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] Is it raining with you? by AdmirableMonster
In the last days of Númenor, two very different men meet in Umbar and fall in love.
(Please note that while this work is heavily inspired by Disco Elysium, no knowledge of the game is necessary to read the fic!)
[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…
[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] Wrensong and Roses by Isilme_among_the_stars
Concerned by his responses to the paraphernalia of healing, Fingon steals Maedhros from his room for an impromptu garden excursion. Maedhros battles with dark thoughts.
[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] Bon(e)fire by Fuin
On the night before the battle, Caranthir and his ally share thoughts about their peoples' traditions:
Burning bones ward off evil.
Current Challenge
Epic 80s
Create a fanwork using on of our righteous prompts based on popular culture from the 1980s. Read more ...
Random Challenge
Dip the Ladle
Tolkien had many tales, places, and artists who inspired his work. For this challenge, prompts invite creating a fanwork using one of Tolkien's influences. 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
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.
Tolkien Native Language Appreciation Fest 2026
A Tumblr event to celebrate the linguistic diversity of the Tolkien fandom.
Scribbles and Drabbles 2026
Scribbles & Drabbles is a fic and art exchange with a minimum word count of 100 words.
Fanworks Tagged with Drama
Sons Of Justice by Gwenniel
The Sons of Feanor do only what they themselves deem right. They swore an Oath. A promise no one should make. For that they were forced into exile, for that they were both hated and feared.
A take on events in the lives of the sons of Fëanor, wordcounts vary from 5,000 to 20,000 and each told from a different son\'s perspective. Focuses on subjects such as loyalty, friendship and justice.
Completed POVs: Curufin, Caranthir, Maedhros, Amras.
Listed in order of Beleriand history, not writing-order.
Bloody Silmarils - Series by Dilly
In Gondolin, Turgon is depressed...
Bard Rising by Rhapsody
In this series you will find all stories - be it short works and novel(la's) - connected to my Maglor novel series Bard Rising (work title, I probably will come up with something better).
In the Glow of the Mountain by Hoglorfen
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\"Mordorian romantic drama at its finest.\" ~ Times of Khand
\"Tragic yet titillating.\" ~ Númenor News Network
\"That shit\'s nasty!\" ~ PlayDwarf
\"Who the fuck nicked my lube?!\" ~Lurtz
\"*noisy retching*\" ~ RivendailyThis is a not-so-classic tale of \"Orc boy meets Elf girl\", which proves once and for all that having the Dark Lord as your third bed-partner is NOT a good idea. One does not simply walk into Mordor... or anywhere near it. This is a very dark tale, as tales set under the Eye are wont to be. For Darkness taints all it touches, but without it the little glimmers of Light would not be as powerful.
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This series started out as smut and I never intended to write any more than the first part. But then I got hit by an irresistible load of \"WHAT HAPPENS NEXT?!\" and kept writing. Let\'s see where this takes us! PS. It\'s still smut, but now it\'s smut with a story. I hope. DS.
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Series: Balar fics by Keiliss
Mainly about Gil-galad :)
Burning Bright by Keiliss
About the war between Sauron and the elves, the hiding of the rings of power, and the appeal to Númenor for aid. And wherever else it decides to to go next.
The Maedhros Saga by Ithilwen
A series of connected stories chronicling the life of Maedhros, eldest son of Feanor.
Antonyms by Harnatano - Lithenna
This series is dedicated to the short things I\'ll write and which can be in relation to Anathema, although there are necessary to understand the main narrative, nor do they need the main narrative to be understood.
Series: Beyond Doubt by Keiliss
Everything that belongs in the Even Quicker than Doubt \'verse.
Loyalty by grey_gazania
Who were Ulfang's people, and why did they betray the Elves?
The Maeglin Stories by Ithilwen
A set of three tales covering the life of that darkest of Elves, Maeglin
Violently Feminist Interpretations of Tolkien\'s Women by feanorusrex
Hey Tolkien can I get uhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhh, some more feminist themes??
Sleeping Amber through Darkened Doorways by Urloth
The AU I am writing, primarily surrounding Celegorm and Finrod/ Tyelkormo and Findarato, starting with a tentative truce between the pair and carryig on past their deaths into the life of Gildor Inglorion, the bastard son in body of Finrod and in spirit of Celegorm.
This is otherwise known to me and my friends as that AU where I am completely awful to Celegorm.
Main verse: Quenta Quendi by Scribe of Mirrormere
Main verse for my fanfiction, especially the tales told from the POV of the elves. Stretches from the days of Cuiviénen to (one day) the Dagor Dagorath.
Artíreverse by WendWriter
Artíre the Watcher is an observer who likes drama for its own sake. He hates the thought of taking sides - he\'s more of a double agent. When Sauron inveigles him into a scheme against the Valar with the promise of a spectacle to enjoy, Artíre is forced to side with Melkor to satisfy his love of conflict. This kicks off a cycle of feuding that never really gets resolved and changes Artíre forever. Later on, he becomes the Watcher in the Water at Moria.
Alternative Perspective Character Studies by elvntari
Self-explanatory. And exploration of characters through telling the story through their eyes.
Baubles, trinkets and short scribbles by Rhapsody
Celegorm and the world around him: How did he interact with it? What did he learn and what would he regret? This ficlet series will offer short vignettes that explores the world according to Celegorm.
This is a collection of (unedited) ficlets, written for Back To Middle-earth Month 2011. They have nice stamps and passports, I caved. Did I mention unedited?
Tales of the Hidden City by Kenaz
Stories of Gondolin. This series began as a response to the Fanfic100 challenge on Livejournal, but 100 stories remains quite an ambitious number! These are very short stories-- ficlets, if you will-- about Gondolin and its denizens. Content runs the gamut from All Ages-rated genfic to explicit slash. Content warnings will be provided for each story.
The Rise and Fall of Beleriand by Encaitariel
Also known as: Encaitariel’s Guide to Nargothrond and Its Denizens
This is a collection of the bits that I have collected (and continue to collect) about my Nargothrond and those Elves who inhabit her: some are character sketches, some (unposted) responses to challenge prompts I have seen here or there, and some are just bits of scene to flesh out relationships. Some will never been seen outside of these chapters, but others may eventually find a place and context within a larger work.
As always, I thank you ahead of time for taking the time and attention to read.
~ Encaitariel ~
Angwëverse by WendWriter
Angwë the Builder is the brother of Sauron, and was a servant of Aulë until his love for his mountain, Celebdil, consumed him to the point where he was willing to do anything to regain control of it. He joined forces with Melkor (Morgoth) and became a Balrog, with the promise of having his mountain restored to him.
Angwë's diligence and lateral thinking make him an ideal servant. He can turn his hands to anything - to the despair of Morgoth's enemies - but with his heart set on driving the Dwarves out of the Dwarrowdelf and keeping Celebdil to himself, he's hard to manage, sometimes.
My Melkor speaks an archaic form of English to make himself seem remote and godlike. The rest of the characters use a more modern form because I find it easier to express myself thus.
Angwë's story is a tragedy - as the Balrog of Moria, he's doomed from the start, but it's his dream of getting his mountain back that draws people to him and makes them root for him. This fanon collides with that of Artíre the Watcher, who loves to observe drama and conflict, and they share the same fate when the Fellowship comes to Moria in the end. But until then, I have millennia to have fun with them!
A Bridge in the City of Rivers by grey_gazania
Stories about Ianneth of Mithrim, daughter of Annael and wife of Fingon.
Tales of the Years of the Sun by Fadesintothewest
A series of stories exploring the exploits of the House of Fingolfin during the first years of the Years of the Sun.
The Fall of the House of Fëanor by Dawn Felagund
This series encompasses my stories about the House of Fëanor from their early days in Aman until their demise. All of the stories are set in the same \"verse,\" use the same original characters and conventions, and are intended to be read together. They are kept in the order in which they are best read, so starting at the top and working down will keep you pretty much in sequence. Story content and ratings vary, so please check each story before reading. Other authors who have played with the same ideas as used in my stories are welcome to add to the series. Please email or PM me if you\'d like me to add your story.
