Instadrabbling Sessions for April, May, and June
The first Saturday of each month, we will be hosting instadrabbling on our Discord server.
SWG News
Fanwork sign-ups are open!
Register for Mereth Aderthad!
Mereth Aderthad Interview: Interview with polutropos by Dawn
"And love grew after between them"—those words have fascinated a fandom intent on revealing the how and why of the "kidnap fam" plot point in "The Silmarillion." In this interview, polutropos discusses her upcoming Mereth Aderthad paper on the topic, “'Kidnap Fam' and the Living Legendarium."
Mereth Aderthad Interview: Interview with Maglor by Shadow
Who is Gil-galad? That might seem a silly question, but we know very little of his character beyond his kingship. In this interview, Shadow talks with Maglor about his upcoming Mereth Aderthad presentation "Gil-galad was an Elven King: Kingship and Personhood in the Last High King of the Noldor" that explores who Gil-galad might have been, beyond the last king of the Noldor.
Mereth Aderthad Registration Is Open!
Registration for attending Mereth Aderthad is open for both in-person and virtual attendees and will remain open through the day of the event.
New & Updated Fanworks
[Writing] High in the Clean Blue Air by StarSpray
They passed out of Lhûn and the wider coastline of Middle-earth opened up before his eyes. He had wandered those shores for centuries, and even now he felt the pull of that same wanderlust, and knew he would miss them for the rest of his life. Their wildness, the untamed waves, the rocky…
[Writing] That strength which in old days moved earth and heaven by Himring
Long after the Fall of Eregion, a survivor returns to face her memories.
[Reference] Interview with cloudyhymns by Shadow by cloudyhymns, daughterofshadows
Shadow spoke with cloudyhymns about his upcoming presentation for Mereth Aderthad 2025, "The Design of Dragons and the Doom of the Dwarves," where he shares his theory about how Dwarves and dragons are connected in the legendarium, a topic full of implications for fanworks.
[Audio] Twinkle, Twinkle, Silmaril - Podfic by daughterofshadows
A reworking of Twinkle, twinkle, little star, featuring Eärendil. Originally written by Anérea.
[Writing] The Longed For That Cometh Beyond Hope by Grundy
Eärendil has to find his way in this unfamiliar land. Luckily (or unluckily, depending on your point of view) for him, it's a time of festival in Valimar...
[Reference] Interview with polutropos by Dawn by polutropos, Dawn Felagund
Dawn spoke with polutropos about her upcoming presentation for Mereth Aderthad, “'Kidnap Fam' and the Living Legendarium," including the appeal of kidnap fam, the appeal of Maglor's character, and how The Silmarillion as an incomplete, complex word makes it ripe for both fanworks and…
Current Challenge
Birthday Bash
Daily word, image, and poetry prompts are loosely structured around events and milestones leading up to our 20th birthday. Read more ...
Random Challenge
Breaking Boundaries
Create a fanwork that shows a meeting between characters of two or more cultures. Read more ...
New in References
Interview with cloudyhymns by Shadow by cloudyhymns, daughterofshadows
Shadow spoke with cloudyhymns about his upcoming presentation for Mereth Aderthad 2025, "The Design of Dragons and the Doom of the Dwarves," where he shares his theory about how Dwarves and dragons are connected in the legendarium, a topic full of implications for fanworks.
Interview with polutropos by Dawn by polutropos, Dawn Felagund
Dawn spoke with polutropos about her upcoming presentation for Mereth Aderthad, “'Kidnap Fam' and the Living Legendarium," including the appeal of kidnap fam, the appeal of Maglor's character, and how The Silmarillion as an incomplete, complex word makes it ripe for both fanworks and scholarship.
Maglor by polutropos
As one of the most beloved Silmarillion characters, Maglor is a bundle of contradictions undergirded by a complex textual history. Warrior, musician, wanderer, and survivor, Maglor brings to the fore key themes in Tolkien's early legendarium, such as the role of music, oaths, and exile.
Featured Themed Collection
Part of our Themed Collection series for our newsletter, this collection features fiction, artwork, and essays that transcend the idea of Orcs as the enemy, instead considering their humanity.
Alliterative Verse for Arda by Rhunedhel
Part of our Themed Collection series for our newsletter, this collection features alliterative poems about Middle-earth.
Beyond the Silmarillion
[Writing] Paradox of the Fourth Age by Alassante
One wrong decision can make a world of difference. When one of the Fellowship makes the mistake, the consequences are so severe that only the Valar can repair it. But will they?
Glorfindel daughter's life is in Elrohir's hands and only she remembers th eir love for each other. The fate of…
[Writing] By Mirrormere by bunn
A new Age dawns, and Moria is retaken at last.
[Writing] Beneath the Bitter Rain by bunn
The Gardens of the Entwives are fallen, but two Entwives remain.
Around the World and Web
April Challenge at tolkienshortfanworks
The tolkienshortfanworks challenge for April has been posted to the Dreamwidth community. The thematic prompt is: wood. The formal challenge is: linnod (Gilraen's canonical verse form). These can be filled separately and freely combined with other challenges and prompts that allow this.
Celedriel Week 2025
Celedriel Week is a Tumblr events for fanworks about Galadriel and Celeborn.
Neurodivergent Arda Week 2025
Neurodivergent Arda Week is a Tumblr event to celebrate neurodiversity in Tolkien's works.
Tolkien Ekphrasis Week 2025
This is a Tolkien-fandom-wide event dedicated to the art of ekphrasis in Tolkien's worlds. Its goal is to illuminate the artistic surroundings of the places, people, and stories we love, in as many media as possible.
Teitho March/April Challenge: Mothers
The Teitho Contest theme for the months of March and April is mothers.
Beyond the Silmarillion
Our Beyond the Silmarillion section exists for our creators to archive their non-Silmarillion fanworks. Works in this section are based on Tolkien's other texts or adaptations of Tolkien's writings. Find out more about eligibility to post in this section here.
An Unexpected Couple by StarSpray
The news that Mister Bungo Baggins and Miss Belladonna Took were to marry caused quite an uproar all the way from the East Farthing to the West.
| Canon Source: Hobbit, Lord of the Rings |
| Major Characters: Belladonna Took Baggins, Bungo Baggins |
| Major Relationships: Belladonna Took Baggins/Bungo Baggins |
| Genres: Ficlet, Fluff, Het | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 279 |
| Posted on 12 July 2023 | Updated on 12 July 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (1) |
Over Seas of Starlight by Arveldis
But now, sailing into the Uttermost West, Frodo wondered again about Gandalf’s nature and origin. The wizard seemed both familiar and remote now, somehow. His eyes were as bright and shrewd as ever, and at turns Frodo glimpsed in them the kindly light that he had seen at times when Gandalf was still Gandalf the Grey. And at other times, Gandalf seemed to have become more of Gandalf the White than he ever had in Middle-earth, a very great lord even among the lords and Lady that sailed with them.
On the journey West, Frodo discovers Gandalf's true nature and learns of the country that will soon be his home.
| Canon Source: Lord of the Rings |
| Major Characters: Frodo, Gandalf |
| Major Relationships: Frodo Baggins & Gandalf |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 3, 721 |
| Posted on 4 July 2023 | Updated on 5 July 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Bear's Last Autumn by Himring
Beorn's last farewell to his son.
With a coda, showing the Beornings returning to the mountains.
| Canon Source: Hobbit, Lord of the Rings |
| Major Characters: Beorn |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Ficlet | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 619 |
| Posted on 21 June 2023 | Updated on 21 June 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Moon-letters by Himring
A tiny gap-filler from Elrond's POV.
Memories of Eregion.
| Canon Source: Hobbit, Lord of the Rings |
| Major Characters: Elrond |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 182 |
| Posted on 19 June 2023 | Updated on 19 June 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Finduilas to Imrahil, with the gift of a silver bell by Himring
A poem imagined as accompanying a gift for Mettarë (1 Yule) from Finduilas of Amroth to her brother Imrahil, at a time when she was already married to Denethor and homesick for Dol Amroth.
| Canon Source: Lord of the Rings |
| Major Characters: Finduilas of Dol Amroth |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Poetry | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 111 |
| Posted on 18 June 2023 | Updated on 18 June 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Battle Harp by Himring
An early encounter between Gleowine the minstrel and the battle harp--and also between Gleowine and his future king, Theoden, son of Thengel.
Written for the Art's Desire challenge at the LOTR community (February 2017).
Inspired by Rohan icons created by Oshun for the July 2012 Art Challenge: Miniature.
Oshun commented on the icons: "It is part of my own personal, perhaps AU, canon to imagine that the Rohan as an oral culture made use of harps, including battle harps."
The icons depicted riders and a harp.
| Canon Source: Lord of the Rings |
| Major Characters: Unnamed Female Canon Character(s), Rohirrim, Théoden |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 630 |
| Posted on 18 June 2023 | Updated on 18 June 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
A Morsel of Food or Two by Himring
Drabbles about food:
I: Caraway (featuring Frodo and Rosie)
II: Cheese-wright of Gondor (featuring a woman of Lossarnach)
| Canon Source: Lord of the Rings |
| Major Characters: Original Female Character(s), Frodo, Rosie Cotton |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 2 | Word Count: 206 |
| Posted on 18 June 2023 | Updated on 18 June 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Snowdrops by Himring
Valacar, prince of Gondor, is sent to Rhovanion to learn the ways of his father’s allies and falls in love with Vidumavi, the daughter of his host.
| Canon Source: Lord of the Rings |
| Major Characters: Men, Valacar, Vidumavi |
| Major Relationships: Valacar/Vidumavi |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 748 |
| Posted on 17 June 2023 | Updated on 17 June 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
I Who Am Water by Himring
Goldberry is the River-daughter.
| Canon Source: Adventures of Tom Bombadil, Lord of the Rings |
| Major Characters: Goldberry |
| Major Relationships: Goldberry/Tom Bombadil |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 111 |
| Posted on 17 June 2023 | Updated on 17 June 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Ever Northward Gaze by StarSpray
The lands of the north and the south are coming together again in friendship and alliance, and a celebration is planned, to take place on the lawn of Parth Galen. Gimli makes something particularly special for the occasion.
| Canon Source: Lord of the Rings |
| Major Characters: Boromir (Fellowship), Faramir, Fellowship, Gimli |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 864 |
| Posted on 17 June 2023 | Updated on 17 June 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (1) |
Two Rohirrim by Himring
Riddles about two female characters from Rohan, and three drabbles each about these two female characters .
| Canon Source: Lord of the Rings |
| Major Characters: Unnamed Female Canon Character(s), Rohirrim |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet, Poetry | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 3 | Word Count: 766 |
| Posted on 9 June 2023 | Updated on 9 June 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Beorn's Wife by Himring
Beorn and his son Grimbeorn the Old are canonical, so Grimbeorn's mother must be, too.
But what was she like?
| Canon Source: Hobbit, Lord of the Rings |
| Major Characters: Unnamed Female Canon Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 102 |
| Posted on 8 June 2023 | Updated on 8 June 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Boromir Drabbles by Himring
Two drabbles on the mourning in Gondor for Boromir's death.
| Canon Source: Lord of the Rings |
| Major Characters: Boromir (Fellowship) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 2 | Word Count: 202 |
| Posted on 6 June 2023 | Updated on 6 June 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Gilraen leaves for Rivendell by Himring
What the title says.
Poem in response to Rhapsody's excellent stories about Gilraen.
| Canon Source: Lord of the Rings |
| Major Characters: Gilraen |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Poetry | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 122 |
| Posted on 4 June 2023 | Updated on 4 June 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
[podfic] A Vulpine Gentleman With Business of His Own by Chestnut_pod
A brief interlude in the life of a fox with a job to do.
| Canon Source: Lord of the Rings |
| Major Characters: Unnamed Canon Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Podfic | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on 4 June 2023 | Updated on 4 June 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (2) |
in memories cast into melodies by kimaracretak
Time is old in the forest, and weary, but it is not yet winter when Goldberry sees her first. She has braved the Withywindle even this late in the year, barefoot in the water, and her feet are tinged with blue nearly to match the brooch that rests at her throat.
Or; Goldberry meets the woman who wore the blue-jewelled brooch from the Barrow-Downs. Four Second Age autumns lived, and one yet to come.
| Canon Source: Lord of the Rings |
| Major Characters: Unnamed Female Canon Character(s), Goldberry |
| Major Relationships: Goldberry/Unnamed Canon Character |
| Genres: Femslash, Horror | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 003 |
| Posted on 31 May 2023 | Updated on 3 June 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
An End, a New Beginning by chrissystriped
As the One is destroyed, Sauron defeated, an orc woman wonders what to do now.
| Canon Source: Lord of the Rings |
| Major Characters: Original Female Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Mature Themes |
| Chapters: 3 | Word Count: 1, 409 |
| Posted on 28 July 2021 | Updated on 2 June 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
The Iron Lady by Chiara Cadrich
The story of a girl who wanted a ring on her finger.
| Canon Source: Unfinished Tales |
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Adventure, Drama | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Violence (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 3, 007 |
| Posted on 26 May 2023 | Updated on 26 May 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
[podfic] Of Perfect Make by Chestnut_pod, StarSpray
A letter comes to the Lonely Mountain from Bag End, requesting a large number of birthday gifts for Bilbo's upcoming eleventy-first birthday. The Mountain gets to work immediately.
| Canon Source: Hobbit, Lord of the Rings |
| Major Characters: Glóin |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Podfic | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on 25 May 2023 | Updated on 25 May 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (1) |
[podfic] Bookkeeper by Chestnut_pod, StarSpray
Elanor sits down to make a copy of the Red Book.
| Canon Source: Lord of the Rings |
| Major Characters: Elanor Gardner |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Podfic | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on 21 May 2023 | Updated on 21 May 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (0) |
The Isle of the Golden King by Chiara Cadrich
The specter of Numenor reappears from under the waves, for the time of a tale...
| Canon Source: Unfinished Tales |
| Major Characters: Ar-Pharazôn, Tar-Míriel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Mystery | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 3, 112 |
| Posted on 19 May 2023 | Updated on 19 May 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
[podfic] With What a Glory by Chestnut_pod, StarSpray
Goldberry has a song for each season.
| Canon Source: Lord of the Rings |
| Major Characters: Goldberry |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Podfic | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on 19 May 2023 | Updated on 19 May 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (0) |
[podfic] As Though At Sea by Chestnut_pod
Lothíriel finds many things in Rohan unsettling, but none so much as her future sister-in-law.
| Canon Source: Lord of the Rings |
| Major Characters: Éowyn, Lothíriel |
| Major Relationships: Éowyn/Lothíriel |
| Genres: Podfic | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on 17 May 2023 | Updated on 17 May 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (0) |
Wonder of the Neighborhood by StarSpray
"The little silver nut [Sam] planted in the Party Field where the tree had once been; and he wondered what would come of it...
"Spring surpassed his wildest hopes...In the Party Field a beautiful young sapling leaped up: it had silver bark and long leaves and burst into golden flowers in April. it was indeed a mallorn, and it was the wonder of the neighborhood. in after years, as it grew in grace and beauty, it was known far and wide and people would come long journeys to see it: the only mallorn west of the Mountains and east of the Sea, and one of the finest in the world."
- The Return of the King, "The Grey Havens"
| Canon Source: Lord of the Rings |
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Artwork Type: Fiber/Textile Art |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on 17 May 2023 | Updated on 17 May 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (2) |
[podfic] Standing Together by Chestnut_pod
Nori's not really a protest sort of person. Dwalin, apparently, is.
| Canon Source: Hobbit |
| Major Characters: Dwalin, Nori |
| Major Relationships: Dwalin/Nori |
| Genres: Podfic | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on 15 May 2023 | Updated on 15 May 2023 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (0) |
