed about this story. It was tricky to write, but I had such fun puzzling everything out into a coherent whole, and Haleth - writing her gave me the biggest crush. Which is also not surprising. ;)
And as for Elwar - as far as I'm concerned, and this is Word of God Subcreator, she was real. Her story as Haleth tells it is heavily mythologized, but she was a living, breathing woman and really did lead a legendary defense that led to the establishment of women fighters in the Haladin culture. :D
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