We're at the time of the year where big fandom events like Back to Middle-earth Month and Tolkien Reverse Summer Bang begin to appear on the calendar. And we've welcomed lots of new members in the past several months. Put those together, and there are probably a few people wondering, "I've written something; now where do I find someone to beta-read my story?"

Beta-reading is a fandom practice that involves a reader giving feedback on a story before it is posted publicly. "Giving feedback" is intentionally vague because beta-reading looks different for every author and reader. Some dig deep into the workings of a story, others focus on a specific area like dialogue or characterization, and still others copyedit and catch all those there/their/they're-type mistakes.

If you're looking for a beta, we can help. We have a beta directory on our site where writers can search for betas who specialize in what they most need for a story, whether that's someone to help with pacing and plot or someone who knows a ton about the Second Age. If you belong to our Discord server, we also have a #beta-finder channel there, which is especially useful when you end up pinch-hitting for an exchange and need someone fast.

If you want to help writers get their stories into shape, consider adding yourself to our beta directory! Anyone with an SWG membership can do so. Go to your profile and click the Beta Profile tab at the top. Note the checkbox "Activate This Profile" at the bottom; if you need to go on hiatus and don't want people to contact you, just uncheck this box, and you will be removed from the list without losing your profile data. When you're ready to be put back on, just recheck the box.

Finally, as the News below shows, we have some upcoming dates and events! First, the "abstract gallery" of Mereth Aderthad presentations will be made available in a week for people considering creating a fanwork for the event. If you want to know when the abstract gallery opens and have not added your name to our interest form, make sure you do! Fanworks sign-ups will open February 15.

We also have an instadrabbling session coming up on February 15 at 18:00/6PM UTC (find this in my timezone). The session will focus on Maedhros and Maglor's relationship, timed just before Maedhros & Maglor Week that begins the next day. (We are not affiliated with Maedhros & Maglor Week.) You can learn more about the instadrabbling session here and join our Discord here.

SWG News

Cultus Dispatches: Revelations from Marquette's Fanzine Dataset
In September 2026, Marquette University released a dataset about their Tolkien fanzine collection. Analysis of the data reveals what these fanzines contained and show how pre-internet Tolkien fandom responded to the publication of "The Silmarillion."

New Challenge: Unquote
Choose a prompt from our selection of misheard, miswritten, and misrepresented unquotes that are in no way part of the actual "Silmarillon."

Character of the Month: Eönwë
This month's biography focuses on Eönwë, who started with a variety of identities but settled into the role of Manwë's herald, exemplifying the values of strong leadership and justice.

Instadrabbling Sessions for October, November, and December
Instadrabbling continues on the first Saturday of each month on our Discord server.

Fun and Games

Tolkien Connections

We periodically feature Tolkien-themed puzzles made by our members. The New York Times' game Connections requires players to group a set of words into four groups of four. This week's Tolkien Connections can be found here. Find full directions on how to play here. If you'd like to make a puzzle, reply to this newsletter or contact us. Past games can be found in the Tolkien Connections collection.

Tolkien Connections #3 - click to play
The Silmarillion Writers' Guild Presents Mereth Aderthad 2025 - July 19, 2025, Burlington, VT and online - A celebration of creativity and scholarship inspired by the works of J.R.R. Tolkien. The interest form for fanworks creators is open! Fanworks sign-ups begin on February 15.

New Fanworks

The last son of Feanor by ford_of_bruinen [Writing]

Maglor long after elves have left middle earth 

Read more ...

Room in the Heart by Dagstjarna [Writing]

Newlywed Indis begins acquainting herself with married life, both its highs and lows. 

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The Parting Birds by Dagstjarna [Writing]

Dior tells Elwing a bedtime story.

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Burdens Carried, Burdens Shared by Elrond's Library [Writing]

Haleth will break Aredhel’s heart, but not before loving her.

Read more ...

Did Somebody Order a Silmaril? by annarobots [Writing]

Eärendil arrives in Valinor with a special delivery. But in this version, it’s not Eönwë who hails him…

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Updated Fanworks

Darling Enemy by octopus_fool [Writing]

Eärendil thought he would have the sky to himself.

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Bury Me to Release Your Splendor by annarobots [Writing]

“Do you know what grows on the shores of the southern isles? A trading-merchant might bring many strange specimens to our lands, like nothing I have ever seen. In recent days, I have tasted a ripe fruit with firm flesh that parted beneath my tongue in a burst of liquid sweetness. So moist, so yielding, its juices dripped down my chin like fragrant honey. Have you ever known such succulence?”

Fingon’s wife has arranged a special surprise for the Lord of Himring.

Or: everyone’s cool with a little ethical nonmonogamy until someone throws a temporary sex change into the arrangement. Lord Maedhros loves Fingon with all his heart, that is known. But how will he react to Fingwen?

Read more ...

The Day Transcending Night by StarSpray [Writing]

The Rings have been forged. The armies of Mordor are marching into Eriador. Eregion burns. 

Far away from it all, by the shores of the Sea, Celegorm remembers his name.

Read more ...

From That Rubble by StarSpray [Writing]

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 have much else to do. I need to build something new there,” he said after a few moments. “To do that, I must first clear away the old and broken things.”

Decades out of Mandos, too many things in Fëanor's life remain broken. He can't do anything except wait for his sons to come to him, but he can do something about the old and crumbling house where they once lived. 

Read more ...

Drabble-poems by Flora-lass [Writing]

All written for SWG instadrabbling sessions/prompts. Updated in October 2026 with Ambarussa, and Firiel.

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Eä's Redemption by AaronAzrael [Writing]

This is my new poetical attempt to add my own interpretation to Tolkien's Cosmology as to Eru's Creation and the Valar's minds and behind-the-scene providence reasons and mechanisms.. I often review Eä as part of our own world, just in another dimension, this is why I have always seriously thought on the matter who the Ainur are, who Eru is, how he matches our own religious pantheon, and this has been conducted after serious research of many esoteric teachings of our own planet's heritage.

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Beyond the Silmarillion Fanworks

IN THE SHIRE-RECKONING by Diane Finnis-Robb [Writing]

-This novel was completed for Hobbit Day 2026 and will be updated in serialized fashion here as I make final edits; so feedback is very much welcome.

-It is a multi-generational novel spanning a period of time from the formation of the Shire to the Great Plague in Year Thirty-six and focuses on the origins of an old feud between the Bucks and the Tooks.

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For a Better World by Ellynn [Writing]

Thirteen years before the War of the Ring, an orcling — more intelligent and more curious than most — is born in Mordor. His curiosity will lead him to both incredible discoveries and perilous situations, all of which will shape him into a leader unlike any Mordor has ever known. But to become that leader, he must defeat all his rivals, especially the most abhorrent of them all — his enemy since earliest childhood.

Read more ...

Around the World and Web

14th International Tolkien Mailing Competition
The Hungarian Tolkien Society invites you to join the international “Quendi” category of the Tolkien Mailing Competition: five rounds of quizzes, riddles and creative tasks. This category is organised in English, open to any individual participant, and also to teams of 2–5 people. The five rounds of the competition will last from November to April.

Glorfindel Week 2026
A Tumblr fandom week dedicated to the elf Glorfindel.

Tolkien Food Week 2026
fandom event from the 2-8th nov 2026 where we share recipes, fics and comfort food for body and soul.

Silmarillion Secret Stockings 2026
A fandom event to celebrate the end of year holidays with prompt-based gifts.

Tolkien Horror Week 2026
Tolkien Horror Week is back for another year of celebrating all the terrifying and unsettling bits of Tolkien's work!

Erestober 2026
An event running throughout October, to show appreciation for Erestor!