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.
[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…
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"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."
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“It’s not as though I…
[Writing] Star of Hope by Fuin
A new star shines in the sky. They claim it brings hope.
Epic 80s
Create a fanwork using on of our righteous prompts based on popular culture from the 1980s. Read more ...
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Use a fanwork to show a character working to achieve freedom. Read more ...
Six Demographic Takeaways from the 2025 Tolkien Fanfiction Survey by Dawn Walls-Thumma
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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…
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[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.
!!!!!!! Oh I'm so glad you explored this!
I love how you jointly draw out the characters of both Elendil and the absent Elros through comparison
He did not say it was his self-assurance, his candour that nearly overstepped the bounds of common courtesy.
😉
his promises of pomp were the very reason Elrond had given no notice of his coming.
Love an understated Elrond <3
Elrond wore no such jewels.
Oh it feels like there is such a story hidden in this line
Without ever saying it outright I like how you show Elros as the elder with all the extra attention that often goes with that.
commissioned by Felagund for Bëor the Old and became,
Such a beautiful piece of world building, and making it all the more precious as an heirloom!!
And then Elrond's grief at the end, always to lose those around him 😢
Gorgeous! Truly gorgeous 💖
Thanks so much. Started jotting things down with a pen and what do you know the characterisations leapt out at me.
Oh it feels like there is such a story hidden in this line I think so. Of course, he ends up wearing one very significant jewel soon after this (Vilya) but I've never thought that was a role he relished.
Such a beautiful piece of world building, and making it all the more precious as an heirloom!! That Finrod, gets himself involved in every story :D
Interesting encounter with all those contrasts between Elrond and Elendil, and the implications about Elros!
I can see your point about how the uncertainty about its early history might fit a heirloom of the Edain.
I'd be interested in those women bearers, if you'd be happy to say a bit more about them!
ETA; Also the title: I see what you did there...
Thank you for the comment! I've developed a bit of an investment in Elros in the last little while and enjoy exploring ideas for his character.
I have two not-fully-formed thoughts about what happened to Narsil between Brethil and Sirion:
1 - It passed to Beren's semi-canonical sister Hiril. Since we know virtually nothing of her, the possibilities are vast. I haven't thought beyond that for her.
2 - Emeldir entrusted it to Morwen who brought it with her to Dor-lomin. Why she would not have sent it to Doriath with the Dragon-helm I do not yet know, but I'm imagining she herself wears it on the journey to Doriath and then passes it on to Nienor. Nienor wears it when she follows after Morwen disguised as an elf-man and it's still on her when she's enspelled by Glaurung. But of course when she becomes frightened and flees, she casts it off with the rest of her garments. Mablung retrieves it and brings it back to Doriath. When he at last learns of the fate of Turin and Nienor, he brings it back to Brethil for their Haladin kin to do with as they see fit. I was thinking of it maybe being placed on their tomb/memorial, but then someone taking it from there and bringing it to Sirion seemed not quite right.
ETA; Also the title: I see what you did there... 😉
I like your idea for how Narsil could have been handed down! It's a very cool idea for it to be originally made for Bëor and passed down among his descendants. I like the involvement of Emeldir, Morwen and Nienor as you explain in the comments. And I agree, it's only fair and makes sense for Elrond to have some heirlooms too. :)
and Elrond noted how securely the ring circled his finger, as though it had become a part of his hand — for so jewellery appears when seldom, if ever, removed from the wearer.
Oh no, that's ominous foreshadowing . . .
And poor Elrond, who finds himself guarding both the shards of Narsil and his brother's heirs so soon.
Thank you! I'm glad you like the idea of an Edain "origin" (even if it did start with a Dwarf and an Elf). That's an insightful observation about the ring, I hadn't even thought of it (consicously).
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