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] 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] 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] 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] 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
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 General
Maeglin. by hennethgalad
Maeglin is delighted with Gondolin.
Of Elwing's obsession, of Celegorm's hair by liruinielfeanoriel
A retelling of Elwing’s short-lived tragedy, from childhood to the Kinslaying of Sirion, of her obsession with the Silmaril and the strand of Celegorm’s hair that changed the course of Arda’s History.
Elostirion by hennethgalad
Gildor Inglorion invites Merry and Pippin to ride to Elostirion with him, in the second year of the fourth age.
no other star by arriviste
“You would be dead to a man if I had not come,” said Caranthir. “To a woman!”
Haleth meets three Elven-Kings as the Haladin search for a homeland in Beleriand, and deals with mourning, survival, and culture clash.
the dawn from on high by arriviste
“I have an errand to attend to, but I will join your party at the Havens in good time,” said Gandalf before the great convoy set out from Imladris.
Elrond gave him a sideways look. “Indeed? I had thought your business in Middle-Earth was at last at an end, Mithrandir.”
Legacy. by hennethgalad
It is year 15 of the fourth age. King Elessar, having forbidden Men to enter The Shire, is camped beyond the Brandywine Bridge to greet his friends.
'his eyes unclosed' by hennethgalad
in the year of Sauron’s return to Middle-earth, Gil-galad replies to a letter from Celebrian.
The River. by hennethgalad
Gwindor comes to Tol Sirion to propose to Finduilas.
Time and Tide by Keiliss
Early in the second age, Celeborn and Galadriel take a walk on the beach and talk about the future.
Seahorses. by hennethgalad
Finarfin first meets Eärwen in Alqualondë.
A Part of the Sky. by hennethgalad
Finrod and Turgon go exploring.
Flight of Fancy. by hennethgalad
Aredhel welcomes Galadriel to Tirion.
Summer Storm by oshun
Written for the 2019 Pride challenge,
My prompt: “The people I respect most behave as if they were immortal and as if society was eternal.” ~ E.M. Forster
Not gonna explain how this ficlet fits the prompt. But it does. You have to trust me.
We meet again by chrissystriped
After the War of Wrath, Sinthoras hears that his daughter came to Aman and visits her in Tirion. There's someone in her house, he didn't expect.
To Whom It May Concern by Anne Wolfe
This law-abiding Oklahoman isn't sure whether she's the best kind of person to find a Silmaril or the worst, but she does know one thing: she doesn't want to die. Featuring Mt. St. Helens and Tupperware.
And Fair She Was And Free by herenortherenearnorfar
“You are the forest, Nimrodel. The light that filters through the leaves, the starlight in the pools, the flowers. I look at you and I see the earth, black and red and white. I see the flowers, elanor and niphredil. The strength of stone and the transparent delicacy of the spring tadpoles. I did not think much of being a prince of this place before you taught me how to love it.”
Fragments by SkyEventide
Short stories mostly in drabble form written for the Solstice Instadrabbling Challenge 2019 on the discord server.
Simple Pleasures, And All That by Fernstrike
A collection of ficlets written for the 2019 Solstice instradrabbling challenge on Discord.
Leitmotiv. by hennethgalad
enter the dragon (helm of Dor-lómin).
Fingon returns to Barad Eithel with a wild wood elf. Gildis meets him.
Ashes by Anne Wolfe
A box of ashes, and its journey back to the beginning. Featuring ithildin, Smaug, and a surprising number of dwarves.
that which is given by Fernstrike
Tyelperinquar knew Annatar was keeping something from him.
In which goodbyes are said, gifts are given, and promises are made.
Encounters by Independence1776
Maglor encounters two people… and a pack of puppies.
Destined to be together by Himring
In the Third Age, in a small coastal town of Gondor, a young girl has an encounter at a critical time for her.
A wandering Maglor story featuring an animal rescue.
The Heart of the Fire by Gabriel
Family get-together's can be trying at the best of times. When Moryo goes missing, Tyelko is sent to find him and stumbles on a cousin he has not met.
The Cloak by Himring
Young Elrond, Maedhros and a lot of rain.
For Oshun, who likes Elrond and Maedhros, in honour of her 100th character bio for the SWG Newsletter. I hope you like it, Oshun!
