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
[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] 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] 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
X Marks the Spot
In this modified Matryoshka challenge, your prompts will come from the journey you take around a map. 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.
Scribbles and Drabbles 2026
Scribbles & Drabbles is a fic and art exchange with a minimum word count of 100 words.
Fanworks Tagged with Romance
The Bull and the Tides by heget
The story of the first companion of Finrod and Beren to die in the dungeons of Tol-in-Gaurhoth.
Home in the Highlands by heget
Drabbles and short stories about the House of Bëor and their elves. Mostly light-hearted addendums to Hold Fast Ere Night Comes and other stories set in Dorthonion before the Dagor Bragollach.
Aredhel and the Marring of Bliss by just_jenni
Aredhel, Celegorm and Curufin used to play together as youngsters and were great friends. This story concerns that friendship and Aredhel's desire to leave Gondolin and meet her cousins again after much time and many events have passed.
My Dear Finduilas by Luxa
I write you this letter in hopes that I have not forgotten the words to do so.
What Is Love? by just_jenni
Earwen has an idea to help Nerdanel recover from her grief over Feanor's demise.
The Bride's Jewel by Scribe of Mirrormere
The tale of enduring love, which began by the shores of Cuiviénen, that will set forth the events that impact all of Middle-earth for ages to come.
The Smell of Raindrops and Lightning by heget
A quiet moment between the King and Queen of Beleriand long before the rise of the Sun and Moon, the building of Menegroth, or the birth of Lúthien Tinúviel. Plus Science!
Save The World by Elwin Fortuna
Nimloth is on her way to visit Luthien. She's caught in a summer mist and hears a beautiful voice singing. Who will she meet?
Running Around The Sun by Calithiel
That moment when the smalest thingd from life leave a mark that will remain far longer than we imagined...
In His Absence by Elleth
After the Nirnaeth Arnoediad and its losses, two desperately lonely people find comfort with each other.
Guess Who's Coming to Dinner by oshun
It’s a Years of the Trees’ story of Finrod and Amarië as young lovers, long before the rebellion of the Noldor separates them.
Half Past Ten in the Rose Garden by grey_gazania
Caranthir discovers that this romance thing is a lot harder than it looks.
A Song for My Beloved by Cheeky
Erestor has a crush, Maglor has a harp and Fingon's singing is really, really bad. Just who is the song for? That's what we all want to know. The beginning of Maglor and Erestor's story.
Flowers in Amber by IgnobleBard
Elrond travels to Ost-in-Edhil to warn Celebrimbor to be wary of strangers bearing gifts.
Maedhros of Bergerac by Dilly
Maedhros tells Maglor his secret... Based off the work of Edmond Rostand. (translation by Scythe_Lyfe)
The Lord of Gifts by Dilly
Maedhros, Fingon... and gifts. Based on details from Tolkien's Unfinished Tales and Histories of Middle Earth. Translation by Scythe_Lyfe.
And Finally A Love Poem by Elwin Fortuna
In another dimension this is exactly what's happening: Fingon and Maedhros visit Nargathrond, and Finrod sees things he really doesn't want to.
Like a Shooting Star, Leaping Skywards by Keiliss
In the wake of the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, Galadriel has sent Amareth, a former friend, to guide Meril and her young son Gil-galad down the coast from Eglarest to Balar.
Face The Wind Alone by Elwin Fortuna
Finrod, Reborn, goes to visit Amarie, but isn't expecting the reaction he receives.
In Flame Of Swords by Elwin Fortuna
Ninnachel fights, dies, returns to life.
Still In The Closet by Elwin Fortuna
In the midst of last plans before battle, Fingon and Maedhros discuss the complexities of gender, avoid the complexities of politics, and embrace the complexities of their dreams for the future.
From The Wrack And Ruin by Elwin Fortuna
Fingon falls head over heels in love for the second time in his life.
my blood approves by Agelast
Fingon's lives and loves.
Bloody silmarils, book I by Dilly
In Gondolin, Turgon is depressed... A comedy and parody of the Silmarillion with a lot of characters and chapters. Chapter 20: Fear.
