New Challenge: Everyman
Create a fanwork about an ordinary character in the legendarium using a quote about an unnamed character as inspiration.
SWG News
Cultus Dispatches: Fanworks, AI, and Resistance by Dawn and Grundy
The fan studies column Cultus Dispatches returns with a history of how Tolkien fanworks fandom has reacted and resisted generative AI by drawing strong boundaries in a way that is not typical for the fandom.
Instadrabbling Sessions for April, May, and June
Instadrabbling continues on the first Saturday of each month on our Discord server.
New Challenge: Famous Last Words
For our March challenge, our moderators will assign you a famous last line to use as a prompt.
New & Updated Fanworks
[Writing] A Hundred Miles Through the Desert by StarSpray
“Come on.” Maedhros grabbed his hand and pulled him along down the path, both of them quickening their pace now, until the trees opened up into a wide meadow filled with flowers, bright yellow celandine and dandelions and sweet-scented pale chamomile mingling with cornflowers and irises. On…
[Writing] Til We're on the Other Side by StarSpray
It was only the second time Finwë had come out foraging with them, and of course this would happen—of course the Hunter would come, the Dark Rider on his steed with its terrible, heavy footfalls, and the deep-throated laughter that held no mirth, only malice.
In the dark…
[Writing] The Endless Years by Elrond's Library
Elwing reckons with the passage of time.
[Writing] a life freely given, a favor returned by skywardstruck
Finrod and Bëor stop for a while on the road to Nargothrond to rest. The bodies of the Secondborn often grow weary, and Finrod laments, massaging Bëor's back and renewing his beloved's vigor with the work of his hands. But Finrod has other burdens of his own, Bëor soon discovers, returning…
[Writing] dye me, nocturne by skywardstruck
Maglor without Maedhros, Daeron without Lúthien. Alone, they are nothing, but together, they can be something more.
Where do you turn, when you have no one else left?
Written for Tolkien Reverse Summer Bang 2023, featuring artwork by athlai.
[Writing] Hill and Water Under Sky by StarSpray
a collection of drabbles and mini ficlets in the meanwhile the world goes on 'verse that aren't long enough to stand on their own
[Writing] The Long Arm of the Law by Elrond's Library
Turgon cannot be above the law.
Current Challenge
Everyman
Create a fanwork about an ordinary character in the legendarium using a quote about an unnamed character as inspiration. Read more ...
Random Challenge
Times of Bliss
We honor the theme of hope in Tolkien's work with prompts about joyful or happy times in the text. Read more ...
New in References
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.
Tolkien, Lunatic Physicists, and Abnegation by Cynthia (Cindy) Gates
This presentation for Mereth Aderthad 2025 discusses the parallels between the concept of abnegation in the scientific work surrounding the atomic bomb and in The Silmarillion. The relinquishment of self-interest in favor of the interests of others, abnegation was identified by Tolkien as a powerful act of spirit and reason. The legendarium has many examples of the complexities of abnegation, which parallel similar discussions held by physicists during and after World War II.
Featured Themed Collection
Beyond the Silmarillion
[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.
[Writing] Why did Éowyn ask Faramir if he'd rather have a "woman of the race of Númenor"? by Quente
For most of my life, when reading Lord of the Rings, I read it through the perspective of Gandalf's words about Éowyn, that she'd spent years trapped as a caregiver, watching the realm she love fall from honor into disgrace.
But what if Éowyn was also a student of history?
…
Around the World and Web
Angbang Week 2026
Angbang Week is a tumblr event focusing on the relationship between Morgoth and Sauron, running from May 5-11, 2026
Gondor Week 2026
A Tumblr week event focusing on the history of the realm of Gondor.
Crablor Day
A day dedicated to everyone's favourite warcriminal crustacean - April 26, 2026
April/May Teitho Challenge
Teithio is running a prompt challenge around the theme of "heartbreak."
April Challenge Tolkien Short Fanworks
Tolkien Short Fanworks is running a challenge around the theme of "fools," "foolishness," or "being fooled."
Fanworks Tagged with Lúthien Tinúviel
For Love of Silver Stars by LadyBrooke
The sun’s dying rays faded over Doriath for the first time, and Lúthien looked at Nimloth.
Your Song by Kaylee Arafinwiel
"But Lúthien came to the halls of Mandos, where are the appointed places of the Eldalië, beyond the mansions of the West upon the confines of the world. There those that wait sit in the shadow of their thought. But her beauty was more than their beauty, and her sorrow deeper than their sorrows; and she knelt before Mandos and sang to him..."
Dancing in the Shadows by Zdenka
While dancing at night in the woods, Lúthien meets a shadowy stranger. (Lúthien/Thuringwethil)
In Wisdom... by just_jenni
Melian wrestles with her feelings about Elu Thingol and laments some of her decisions concerning the Doom that befell them.
Do Not Go Gentle by StarSpray
Lúthien dies, but on her own terms.
The Eight-Pointed Star by Tyelca
Short stories about the House of Fëanor for the Fëanorian Week.
Day 1: Maedhros - After being rescued from Angband, Maedhros suffers from nightmares and has some dark thoughts.
Day 2: Maglor - Maglor brings his new charges to bed, and wishes the Ambarussa had lived.
Day 3: Celegorm - On their way to Nargothrond, Celegorm realizes he loves Lúthien.
Day 4: Caranthir - Caranthir the Dark settles in Thargelion and meets first Haleth and later Ulfang.
Day 5: Curufin - In the final moments before his death, Curufin reminisces.
Day 6: Ambarussa - As revenge for Celegorm, Amrod and Amras assassinate Dior’s twin sons.
Day 7 : Fëanor & Nerdanel - Fëanor intends to propose to Nerdanel.
Love Me Now by Grundy
Elves, mortals, peredhil, and love.
Long Pork by Fernstrike
Galadriel attends the wedding of Beren and Luthien, newly returned from their journey to Angband. There, a roast boar is cause for the resurgence of old, bad memories - and consideration of what truly makes one an outsider in Doriath.
Taboos Were Made To Be Broken (January 2017) by Kaylee Arafinwiel
A collection of Silmfic written for SWG’s January 2017 ‘Taboo’ prompts. Some will be co-written with, or perhaps solely written by, my co-author and dear friend Emma, and those will be noted.
non-fiction on the nature of elves by hennethgalad
Consideration of free will and the nature of elves.
The Song I Will Never Sing by Fernstrike
Ages from now, Daeron remains in the East, and he remembers.
(Or, a poem of one that felt too much and made terrible decisions because of it)
Thou Art the Spring by Zdenka
Haleth and her people are newly settled in Brethil. Lúthien is drawn to learn more about mortals, and Haleth in particular. (Haleth/Lúthien.)
Writ in Water by Zdenka
A series of seven drabbles about Nargothrond and those who became involved with its fate, based on a set of river-related prompts from Tolkien Weekly.
Bouquet, for Femslash Bingo 2016 by Urloth
Femslash Bingo Fills for the Flowers and Their Meanings Card for Femslash Week 2016
Three Sentence Fics: Tolkien by Zdenka
A collection of fills written for rthstewart's 3 Sentence Ficathon in 2013 and 2015, for Tolkien-based prompts. (Mostly Silmarillion, with one for Farmer Giles of Ham and Sir Orfeo, and one non-Tolkien crossover.)
Chapters 2 & 3: More Tolkien-based fills written for caramelsilver's 3 Sentence Ficathon in 2016 and 2017.
Damask and Dark by Zdenka
Held captive in Nargothrond, Lúthien dreams of Beren and exchanges one prison for another. (Triple drabble.)
Drabbles: The Silmarillion and Unfinished Tales by Zdenka
Drabbles set during the First and Second Ages of Middle-earth. (Exactly 100 words as counted by MS Word.) Please see table of contents for individual summaries and warnings.
Dust Clouds by The Wavesinger
Luthien rides in search of Beren.
I am finally cross-posting my B2MeM stories
Deeds of Small Hands by StarSpray
Lúthien is not the first Elf to discover Beren wandering the forest.
The knife Angrist by Himring
So, Curufin, son of Feanor, is conveniently walking around with a dwarf-made knife at his waist that just happens to be suitable for cutting a Silmaril out of Morgoth's iron crown and he just happens to give Beren enough provocation to rob him of his possessions, including the knife.
Here is a slightly AU gapfiller on the subject of the early history of Angrist, the knife that would cleave iron as if it were green wood.
Morning Mist and Silver Sun by StarSpray
A place to store drabbles and ficlets, mostly written for various prompts.
Code Red by Scribe of Mirrormere
Aredhel runs into trouble after leaving Gondolin. Luckily, she is prepared. The Walking Dead fusion/zombie AU.
The Loss of Tol Sirion by Uvatha the Horseman
Sauron battles Luthien the great hound Huan for Tol Sirion and loses everything but the shirt on his back. No, make that everything.
