Mereth Aderthad Interview: Interview with chrissystriped by Dawn
In our series of interviews of creators for Mereth Aderthad, Dawn spoke with chrissystriped about her story, written for Shadow's "The Aromantic in Tolkien" presentation, her process as a writer, and the importance of representing aro-ace characters in fanfiction.
SWG News
Mereth Aderthad Interview: Interview with Dr. Zara Ashkenazi-Khan by Saelind
The third kinslaying is one of the Silmarillion fandom's favorite topics of discussion because of its moral complexity. In our latest interview for Mereth Aderthad 2025, Dr. Zara Ashkenazi-Khan discussed her paper "Exile, Ruin and Resistance: Beleriand as Postcolonial Palimpsest" with Saelind, the application of postcolonial theory to the most challenging and violent moments in "The Silmarillion," and where scholarship and fanworks each take their place in understanding them.
Mereth Aderthad Interview: Interview with Silmalope by Dawn
Silmalope is the featured artist for Shadow's Mereth Aderthad 2025 presentation, "The Aromantic in Tolkien." Dawn spoke with Silmalope about their approach to making art, what inspires their work, and the importance of diverse representation in fanworks.
New Challenge: Period Drama
A Matryoskha challenge with prompts inspired by common tropes in period dramas and historical fiction.
New & Updated Fanworks
[Writing] Elrond's Dream by bunn
A dream that Elrond never mentioned to Maglor son of Fëanor.
[Writing] One in the Deep Waters by Isilme_among_the_stars
Maglor finds himself alone with only sorrow and song for companions. But lamentation can neither undo the sorrows of which it tells, nor turn new hardships aside.
[Reference] Interview with bunn by Shadow by bunn, daughterofshadows
Bunn is the featured author for for cloudyhymn's presentation "The Design of Dragons and the Doom of Dwarves" and the featured artist for Savannah Horrell's presentation "By Guile Committed: Comparing Tolkien’s Thieves to Beowulf." Shadow spoke with bunn about the mystery of dragons, the appeal…
[Writing] High in the Clean Blue Air by StarSpray
They passed out of Lhûn and the wider coastline of Middle-earth opened up before his eyes. He had wandered those shores for centuries, and even now he felt the pull of that same wanderlust, and knew he would miss them for the rest of his life. Their wildness, the untamed waves, the rocky…
[Writing] The First Age 503 Football Finals by myrtaceaae
Nogrod vs Doriath, in the first match of the F. A. 503 finals season. Will Doriath at the top of the ladder beat Nogrod, currently at third on the ladder, or will Nogrod's strong side be victorious?
[Reference] Interview with chrissystriped by Dawn by chrissystriped, Dawn Felagund
Chrissystriped is the featured author for Shadow's Mereth Aderthad 2025 presentation, "The Aromantic in Tolkien." Dawn spoke with chrissystriped about her story for Mereth Aderthad, her process as a writer, and the importance of representing aro-ace characters in fanfiction.
[Writing] consider the hairpin turn by atlantablack
The footsteps come to a stop in front of him and he does not have a moment to wonder at his brother’s intentions before fingers are sliding into his hair and tugging his head back. He glares up at Fëanáro, tears on his cheeks, heart racing like a plea. Fëanáro stares back, expression strangely…
Current Challenge
Period Drama
A Matryoshka challenge where prompts are inspired by common tropes found in period dramas and historical fiction. Read more ...
Random Challenge
Understory
For this remix challenge, develop a minor character, plot point, or other detail from a fanwork into a new fanwork. Read more ...
New in References
Interview with bunn by Shadow by bunn, daughterofshadows
Bunn is the featured author for for cloudyhymn's presentation "The Design of Dragons and the Doom of Dwarves" and the featured artist for Savannah Horrell's presentation "By Guile Committed: Comparing Tolkien’s Thieves to Beowulf." Shadow spoke with bunn about the mystery of dragons, the appeal of Dwarves, and the many ways Tolkien's work connects to Beowulf.
Interview with chrissystriped by Dawn by chrissystriped, Dawn Felagund
Chrissystriped is the featured author for Shadow's Mereth Aderthad 2025 presentation, "The Aromantic in Tolkien." Dawn spoke with chrissystriped about her story for Mereth Aderthad, her process as a writer, and the importance of representing aro-ace characters in fanfiction.
Interview with Dr. Zara Ashkenazi-Khan by Saelind by Dr. Zara Ashkenazi-Khan, Saelind
In her upcoming paper for Mereth Aderthad 2025, "Exile, Ruin and Resistance: Beleriand as Postcolonial Palimpsest," Dr. Zara Ashkenazi-Khan considers why the third kinslaying stands apart in a book filled with violence. Saelind recently spoke with Zara about her paper, postcolonialism and The Silmarillion, and how fanfiction and scholarship each contribute in important ways to our understanding of Tolkien.
Featured Themed Collection
Part of our Themed Collection series for our newsletter, this collection features fiction, artwork, and essays that transcend the idea of Orcs as the enemy, instead considering their humanity.
Alliterative Verse for Arda by Rhunedhel
Part of our Themed Collection series for our newsletter, this collection features alliterative poems about Middle-earth.
Beyond the Silmarillion
[Writing] The Wondrous Tale of the Bee-wolf by bunn
Once upon a time, JRR Tolkien wrote a fairy-tale retelling, an attempt to reconstruct an alternative version of the ancient poem called Beowulf, and he called it Sellic Spell: 'strange tale' or 'wondrous tale'.
Once upon a time, on the long road home from the Lonely…
[Writing] Dáin's Saga by bunn
The tale of Dáin Ironfoot, told loosely in the style of a saga of Iceland (in English translation).
[Writing] Saying Goodbye by StarSpray
Frodo spent his last summer in the Shire much as he had the one before he’d gone on his journey.
Around the World and Web
Joyful June 2025
Joyful June is a fanworks event on Tumblr and AO3 where the goal is to let our favourite characters be happy.
Numenor Week 2025
Numenor Week is a Tumblr event created for fans of the tragic and beautiful story of the Land of the Gift, from its birth to its downfall.
Monster Fucker May 2025
This is an 18+ Tumblr and AO3 event for smutty fanworks involving monsters from the legendarium, put on by the Tolkien Pinup Calendar.
May Challenge at tolkienshortfanworks on Dreamwidth
The May challenge has been posted at the tolkienshortfanwork community on Dreamwidth. This month it is a number of prompts containing "may", including "May It Be", by Enya.
Teitho May/June Challenge: Weddings
The theme for Teitho's May/June contest is "weddings."
Fanworks Tagged with Míriel Serindë
The Last Work Of Her Hands by Gadira
Could an Elf live without a fëa? Part II of the Broideress arc.
Facing the Darkness by Gadira
They had always been two, the Broideress and the Healer. Rumours said that they had awoken side by side under the stars, but now the Broideress must face the darkness alone. Part I of the Broideress Arc.
The Tapestries by Dawn Felagund
Shortly after his death, Fëanor discovers in the halls of Mandos the tapestries his mother has woven about his life. Seen through Míriel's eyes, the tapestries look back at the time from the kinslaying at Alqualondë, to the Fëanorians' arrival in Middle-earth, to his untimely death at the hands of the Balrogs. Fëanor is faced with both the weight of his deeds, as seen through another's eyes, and his contributions to the Noldor.
