Working with data from the Tolkien Fanfiction Survey is like panning for gold. It is mostly grit and gravel—rows of numbers in a spreadsheet ground down into sums and percentages—but every now and then something flashes out of the mire. Since working with large sets of data is mostly routine (someone who didn't enjoy it might even term it drudgery!), these discoveries never fail to surprise, even thrill, coming as they often do in the midst of data for survey items I'd assume would be unremarkable.
In this month's Cultus Dispatches column, I turn to a dataset that is just that: entry year for Tolkien fanfiction authors. It should be dull, unexciting, rote numbers reported on how many authors started writing in any given year, but when I set three sets of these data from the Tolkien Fanfiction Survey side by side, they started to get interesting.
I've been using this dataset in writing and conference presentations from before the survey was even complete to show how more authors started writing during the film years, but when I put together graphs of the data for the three surveys, I started to see trends that reveal much more interesting conclusions than the rather obvious observation that the films inspired a lot of fannish activities, including fanfiction. Most notably, how a fan engaged with fanfiction around the films seems to predict how long they'll stick around in the fandom, hinting at why, among survey participants, movieverse-only authors are exceedingly rare (and showverse authors so far don't exist at all).
You can read my discoveries in "Speak Friend and Enter: Trends in Fandom Entry Year" 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.

Featured Article
Speak Friend and Enter: Trends in Fandom Entry Year by Dawn Walls-Thumma
Across three surveys and ten years, the Tolkien Fanfiction Survey has document when authors began writing. These data reveal trends in how film promotions, the films themselves, the books, and other historical contexts have influenced not only who writes but how long they stay.
Art Credit: Actual Footage of Ost-in-Edhil by darkfrozenabyss (Tumblr)
New Fanworks
Records of an Inquiry Into Unlawful Conduct in Angband Division C-134-B by kimikocha [Writing]
In the Second Age, a historian reviews records excavated from Angband concerning a criminal inquiry.
In the First Age, in the wake of the fall of Gondolin, a pretty captive catches the Lady Thuringwethil's eye.
Read more ...Dance by Elrond's Library [Writing]
Melian dances for Elwë.
Read more ...More of an Ending than a Beginning by Dagstjarna [Writing]
Maglor's birthdays in Valinor.
Read more ...Shadow's Scribbles 2026 by daughterofshadows [Artwork]
This is the collection of my art submissions for Scribbles & Drabbles 2026, featuring four art works.
Read more ...In Those Days by Dagstjarna [Writing]
Young Nerdanel and Fëanor’s friendship blossoms.
Read more ...The Heart Finds its Morning by StarSpray [Writing]
Then the door opened. Celebrimbor sat up—and blinked. Whoever he had expected, it was not his cousin Finduilas, who closed the door gently behind her and turned to him with a smile. “Hello, Cousin. Am I intruding?”
“No, of course not.” Celebrimbor rose to take her hand. “I’m always glad to see my favorite cousin."
Read more ...A falling star by Novenoe [Writing]
Eärendil and Elwing have some trouble with a shooting star in the sky
Read more ...The Messenger and his Donkey by Himring [Writing]
Lamaen, a Sinda of Hithlum and royal messenger, returns to his routine and re-joins his usual companion. (A vignette.)
Read more ...The last son of Feanor by ford_of_bruinen [Writing]
Maglor long after elves have left middle earth
Read more ...Updated Fanworks
Darling Enemy by octopus_fool [Writing]
Eärendil thought he would have the sky to himself.
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 ...Nasyalossë by Lovimmy3365 [Writing]
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 days between the Dagor Bragollach and the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, meets the sons of Feanor, Thingol and his ilk, many Laiquendi, many Dwarves, and Men besides, and THEN decides to solve the drowning of Beleriand himself. This has nothing to do with his personal problems. Nope. Not at all. Erestor is having regular feelings.)
Read more ...House of Finwë by softmoonlightmelody [Writing]
One drabble per Finwëan. Currently finished, ending with Eärendil but excluding Elwing, Elrond, and Elros.
Read more ...The Mirror Crack'd by AdmirableMonster [Writing]
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 life and finds he has a queer connection with Maedhros, Himring's lord. As their intimacy grows, however, so do the dangers surrounding them, both without and within. What secrets are hidden inside the depths of Anniavas's lost memories--and how will those with whom he is forging and deepening bonds react, when those secrets are at last revealed?
Read more ...One Flesh, One Soul. Part I by FellFireFan [Writing]
An elven prince stands against the looming shadows of Angband. Brother of Galadriel, Aegnor is as beautiful as he is deadly. A fierce warrior with a reputation to match, who commands the respect of all the Noldorin princes and all who look upon him. However, beneath his iron shell, lies a sensitive and haunted soul, crushed by betrayal, guilt and profound loneliness. Little does he know, upon a morning in Dorthonion, a chance encounter with a young and petrified girl will set him on a collision course with a fate, igniting an extraordinary bond wrought with challenge, sacrifice, and a love so intense and consuming, it will unravel his entire world and his very being.
Brace yourself for Part I of this captivating tale, where the power of love and devestating loss will tear worlds apart forever.
Read more ...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.
Read more ...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.
Nolofinwëan Week 2026
Nolofinwëan Week is Tumblr fandom event celebrating the House of Fingolfin, running from November 9th - 16th
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!