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
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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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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…
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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 ...
Dip the Ladle
Tolkien had many tales, places, and artists who inspired his work. For this challenge, prompts invite creating a fanwork using one of Tolkien's influences. Read more ...
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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
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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
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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.
What a sad farewell!
the chaos of the time appealed to me as well as the panic of a mother trying to mae her children as safe as she can even when she cant be with them and putting the responsibility on the oldest to look after them :) thanks for reading
Oh, wow! This was written in response to my request! I am sorry I did not see it sooner. It passed by me. I think I must not have been tracking the LJ thread and missed it when you posted it here.
My apologies and thank you so much for such a lovely fill of this prompt. It is beautifully done and devastating in its authenticity. I love the characterizations of the different sons.
Atarince and Carnistir will not leave their backs exposed but they need a steady hand. Macalaure, what will this do to that mind, enveloped in this. Do not let him lose his way, do you hear me, keep him on the right path. Tyelkormo will be lost, as a limb tore from the tree, hearing too many whispers on the wind and none of friends. And the Ambarussa, keep them close, do not let them out of sight or one will never set foot on the other side.
This entire section is convincing (of course, we are viewing it with the knowledge of what to come--but the importance is not the deeds as much as the how and the why of it. Your interpretation of them speaks to that).
The most heartbreaking part is that she feels by the time Maedhros begs her not to stay behind, the time for making a choice has already long passed and he is not the person who could have convinced her in any case. The most traumatic for her is that she wants so much to try to protect all of them, but in her desperation to hope against all hope and reason that her firstborn (and possibly best loved) son might be able to do something to help, she neglects to convey to him her love for him and take part of that last precious moment to say good-bye.
Feanor! He already burned his bridges and your short story explains that as well. When he stops listening to her, he lost his last best hope. And I am not unsympathetic to him. I see the provocations he is operating under also.
Thank you so much for writing and sharing this story filled with illuminating riches of interpretation.
I am glad you found it lol and glad you enjoyed it. as soon as i saw your prompt the story came into my head, the desperation of losing her children, the huge responsibility put on the eldest child...
there was so uch happening all at once so many decisions and farewells. it must have been a truly heartbreaking time both for those leaving and, maybe even more, for those staying behind knowing their loved ones were walking into lands where violence and death happened as in opposition to valinor. to see those you love the most go to war against a god.... i cant even imagine the horror of it which is why i concentrated on just one voice in this.
I am not unsympathetic to Feanor either LOL but writing him, not as evil nor as a hero but simply someone beyond her ability to help was a nice change (she says as if she hasnt been out of writing for years)
Thank you for reading oshun and thank you for, a always, lovely feedback xx
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