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
Everyman
Create a fanwork about an ordinary character in the legendarium using a quote about an unnamed character as inspiration. 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 Slash/Femslash
SA 1856 (ii): Something Like Being a Consort by Ilye
Glorfindel, Gil-galad and a reflective moment on the beach. Irrepressibly fluffy, and slightly damp.
Ere the Nightingales cry by Rhapsody
After her husband is slain, Melian returns to Valinor and finds that even her home of old has been marred...
The Stricken Anvil by Adlanth
Maeglin's first year in Gondolin. Written for MSV 2014.
An Amethyst Remembrance by IgnobleBard
Edrahil is Finrod's Captain and lover but they must hide their relationship. What will happen when Galadriel comes to visit?
Lighter than Vanity by Agelast
From the birth of Annatar to the seduction of Celebrimbor.
Written for Red Lasbelin for My Slashy Valentine, 2014.
Go Upon Your Knee by Agelast
“Heaven-gates are not so highly arched / As princes' palaces; they that enter there /
Must go upon their knees.”
Porn Battle fill for the prompt - Curufin/Eöl, hate!sex, sordid.
Weathering by Elleth
Under siege from the Orcs, Haleth tries to hold on to hope for herself and her people - but she is neither alone, nor entirely without counsel. Written for Rhapsody for the 2014 edition of My Slashy Valentine.
Maedhros de Bergerac by Dilly
Maedhros avoue son secret à Maglor... en alexandrins ! Juste un détournement d'une scène de la pièce d'Edmond Rostand.
The Seduction by Erulisse
A commissioned statue of Indis turns into much more in Nerdanel's studio. A story written to try a genre I've never written before - in this case, femmeslash.
Oceanside by Fadesintothewest
The story of how Fingon comes to learn that Maedhros does indeed return his feelings, though he has to go through some angst to get there. Maglor is there to sing his way through stories as he always does, but as is for Maglor, his story is the one we are left waiting for.
Accidentals by Agelast
Maglor overhears something that he (perhaps) should not have.
(Written for the prompt - Fingon/Maedhros/Maglor/Maglor's Harp.)
Time's Arrow by Russandol
Two elves of the Greenwood, a troubled warrior and a prince, confront the shadows from their past in the less than perfect paradise of Valinor. There, a tradition that has been kept every four long-years since the ancient days of the Great Journey is about to take place once more.
Gold, Silver and Lead by Agelast
A young Indis meets Míriel Serindë for the first time.
Written for dear Elleth in Lord of the Rings Secret Santa Exchange 2013. She asked for either friendship or femslash for the requested characters, with an element of hurt/comfort and a hopeful ending.
Wreath in the Rapids by Elleth
After Niënor is gone from Doriath, Nellas cannot simply sit deedless. Written for Astris for the 2013 LotR SeSa challenge, for a request for a Nellas/Niënor fic. A sequel to Sweet Water and Gold.
Come Morning Light by Astris
Fingon pays a visit to Himring and the cousin he has not seen in several years--and finds Maedhros changed in more ways than one. (Fingon/Maedhros)
Written for Burning_Night at the lotr_sesa exchange.
SA 1856 (i): Something Like Being a King by Ilye
A contrast of constants and motion. Glorfindel reflects on his homes, his lives and his king - oh, and on sex in unusual places.
Un très gros chagrin by Dilly
Maedhros pleure une fois tous les 400 ans, et sa mère tente de le consoler... Maedhros/Fingon, Fingon/OC.
La ressemblance by Dilly
C'est jour de fête à Himring... (Ficlet, Beren/Luthien, Maedhros/Fingon) Version française + traduction en anglais.
Winterlights by Elleth
A series of femslash drabbles based around the daily prompts of the 2013 Femslash Yuletide project. Some ficlets for the 2014 run have been added.
Le seigneur des présents by Dilly
Maedhros, Fingon... Des cadeaux.
