New Challenge: Potluck Bingo
Sit down to a delicious selection of prompts served on bingo boards, created by the SWG community.
SWG News
Bingo Cards Wanted for Potluck Bingo
Our November-December challenge will be Potluck Bingo, featuring cards created by you! If you'd like to create cards or prompts for cards, we are taking submissions.
Tolkien Meta Week, December 8-14
We will be hosting a Tolkien Meta Week in December, here on the archive and on our Tumblr, for nonfiction fanworks about Tolkien.
New Challenge: Orctober
Orcs on a quest for freedom seek a place sheltered and safe from the Dark Lord. Fulfill prompts to gather the clues needed to bring them to freedom.
New & Updated Fanworks
[Writing] The Reckless Hearts of Mortal Men by mouse
Two years before the Nirnaeth Arnoediad, Húrin and Huor journey from Dor-lómin to Eithel Sirion for a war council with their new allies from the East. A story about the stirring of hope and foreshadowing of woe. Well-peppered with humour.
[Artwork] Valier & colours by daughterofshadows
Semi-abstract arts representing the queens of the Valar.
[Writing] An End to All Things by Thorveig
Mairon stood in utter stillness for it seemed to him that the voice of his master mocked him from afar...
[Writing] Collection of Potluck Drabbles by Artano
This is a collection of true drabbles completed for the 'Four Words' drabble bingo card.
[Reference] Mapping Arda, Part III: The Second Age by Varda delle Stelle, Anérea
A series of articles featuring fan-made maps of all the lands of Arda. Part III explores the island of Númenor and mainland Middle-earth during the Second Age.
[Artwork] 2024 Potluck Doodles by silmalope
Assorted prompt fills for the 2024 Potluck bingo boards, to varying degrees of completion! :)
[Writing] Ransom of the Fairy Twins by Rocky41_7
Maglor and Maedhros trade Elrond and Elros to King Gil-galad in exchange for a Silmaril, but they have miscalculated.
Current Challenge
Potluck Bingo
Help yourself to a collection of prompts on bingo boards designed by members and friends of the SWG. Read more ...
Random Challenge
Many Meetings
Create a fanwork centered on a nonviolent conflict. Read more ...
New in References
Mapping Arda, Part III: The Second Age by Varda delle Stelle, Anérea
A series of articles featuring fan-made maps of all the lands of Arda. Part III explores the island of Númenor and mainland Middle-earth during the Second Age.
Doom and Ascent: The Argument of ‘Beowulf: the Monsters and the Critics’ by Simon J. Cook
Simon reads 'Beowulf: the Monsters and the Critics' to conclude his account of the Anglo-Saxon tower of its allegory.
Why People Don't Comment: Data and History From the Tolkienfic Fandom by Dawn Walls-Thumma
A reworking of the 2018 article for Long Live Feedback that includes data from the 2020 Tolkien Fanfiction Survey, pointing to a lack of comments as related to skill, confidence, and community connection.
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] Homage to the Song of Durin by Flora-lass
Legolas is inspired by Gimli's song - and by Gimli himself.
[Artwork] Long-tressed Wingildi by Anérea
"... the long-tressed Wingildi ... spirits of the foam and the surf of ocean."
~ a painted sketch for Scribbles and Drabbles 2024.
[Writing] Partners in Craft by elennalore
Annatar realises that he might like Celebrimbor too much.
Around the World and Web
Fluffcember 2024
Fluffcember is a Tumblr event with daily fluffy prompts during the month of December.
Hidden Paths 2025
Hidden Paths, an event dedicated to the celebration of smaller Tolkien canons, has released their early prompts for the 2025 event.
Teitho November/December Contest: Healing
The theme for Teitho's November/December contest is healing.
Lord of the Rings Secret Santa 2024
LotR SESA has been ongoing for twenty-one years and is running again this year as a prompt meme hosted on AO3 for all genres of Tolkien-based fanfiction.
November challenge at tolkienshortfanworks
The challenge for November has been posted to the tolkienshortfanworks community on Dreamwidth. Thematic prompt: refuge. Formal challenge: include imitation of a sound. As always, these can be filled independently and also freely combined with SWG and other challenges. New participants welcome!
Truly All Fanworks
This page includes all fanworks from the main SWG archive and the Beyond the Silmarillion section.
The Crafting of Galadriel’s Mirror by Anérea
Portrait of Mélamírë, Master Smith of the Gwaith-i-Mírdain, crafting Galadriel’s Mirror.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Original Female Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Artwork Type: Character/Portrait, Drawing/Painting |
| Genres: Alternate Universe, General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on 16 August 2022 | Updated on 16 August 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (8) |
Elven Nature by Anérea
An elf of the Lembi, those that lingered under the starlight in Middle Earth, shunning the summons of the Valar to journey to Aman. (Later called Avvari by the Eldar.)
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Avari, Elves |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Artwork Type: Character/Portrait, Drawing/Painting |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on 16 August 2022 | Updated on 16 August 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (6) |
Lúcëmetta (Enchantment's End) by Anérea
Melian and Thingol awake from their enchantment in Nan Elmoth.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Elu Thingol, Elves, Melian |
| Major Relationships: Melian/Thingol |
| Artwork Type: Character/Portrait, Drawing/Painting, Illustration |
| Genres: Het, Romance | Challenges: Arda on Ice |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on 12 April 2022 | Updated on 16 August 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (17) |
Chagim by Chestnut_pod
Tolkienfic inspired by and engaging with Jewish holidays.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Warnings: No warnings apply | |
| Posted on 15 August 2022 | Updated on 15 August 2022 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (0) |
Neldë Nelquain mí Orelesta by Chestnut_pod
Elemmírë gathers sparks in the Darkness -- light without end.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Elemmírë |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Ficlet, General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 778 |
| Posted on 15 August 2022 | Updated on 15 August 2022 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Wisdom of the Evening Star by StarSpray
Less a series than a label for all my stories that take place in my own headcanon/'verse
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Warnings: No warnings apply | |
| Posted on 7 March 2021 | Updated on 14 August 2022 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (0) |
Lay Down by Himring
Some time before the incident in which Feanor drew his sword on Fingolfin, Maedhros visits Miriel in Lorien.
Late in First-Age Beleriand, things continue not to be all right.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Maedhros, Maglor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Family, Ficlet | Challenges: Zingers |
| Rating: Creator Chooses Not to Rate | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 727 |
| Posted on 13 August 2022 | Updated on 13 August 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (15) |
A Star In The Darkness by Gabriel
Angrod's hopes for a new life in a strange new land with the object of the Noldor's wrath residing to the north, may not be as easy as he believes.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Historical Character(s), Angrod, Eldalótë |
| Major Relationships: Angrod/Eldalótë, Aegnor & Angrod, Angrod & Original Character |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 898 |
| Posted on 13 August 2022 | Updated on 13 August 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Regarding Storks by Lferion
Celegorm went his own way even as a child. Some people consider that a problem. His family doesn't.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Original Female Character(s), Celegorm |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Family, Fixed-Length Ficlet, General | Challenges: Zingers |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 305 |
| Posted on 12 August 2022 | Updated on 13 August 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (8) |
A Promise by Rocky41_7
When they were very young, Amarie made a decision about Finarfin's eldest son.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Amarië, Eärwen |
| Major Relationships: Amarië/Finrod |
| Genres: Ficlet, Fluff, Het | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 478 |
| Posted on 10 August 2022 | Updated on 10 August 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
Sauron vs Finrod in Eregion by elennalore
The Gwaith-i-Mírdain turn a famous duel into a stage play.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Celebrimbor, Sauron |
| Major Relationships: Celebrimbor/Sauron |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: Zingers |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on 10 August 2022 | Updated on 10 August 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (10) |
Summer Explosion by Himring
Having escaped the Downfall of Numenor, Inzilmith experiences the beginning of the War of the Last Alliance in Arnor.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Original Female 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 6 August 2022 | Updated on 6 August 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Túrin by firstamazon
Túrin's life illustrates Tolkien's concept of dyscatastrophe: an unexpected turn toward the tragic. The first part of this three-part biography of Túrin considers the early tragedies and downfalls of his life, through his years as an outlaw.
Homecoming by Grundy
The Noldor who left may have spent years dreaming of returning to Tirion, but that doesn't mean finally getting there after the War of Wrath is as simple as they imagined.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Original Female Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: | Challenges: Zingers |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 131 |
| Posted on 5 August 2022 | Updated on 5 August 2022 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (6) |
It's About the Journey by Rocky41_7
Just getting to the campsite is its own adventure.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Caranthir, Celegorm, Fëanor, Maedhros, Maglor, Nerdanel |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Family, General, Humor | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 3, 322 |
| Posted on 4 August 2022 | Updated on 4 August 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
San rotser simpetalla pinqe by Himring
Ecthelion returns from the Halls of Mandos.
He is perhaps not quite as fixed as you might expect but, having sat through a recital of "The Fall of Gondolin", he decides something urgently needs fixing for somebody else.
And so, one fine spring day...
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Eärendil, Ecthelion of the Fountain |
| Major Relationships: Eärendil & Ecthelion |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Teens | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 202 |
| Posted on 2 August 2022 | Updated on 3 August 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
Songs of Middle-earth by Rocky41_7
The music of Middle-earth across the ages.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Finrod Felagund, Galadriel, Sauron, Varda |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Music (Folk, Instrumental, New Age, Soundtrack, Vocal) | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Posted on 31 July 2022 | Updated on 1 August 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (2) |
Horrifying October: A Retrospective (Link Collection) by Himring
In 2016, the Library of Moria community on LiveJournal ran a Horrifying October challenge, with 31 prompts, one for each day of the month.
The challenge asked for both new works and recs.
The link collection offers a selection from the submissions back in 2016.
Besides being selective, this is also a WIP.
However, you can find links to all the round-ups on LiveJournal (and so indirectly to all submissions) in the Collection Notes.
For more background on the Library of Moria and its community see the current Cultus Dispatches post: A Tribute to the Library of Moria
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: No major characters listed |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fanwork Collection | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Creator Chooses Not to Rate | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Posted on 29 July 2022 | Updated on 30 July 2022 |
| This fanwork is a work in progress. |
| View Fanwork | Comments (0) |
Lunch Break by elennalore
A peaceful lunch break in Ost-in-Edhil. A drabble (100 words).
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Original Character(s) |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: Fixed-Length Ficlet | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 101 |
| Posted on 29 July 2022 | Updated on 29 July 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (3) |
Gone by grey_gazania
In the aftermath of the War of the Last Alliance, Gil-galad's mother struggles to cope with her grief,
Written for Tolkien OC Week on Tumblr (prompt: gaps and ghosts).
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Unnamed Female Canon Character(s), Erestor |
| Major Relationships: No major relationships listed |
| Genres: General | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Creator Chooses Not to Rate | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 355 |
| Posted on 27 July 2022 | Updated on 28 July 2022 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (1) |
Elemmakil by Narya
Introduced relatively late in Tolkien's work on the legendarium, Elemmakil escorts Tuor to Gondolin, drawing on archetypes from elsewhere in folklore and the legendarium.
Seeing Stars by Narya
Reborn in Valinor, Meleth begins to build a new life.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Amarië, Meleth (Elf) |
| Major Relationships: Amarië/Meleth |
| Genres: Femslash, Romance | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: Adult | Warnings: Sexual Content (Moderate) |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 874 |
| Posted on 24 July 2022 | Updated on 25 July 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (0) |
A Clouded Gem by Rocky41_7
Indis struggles to understand her husband's son.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Fëanor, Indis |
| Major Relationships: Fëanor & Indis |
| Genres: Family, Ficlet | Challenges: No challenge listed |
| Rating: General | Warnings: No warnings apply |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 563 |
| Posted on 19 July 2022 | Updated on 19 July 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (4) |
Warning Labels by grey_gazania
Maedhros and one of his followers discuss Elrond and Elros' future.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Original Character(s), Original Female Character(s), Maedhros |
| Major Relationships: Elrond & Elros & Maedhros & Maglor |
| Genres: Ficlet, General | Challenges: Zingers |
| Rating: Creator Chooses Not to Rate | Warnings: Creator Chooses Not to Warn |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 1, 585 |
| Posted on 18 July 2022 | Updated on 18 July 2022 |
This fanwork belongs to the series
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (6) |
A Distant Peace by Astrance
Someday you’ll go far. And I really hope you stay there. Finarfin’s words to Fëanor haunted him throughout his life, from the idyllic land of Valinor to the shores of Middle-Earth.
| Canon Source: The Silmarillion and Related Works |
| Major Characters: Fëanor |
| Major Relationships: Amras & Amrod & Caranthir & Celegorm & Curufin & Fëanor & Maedhros & Maglor, Fëanor & Finwë |
| Genres: Drama | Challenges: Zingers |
| Rating: General | Warnings: Character Death |
| Chapters: 1 | Word Count: 2, 786 |
| Posted on 17 July 2022 | Updated on 17 July 2022 |
| This fanwork is complete. |
| Table of Contents and Single Chapters | Show All Chapters | Comments (2) |
