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] 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…
[Artwork] A private audience by skywardstruck
After wandering through the forests of Oromë, Maitimo and Makalaurë discover a quiet clearing, stopping to rest. With lyre in hand, the private audience begins— for this song, Makalaurë will only allow his brother to hear.
[Writing] A Thousand Winds that Blow by StarSpray
When uneasy dreams bring him back into Beleriand, Daeron finds a pair of twins who have lost their home, and an enemy who has lost himself. The Shadow's reach is growing ever longer, and if they are to survive, they must do it together.
[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] 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.
Current Challenge
Epic 80s
Create a fanwork using on of our righteous prompts based on popular culture from the 1980s. Read more ...
Random Challenge
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.
Scribbles and Drabbles 2026
Scribbles & Drabbles is a fic and art exchange with a minimum word count of 100 words.
Fanworks Tagged with General
The Fissure by Dawn Felagund
Maeglin witnesses a coming-of-age ceremony among the Dwarves of Belegost. Written for the Hungarian Tolkien Society's 2024 Mailing Competition.
"Tengwar" ficlets by chrissystriped
Fics written for the "Tengwar" challenge.
If Time Run True and Away by Anne Wolfe
In Tol Eressëa, Celebrían and Galadriel talk about Arwen. Written for the "It Comes in Threes" challenge, inspired by Maiden, Mother and Crone.
Stranded by Flora-lass
Maglor sits by the sea, and thinks about hair. A sequel to 'Strands'.
Atmospherics by Anérea, sallysavestheday
The three atmospheres of Arda celebrated in three drabbles and three photos...
Silent Lake by SonOfMandos
At the dawn of the Fourth Age, Maglor leaves Gondor. He hopes that his pilgrimage leads him to Cuiviénen.
Feanorian Week 2024 by StarSpray
Ficlets written for Feanorian Week
The Fall of Eregion by StarSpray
The dead have no mouths, and cannot scream. That does not stop Curufin from trying as he watches Vairë’s tapestries ravel before his eyes
A Burst of Sweetness by StarSpray
“Have you an interest in gardening, Carnistir?”
Doriath Aflame by StarSpray
Celegorm stalks through the halls of Menegroth.
Ash and Blood by StarSpray
Maedhros takes up his father's crown, and then gives it away
That Mighty Beech by StarSpray
"This mighty beech was named Hírilorn, and it had three trunks, equal in girth, smooth in rind, and exceeding tall; no branches grew from them for a great height above the ground." - The Silmarillion, "Of Beren and Lúthien"
On the Second Singing by Lferion
Various thoughts and question about the end of the world, and what part the Elves might play. A drabble poem.
Interpreting Memories by Anérea
Andreth contemplates the different interpretations of her people's lore, memories handed down by word of mouth through the generations.
Meet & Greet by cuarthol
Matryoshka inspired art for the Meet & Greet Challenge
A Special Find by Himring
Minor catastrophes cluster on the site of an archaeological dig and someone even gets hurt. But it could be worse, as an unexpected arrival changes the course of events. Then something happens in the middle of the night... And it turns out that our heroine can't tell anybody, at least not in (academic) print.
Now with bonus gapfiller from Maglor's point of view.
Come Together, Broken Things, and Grow by UnicornsInSpace
Idril and Meleth (my OC) welcome Finduilas, Niënor, and other refugees into Havens after the Fall of Doriath, hoping they can start anew there. Finduilas's daughter is distraught about the situation. Also, how did Finduilas and Niënor make it to the Havens after the Fall of Doriath?
White Water Flowing by StarSpray
In Valinor and homesick for Imladris, Celebrían decides to build a new one.
The Water Is Fine by Gwanath Dagnir
Elrond, newest addition to Gil-galad's court, pays an unexpected visit to Mithlond's luxurious spa house for the first time.
Paradigm by Chestnut_pod
In Tirion, science advances one departure across an ice bridge at a time.
Faramir's Verse by losselen
“Come, Faramir. Let us not stand in ceremony. I think words are due between you and I, and not only those between a King and his Steward.”
Faramir has speech with Gandalf and his King.
M&G drabbles collection by mairoff
Drabbles Content:
- Something never seen before: Arien
- A wrong interpretation: Tilion / Arien
- Being delayed: Eönwë
- Lost in memory: Nienna
- Reading a good book: Celeborn / Galadriel
- “Wait…that can’t be right…”: Melian
- Group - Follow: Eönwë
- Running - Distance - Breathless - Limits: Fingon
- Contempt: Varda
- A sentient object: the One Ring
- A fresh start: Maeglin
- Unusual weather: Cirdan
- A favourite place: Celebrian
- A minor catastrophe: Ossë
With Nothing to Show by StarSpray
Of all the pieces of Beleriand to survive, Maglor would not have expected one to be Himring. He spent many years on the coast of Middle-earth nearest to it, often gazing out at the dark shape of his brother’s ancient towers on the horizon. Finally, curiosity and something else he didn’t want to examine very closely had him purchasing a small boat from an old fisherman who was too old to go out on the water anymore. With not a little apprehension, hoping to escape Ossë’s notice, Maglor pushed the boat out into the waves, and made his way with the tide out to Himling.
