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 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] 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] 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] 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] 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
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
Funky 70s
Choose a prompt from books, movies, quotes, headlines, style, and more from the 1970s. Read more ...
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
Love, You Didn't Do Right By Me by ArizonaPoppy
"In the days of the peace before Melkor broke the Siege of Angband, Finrod would often visit Andreth, whom he loved in great friendship." -- Athrabeth Finrod Ah Andreth
A slice of life chance (?) meeting of Finrod and Andreth on the dance floor of a nightclub in a WW2 AU. Written for the Swinging 40's stamp challenge on the song prompt of "Why Don't You Do Right?"
Under the Light of the Stars by janeways
A soldier in Elendil's army and the last High King of the Elves strike up an unusual friendship under the light of the stars.
Shadow's Scribbles 2025 by daughterofshadows
Four art pieces for Scribbles & Drabbles 2025.
The Sun Shone Upon Her by Isilme_among_the_stars
An embroidery piece inspired by Éowyn's journey in the Return of the King, when a time of joy comes after a long winter of despair. The words are quote from the book. The sun motif is taken from the design of Éomer's armour from Peter Jackson's The Two Towers. The flower design is my own.
Beyond Hope by Isilme_among_the_stars
"Thus, at last, they came beyond hope under the sky and felt the wind on their faces."
A portrait of Frodo as he appears after emerging from the Mines of Moria.
Shores Of Memory by LadySternchen
This was originally written for a Teitho-contest some time ago, and now it’s time for this to go on the SWG as well. (Currently in the process of transferring my works from AO3 to SWG)
Some time after Beren and Lúthien return to life and leave Doriath for good, Elmo manages to convince his brother to accompany him to a little lake that had, in the starlit years, been *their* place.
The Project by elennalore
Celebrimbor can't abandon the project on the Three.
Varda - Queen Of Stars by Gabriel
A Tolkien of colour sketch if Varda.
Crossed Paths by Flora-lass
Tuor and Voronwë encounter Túrin at Ivrin. Hurt and not much comfort (but they try).
The Beautiful Game by Kaylee Arafinwiel
An association football (soccer) pitch with some Rings of Power on it. On it is written in black and white script, my pitch (ha) to the artists: What if football (soccer) was invented in Beleriand/Middle-earth? Who would be most likely to invent it? To perfect it? Who would be most competitive about it? What if the Dark Lords and Elven Ringbearers--or any Ringbearers--got in on it?
Write something showing how the Beautiful Game might have evolved in Tolkien's world, and who would play it. Might there be leagues? Imagine, the World Cup of Beleriand...Anyway, this is something I've always wanted to write but never been able to. I hope someone can!
Before and After by Kaylee Arafinwiel
The green plain of Ard-galen was laid waste and became the desolation of Anfauglith, its only green land being the Hill of the Slain. Or...maybe this is Mordor, before it was laid waste and as it's recovering? Or both? Something similar? Up to you.
Rhosgobel & The Carrock by Kaylee Arafinwiel
A view of The Carrock, Rhosgobel, the Anduin, and the eaves of Mirkwood from Beorn's bee-pastures. Who's looking? Who might they be looking for? Is the lone bee they've encountered a threat or a friend? Do they just want honey? Let's find out!
Attercop, Old Tomnoddy by Kaylee Arafinwiel
This is based on the time Bilbo meets the giant spiders in Mirkwood, calling them "Attercop" and other such things. It could be a different group of giant spiders, though. Also, one is blind. How did it get that way? Hopefully an author will find out for me.
Volcano by Kaylee Arafinwiel
A view of a volcano somewhere on Arda (or off it, I guess, if we want to take this to some other planet the Valar have visited, lol, who knows).
Peanut Butter Jellyfish Mine? by Kaylee Arafinwiel
A craban and jellyfish somewhere on Arda. The hatchling craban mistakes the jellyfish for an 'octofish (octopus) fren'. Inspired by octopus_fool, though anyone can fill this
Star Fish? by Kaylee Arafinwiel
Black background, white stars (linked by a thin line) - the constellation Pisces, The Fish.
It's All Perspective by Kaylee Arafinwiel
It looks like a doodle or a sketch, or maybe it's a coded message? Who knows, just enjoy. Someone is drawing/encoding something, let it be whoever, whenever, and whyever you want. Could be Silmarillion, or beyond.
Melian’s Lament by LadySternchen
I’ve written this lament for the Hungarian Tolkien Society’s 2024/25 Annual Mailing Competition. Requirements were as folllows:
- a lament (or song, but I chose the lament) not more than 20 lines long
- it had to deal with an event mentioned in canon, but with nothing written about it
So I’ve written Melian’s lament I imagine she sings after her return to Lórien
August Instadrabbling by elennalore
Two drabbles about re-embodied Elves in Valinor. Chapter 1: Maeglin. Chapter 2: Celebrimbor.
Only Get Through by Zdenka
Two elderly hobbit-ladies find ways to get through the time of Saruman's rule over the Shire.
That Forlorn Lover by Elrond's Library
Fingon's rescue of Maedhros in An Attempt at poetry
For the July 2025 Challenge Swinging 40s
a thief in the night by averytinylizard
Fingon steals Maedhros away a hundred times during the long peace.
Double drabble
their fathers' sons by averytinylizard
Findekáno, son of Fëanáro, and Maitimo, son of Nolofinwë, have always been close. A pity, then, that their fathers' relationship trickles down to them.
A role reversal fic
A reputation for rakishness by averytinylizard
It is an unfortunate fact that Findekáno has a reputation for making girls think he is courting them. Maitimo, as his friend, knows that this is simply a miscommunication, a disconnect between Findekáno's easy affection and the norms of Tirion. Knowing all this does not help him at all.
Walked the Long Way by Himring
Maglor sings the blues.
