New Challenge: Epic 80s
This month's challenge features hundreds of fresh prompts from the bodacious decade of the 1980s.
SWG News
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.
New Challenge: Scavenger Hunt
In this Matryoshka-with-a-twist, you will solve clues that point you to the challenge prompts.
New & Updated Fanworks
[Writing] The Mirror Crack'd by AdmirableMonster
Rescued from a brutal Angband hunt, an ex-thrall with a strange and powerful artifact embedded in his spine is brought to Himring, for it is one of the only places in Beleriand which welcomes such folk. Though he has no memories of his life before, Anniavas slowly becomes accustomed to his new…
[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] Eä's Redemption by AaronAzrael
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…
[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.
[Writing] Women's Work by Deborah Judge
When Finwë's wife Miriel died, leaving behind their young daughter Fëanor, Finwë petitioned the Valar for permission to remarry. Although he loved his daughter dearly, he said, he needed a son who could be his heir.
Or: Genderswapped Noldor politics, from Fëanor daughter of Finwë to Gil-…
[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…
Current Challenge
Epic 80s
Create a fanwork using on of our righteous prompts based on popular culture from the 1980s. Read more ...
Random Challenge
Songs of Arda
Create a fanwork about music. Read more ...
New in References
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.
Grief, Grieving, and Permission to Mourn in the "Quenta Silmarillion" by Dawn Walls-Thumma
In a book as full of death as the Quenta Silmarillion, grief and mourning are surprisingly absent. The characters who receive grief and mourning—and those who don't—appear to do so due to narrative bias. Grief and mourning (or a lack of them) serve to draw attention toward and away from objectionable actions committed by characters.
Featured Themed Collection
Beyond the Silmarillion
[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.
Around the World and Web
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.
A Song Amidst His Torment by Elrond's Library
| | |
5
Maitimo writes to his brothers.
Warrior Falling, Year 1
Brothers,
It has been a few weeks since I saw Kanafinwë and Pityafinwë by the spring of the Sirion, but Menamalcar has set in the north, and so I am permitted quill, and ink, and this small parchment, and a small knife with which to cut my braid, which you will find enclosed.
I am recovering well from the ill-use I was bestowed before I saw you. There are other Eldar here, who have been here for far longer than I, who have ensured my hurts are cleaned and bandaged. I have spent the time attempting to learn the various languages that the other inhabitants of this place speak, to little avail so far. But I, apparently, have time, so perhaps I will master the language.
Until the Warrior rises again,
Nelyafinwë Ñoldóran
Warrior Falling Year 3
Dearest brothers,
It has been explained to me that you never negotiated explicitly for me to receive your responses, so if you have been writing to me these last few years I have not received them. If you have not, well, I will never know.
You did negotiate that the braid you receive be clean, so I write this freshly washed. A rare, twice a year comfort in this place, so I thank you for that, at least. I wish
I have recently been released from my little hole and been put to work. I have joined a group of Sindar and two of the ten that survived with me in the mines below this place. It is harsh work, but despite that, it is much more satisfying than sitting in the dark and waiting to write you all another letter.
With all my love,
Nelyafinwë
Warrior Rising, Year 6
Brothers,
I am alive. Just. Punishments here are grim indeed.
I cannot help but rage I wish this had not happ
They took I would not wish this on they mutilated
Makalaurë why how could you do this to me
There is no light in the dark. Hope is futile.
Eru protect you.
Nelyafinwë
Warrior Falling Year 6
Brothers,
Forgive me my last letter. It was never my intent to be so wrathful with you.
This place is full of senseless violence. Expectations and quotas are impossible to reach. Did I say the work was satisfying, all those years ago? I recant that, forget I ever said it. I wish for the solitude of that damp cell daily.
Musings on the exact separation of Eldar and Orc will have to wait until I have more parchment. But I have thoughts, and wonder if you do too. The language is broken and harsh on my lips, but even orcs sing work-songs.
Be safe.
Nelyafinwë
Warrior Rising, Year 8
Brothers,
Curvo will laugh at me, but I have somehow won myself promotion from the pits to the forges. Yes, by our standards I am and always will be a poor smith but here …
It comes with some benefits, in service of keeping myself as safe as I can in this place. Better rations. Rest days. The other Eldar here, who have been here longer, are kind when they can afford to be. We all scramble for the scarce crumbs of security.
The Lieutenant is often about the forges. He was certainly one of Aulë’s, before. His [REDACTED BY ORDER OF LORD MAIRON]
Stay safe.
Nelyafinwë
