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
B2MeM 2011
Back to Middle-earth Month 2011 featured a daily postcard from a different location in Middle-earth with a creative prompt inspired by that location. 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 Sexual Content (Mild)
The Ninth Wave by downtide
Set in Valinor during Maitimo’s youth. He is a young adult, his cousin Findekáno is perhaps just past adolescence. Maitimo’s mother is expecting the birth of the twins Amrod and Amras
This story is inspired by a painting by the wonderfully talented Jenny Dolfen, and her accompanying quote; “I wondered about Maedhros referring to his friend Fingon as "the Valiant" after the flight of the Noldor. How could an Elf who had grown up in the bliss of Valinor earned such a name, in a time when danger, strife, enemies, war, even weapons were unknown? There was only one possible explanation: Fingon liked dangerous sports. So, obviously, he and Maedhros often went cliff-diving off the coast of Valinor, and Fingon constantly chose the more dangerous spots.”
I could not pass up an idea like this, (nor could I resist a hint of slashiness between two semi-naked cousins, hence the warning.)
Drabble: Amusement and awkwardness by ford_of_bruinen
short conversation between two lovers.
The Coimas War by Russandol
Several years after the War of Wrath the tension between Noldor and Teleri over the Exiles in Tol Eressëa provoked a most unexpected war in Valinor, of which later chronicles never spoke.
MEFA 2010 - Third Place in Genres: Humor: General
The Embalmer's Apprentice by Lyra
Faced with the choice between execution or working on the preservation of dead people, young Azruhâr finds himself drawn into an increasingly political struggle between faith and power, tradition and new ideas - and a journey beyond his wildest fears and dreams.
The Dance of Flute and Harp by Amaranth
Maglor and Tinfang Gelion (Warble). Two great minstrels, elves of like mind and skill; yet so very different. A conflict and the unique, captivating way those two masters of their art deal with it. Set sometime between 1700-1900 Second Age. Oh, and my Tinfang has no beard!
Looking at the Stars and Counting the Hours by Himring
Falling in love helps Fingon cope with the death of his father, but on a visit to Himring a year later he finds love can't cure everything. Except I couldn't quite leave it at that...
Variation(s) on familiar theme(s). Not only do I not own the characters, I own very little else...
Fingon/Maedhros. Not rated this for incest, as cousins don't usually rate for incest on this site.
Character death only as per canon and also off-stage. Some angst and flashbacks.
This story has been nominated for the MEFAs 2010 by Angelica. Thank you very much!
The Silmarillion Gospel by Araloth the Random
What happens when a group of clueless fangirls try to "translate" The Silmarillion into Biblical English? Utter chaos, of course!
Nominated for MEFA 2010, with many thanks to elfscribe!
He Dreams Of Love with Men by Pink Siamese
A reinterpretation: It is Beren who seduces Morgoth with the help of Luthien's magic while she cuts the Silmaril from the iron crown.
Iluvatar's Love by Cirdan
After casting himself into the fiery chasm, Maedhros meets Iluvatar, has a theological lecture, and learns of love and Arda Remade.
Bittersweet Dark Chocolate by Cirdan
Maedhros and Fingon see each other after missing each other for some time and make out. Bittersweet nature of elven love.
The Fire of Maedhros by Cirdan
Sauron is freed from Morgoth by Maedhros, but he falls back into evil after the death of Maedhros.
No Justice to Yourself by oshun
Erestor sails to Valinor and finds himself involved with someone he was infatuated with as a youth. Based upon the request by Darth Fingon, in the 2009 Ardor in August fic swap, for Finarfin/Erestor, set in the Fourth Age in Aman, including secrecy and moral doubt. Did not want a fluffy, happy romance and if Earwen is part of the story and/or finds out about the affair, she should not be soppily happy for them. Huge thank yous to: IgnobleBard, Lilithlessfair, and Aearwen, for reading and providing corrections and suggestions.
2010 Middle-earth Fanfiction Awards -- First Place in Races: Elves: Noldorin Elves
The Day the Numenoreans Left by Aiwen
Pharazôn and Amandil's diplomatic mission to Middle-earth may do more harm than good ...
Mourning Glory by minuiloss
The morning after Tarnin Austa at the end of the first age, Glorfindel awakens to find himself somewhere wholly unfamiliar. Glorfindel/Erestor, multi-chapter WIP
A Matter of Cultural Differences by Lissas Elves
A Most Proper Elf gains insight in some of the vices of mortals and learns a little about himself in the process.
Warnings are for graphic language.
MEFA 2009 - First place, Genres: Humor: Elven Legends
All Hang Together by Ithilwen
Fingon rides to Himring to hear a proposal from Maedhros. Warning: Adult sexual themes.
Of Leaves of Gold and Petals Red: A Faery Tale by Ithilwen
A Silmarillion-based adaptation of a classic Scottish folk ballad
If Death is Kind by Naltariel
Glorfindel during his stay in Mandos. First of the Morning Light series. Nominated for MEFA 2009.
Walking Down Narrow Streets by Marta
What if Tolkien's writings really were translations rather than original creations? Late one night, a certain professor wanders around Oxford, searching for answers.
Eau de Olórin by pandemonium_213
Olórin spies on the Doomsman of the Valar and the Master of Dreams, hoping to catch them in flagrante delicto. What he sees is terrifying yet oh, so compelling.
MEFA 2009: Honorable Mention - Humor: General
Update! Chibis by whitewave added! Please see her Gallery of Chibis on Photobucket. Many thanks, whitewave.
Golden Days by Lyra
Nerdanel recounts the development of her relationship with Fëanor - from their first proper meeting to married life. A fantasy of manners, pride, prejudice, love and craftsmanship.
Stones of Seeing 2. Tar Míriel by clotho123
Second in a trilogy telling the history of the palantiri. In the dying days of Númenor the stones come into the pkeeping of Elendil's line
Whispering Winds by tinni
Set after the battle of Unnumbered Tears, the life of Caranthir till his death during the sack of Doriath
Ulmo's Wife by pandemonium_213
It was written that Ulmo was alone, but delving deeper into the nature of the Valar and their adopted world reveals otherwise.
MEFA 2009: Third Place - Races: Other Beings: General
A Little Closer to the Edge, My Love … by Sulriel
The marring of Míriel Serindë by her lord Finwë - how he taught her not to fear, taught her to give all of herself rather than hold too tight...
