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
Vintage
Pick your prompts from four bingo cards themed around vintage literature, art, poetry, and fanworks. 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 Míriel Serindë
Trinkets by Independence1776
A collection of unrelated drabbles and ficlets too short to post on their own. Each story has a separate rating and all are under a thousand words.
Newest story: Chapter 48: Aulë, Finarfin, and Maglor's ignored return to Aman. Crackfic. Rated General. Ficlet.
The Present Circumstance by LadyBrooke
Indis has been friends and sometimes lovers with Míriel and Finwë for a long time, from the forests of Middle-earth to the palaces of Valinor and in spite of deaths and family members.
Eventual Finwë/Indis/Míriel threesome, in the course of the story every combination of two of those possible.
Written as a late birthday gift for Indy, posted here with her kind permission.
Five Bells by Dawn Felagund, anuhealani
The people of Tirion learn of Miriel's death. For the Five Things challenge for SWG's fifth birthday. 2011 MEFA nominee.
The Silver Road by Elleth
After Míriel's release from Mandos, she departs for the House of Vairë, but who - and what - helped her come to that decision?
50 Prompts: AU Silmarillion by Urloth
50 Prompts resulting in 50 AU Silmarillion based or related drabbles or ficlets.
Súlimëo Quentar: March Stories by Elleth
A collection of Elleth's 2012 B2MeM Bingo fics. Individual summaries (and warnings, if necessary) are provided in the chapter notes.
Spark by spark (the frost fires kindle). by Urloth
Of Fëanáro's coming into the world and what Handenésë saw.
Taking Readings I by Himring
Very short pieces set in Beleriand or Valinor, some of which are slightly experimental.
Now added: Shadowy Cloak (Beren and Luthien, after the fall of Tol-in-Gaurhoth)
Strange Beginnings by Urloth
The elves were content and dwelt long under the stars of the forest Cuiviénen. After many years with many groups and cultures multiple and different rites of passage and ways of living will evolve.
Under the ever dark sky a child awakens in the forest and knows only that she is young and her name is Míriel.
At least Elegance, at most a Revelation. by Urloth
Indis is strong, brave and loves her Queen so very much.
Postcards from Arda by Elleth
A set of ficlets for B2MeM 2011 (continued for the Season of Writing Dangerously).
New --- Day Twenty: As the new High King of the Noldor after the Dagor Bragollach, Fingon receives a reminder that not all is as grey as it seems. A double-drabble according to Open Office.
Chibi of the Month by whitewave
Injecting colorful cuteness into The Silmarillion since 2008.
"Gothmog and Draugluin" appears in the SWG newsletter. View the Table of Contents for a full listing of comics.
Five meetings between Indis and Míriel by clotho123
How would the friendship have been between Indis and Míriel if they had known each other? This ficlet series explores this possibility.
Five Bells by Dawn Felagund
The people of Tirion learn of Miriel's death. For the Five Things challenge for SWG's fifth birthday. 2011 MEFA nominee.
A Kind of Poetry by Independence1776
Indis can't help but fall in love with Finwë-- and his wife Míriel. When the couple brings her into their relationship, everything changes.
Finwë/Míriel/Indis, with an emphasis on Míriel/Indis.
Míriel Þerindë by oshun
Míriel Þerindë is one of the most significant women characters in The Silmarillion. Her importance is not limited to marrying Finwë, the first King of the Noldor, and giving birth to the incomparable Fëanor. What makes Míriel memorable among Tolkien's female characters is that she not only managed to determine her fate against the wishes of the powerful man in her life and even the initial preferences of the Valar, but that her choices profoundly affected the destiny of her people throughout the history of Arda.
Quoth the Raven by Noliel
It's his call, this time, and it lifts a burden from her shoulders as heavy as the roots of the mountains. But that doesn't mean Miriel has to like it.
The Very Secret Diary of Námo by Aramel
The Doomsman of the Valar keeps a diary, and wonders what this "sense of humour" everyone's talking about is. Very silly. With apologies and fluffs to Cassandra Claire's original VSDs.
Mahtan's Apprentice by WendWriter
Nerdanel is in love with a Noldor prince with a reputation for being sullen at best, difficult at worst. Whatever does she see in him? And how will Mahtan get along with him?
Perchance to Dream by Nightshade Scribe
Finwë remembers his wife's death.
Leaflets by Raksha The Demon
An anthology of ficlets, mostly in multiples of 100 words, here all together for the first time. (Forbidden Fruit makes its first appearance at a public archive) Open-ended.
Awakening by Dawn Felagund
Shortly after the Elves awaken at Cuiviénen, the young Þerindë begins to learn about love and Elven nature. This story seeks to explore the origins of the Elven mores concerning sexuality that are discussed in Laws and Customs and Quendi and Eldar.
A Little Closer to the Edge, My Love … by Sulriel
The marring of Míriel Serindë by her lord Finwë - how he taught her not to fear, taught her to give all of herself rather than hold too tight...
