New Challenge: Title Track
Tolkien's titles range from epic to lyrical to metaphorical. This month's challenge selected 125 of them as prompts for fanworks.
SWG News
Our Annual Amnesty Challenge: New Year's Resolution
Start 2026 off with creativity! If you missed a challenge or didn't get to finish or post a challenge fanwork, complete any 2025 challenge before 15 February to receive the stamp.
"The Fëanorian Zine" Available to Read and Download
We are pleased to be able to offer "The Fëanorian Zine" to read and download on the SWG for free.
Call for Artists for the 2026 Challenge Stamps
We are soliciting help from artists who want to help create the stamps we award to challenge participants.
New & Updated Fanworks
[Writing] In Early Spring by Serinquanion
In what Maedhros was re-embodied early and was sent back to Middle Earth on his volition with Glorfindel.
This isn't about what happened right then but years after Fall of Sauron when he still refused to return to Valinor.
He found a strange sapling at the shore of what remains of…
[Writing] Umnenyalië by Serinquanion
He was going to die. The molten rocks would burn him just like the cursed gem in his palm did. Maybe less painfully but still being burnt hurt and Maedhros knew it. He intimately knew it from his time in Angband where Þauron burnt him often in frustration and to toy with him and his master…
[Writing] Winter Warmth by Serinquanion
A winter night in Himring. But inside the quarters where fire blazed in hearth was warmer, and not only from the fire or quilt.
[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] Who Will Hear Me? by XirinOfArvada
A lonely elf finds a flute half buried beneath the sand and wonders if its owner will hear him when he calls.
[Writing] Loyal, Faithful by Himring
Late in the Second Age, one of the Faithful reflects critically on past developments. (Free verse.)
[Writing] East Away! by Flora-lass
Aldarion storms off towards Middle-earth. For the Title Track challenge.
Current Challenge
Title Track
Create a fanwork using our collection of 125 titles from Tolkien's books, chapters, essays, poems, and fragments as inspiration. Read more ...
Random Challenge
Jubilee
This January, for our annual amnesty challenge, any challenge from January 2017 onward is fair game! Read more ...
New in References
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.
Twilight, Child Of: Comparisons Between Tinúviel, Lómion, and Undómiel by JazTheBard
This presentation for Mereth Aderthad 2025 discusses the many similarities between Tolkien's three "twilight children," Tinúviel, Lómion, and Undómiel (Luthien, Maeglin, and Arwen) in terms of appearance, plot, and cultural background. Yet these three characters play very different roles in the text.
The Aromantic in Tolkien by daughterofshadows
Presented at Mereth Aderthad 2025, this paper makes the case thata, although the term "aromantic" had not yet been coined in Tolkien's day, many of his characters can be read as aromantic. The paper takes a closer look at Aredhel, Bilbo, and Boromir as three examples of characters who can be read as aromantic.
Featured Themed Collection
Beyond the Silmarillion
[Writing] here you will dwell, bound to your grief by Elrond's Library
Arwen grieves, and loves.
[Writing] 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.
[Writing] In a Hole in the Ground... by StarSpray
“There’s a goblin hiding in the taters, Dad!” Pippin hefted the pan, which was much too big for him to carry, let alone wield.
Around the World and Web
March Challenge - Tolkien Short Fanworks
Tolkien Short Fanworks is running a challenge for the month of March to create a Back to Middle-earth Month themed challenge.
Tolkien Fashion Week 2026
This two-week-long Tumblr event is dedicated to honoring the world of fashion and textiles Tolkien wrote about in his books.
Celegorm and Curufin Week 2026
Celegorm and Curufin Week is a Tumblr week celebrating the relationship between Celegorm and Curufin Feanorion
Back to Middle-earth Month 2026
Back to Middle-earth Month is returning for it's 20th year with many prompts and archival efforts.
Fanworks Tagged with General
Who Shall Release Us? by polutropos
A re-embodied Maedhros slowly remembers. As he does, he must come to terms with an absence and accept that there are some things he will never know.
For Morning Came by StarSpray
The Gates of Minas Tirith are broken, but the wind is changing.
Cold Falls the Night by StarSpray
Gilraen reaches the end of her life.
Hearken Still Unsated by polutropos
When the Noldor return to Middle-earth to make war on Morgoth, only rumours reach Menegroth of their reasons for coming, but Doriath's minstrel experiences their loss and longing through his connection to Music and the gift of his Queen. Years later, he is sent to the Feast of Reuniting and meets the Elf whose grief he felt.
A story about the Eldar returning home, their connection to the land and to each other, and their relationship to Music and fate, love and free will.
Uruk by chrissystriped
Adar thinks about his conversation with Galadriel and what is coming.
Aching Wings by Narya
Of Yavanna, Melian, birdsong, and birds.
Written for TRSB22, for Grundy's wonderful moodboard.
Carved in Bone by Maggie Honeybite
Elenwë tries to protect her daughter. A story about the connection between mothers and daughters which neither time nor distance (or death) can erase.
Gil-galad, son of... by chrissystriped
Kashnai died when she tried to bring her son to safety. Now she is reborn and her greatest wish is to see him again.
Ereinion has wished for all his life to be able to meet his mother, but given that she was an orc, he hadn't thought it would ever be possible.
Through the Snowy Wood by StarSpray
Thranduil, Oropher, and Elwing have escaped Menegroth and must make their way through the forests of Doriath.
Her Gift to the Secondborn by Ellynn
In the ancient time before the Children of Iluvatar and all other beings of Arda woke up, Yavanna thinks about men and their vulnerability, and uses her power to help them – even if only in an indirect way.
What Your Life Is by StarSpray
"Surely not." At the sound of his voice the great shaggy shape stirred, and turned its head. Behind him Asar called out, asking a question, but Maglor barely heard him. He fell to his knees in the wet sand, staring into eyes that gleamed with ancient Treelight and even older starlight. Then his face was being licked clean of tears by a giant tongue, and he was both laughing and crying as he flung his arms around the dog's shoulders, burying his face in wet fur, hardly caring that it was still crusted with sand that scraped against his cheeks. "Huan, what are you doing here?"
Left On the Hither Side of Death by kimikocha
In the wake of Elessar's passing, Arwen encounters a child in the fading woods of Lórien who is much older than she seems.
[Written for TRSB 2022, Art #9: Seeking a Favor]
It Should Be Made Again by StarSpray
“Narsil!” Malbeth coughed again. “It will be reforged—when Isildur’s Bane is found."
After the Fall by Lferion
The aftermath of the Fall of Numenor, from two different shores and three perspectives. Three drabbles.
Guards! Guards! by JazTheBard
Maglor is once again skulking around Rivendell to hear news of Elrond, but this time the guards catch him and drag him to see his... estranged son? former hostage? Angst ensues.
Story-Telling Wanderer by JazTheBard
Aragorn doesn't meet the hobbits in Bree. Maglor, however, does.
“I can see in the acorn the oak tree. I see the growth, the rebuilding, the restoring.” - Maya Angelou by MirienSilowende
The Entwives are forced to flee when Sauron wipes out their homes but at the end of a long journey, they find a place that suits them very well.
At the Edge of the Water by Independence1776
Nienna, Maglor, and a lighthouse on Tol Eressëa.
Written for Lferion as a treat in TRSB 2022.
With What a Glory by StarSpray
Goldberry has a song for each season.
Whatever I Shall Meet by StarSpray
Hildifons Took has gone off adventuring, but hasn't returned. So Belladonna and Donnamira decide to go searching.
Out of the Shadows of History by StarSpray
When Estel was nine years old, Erestor gave him a large box filled with wooden blocks of various shapes and sizes.
Worthy of the Valar by Ellynn
Modern-day Maglor discovers one new drink invented by humans. He is doubtful at first, but after he tries it, the result will shock him.
Freedom is Mine by chrissystriped
Tarilanya, freed from Angband and back home in Valinor, enjoys her life.
To Grow a Forest by chrissystriped
A fire has destroyed part of a forest, but the elves are there to help it regrow
An Ode to the King by SonOfMandos
Airheaded, stubborn, determined, a tad disorganised with his thoughts, Meludir is reminiscent of the past. In this diary he treats like a memoir, he writes an account of how he, a simple Silvan from the southern land of Rhovânion, came to be a royal guard, guided by undying devotion... and great optimism.
Meludir/Thranduil
