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
It Comes in Threes
Choose a prompt from a list of 130 different things that "come in threes." 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.
Finrod: 30-Day Character Study - Study Days by cuarthol
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18. Fan Art/Fancast/Fanmix
Fan Art/Fancast/Fanmix. Create fan art of your character. Don't have an artistic bone in your body? You can substitute finding three images of different people who would fit how you imagine your character to look, or three sets of clothing/costumes that the character might wear, or make a fanmix of songs that relate to your character.
So since I’ve already done a few artworks now I thought I’d come at it from a different angle: Nereb and Dungalef.
But the rest of the prompt was too fun not to do also!
Fancast (but also actually cast)
Possibly the closest I’ve ever seen to how I would really imagine Finrod to be is Yaroslav Bayarunas as Finrod in the Finrod Rock Opera
https://at.tumblr.com/emeraldskulblaka/gold-gleams-suspended-in-the-dust-sky-ships/otczkdoiim70
And not just Yaroslav Bayarunas but specifically the wavy haired version! Like he’s gorgeous with the straight hair but that Telerin beach wave just is the final dollop of cream that makes this perfect!
Clothing
Finrod enjoys archery as much for the form and skill as the function, but he still looks amazing doing it. He might have worn something similar when at the siege with his brothers or hunting with Maedhros and Maglor
https://armstreet.com/store/medieval-clothing/Medieval-fantasy-costume-garb-cotton-brocade-coat-elven
A fantastic casual robe, perhaps for getting out of the bath or lounging in his study reading
https://www.etsy.com/listing/1348025382/long-hooded-ethnic-cotton-peacock-kimono?click_key=e6c5646b2629d3a1799ea1e1ae9e20d9f2b6a4e6%3A1348025382&click_sum=c98c5726&ref=shop_home_active_40&frs=1&sts=1
I truly adore this outfit for Finrod, in the long peace years in the safety of Nargothrond
https://elf-esteem.tumblr.com/post/123463396232/finrod-the-wise-of-nargothrond-epess%C3%AB-felagund
The shirt one of the Bëoreans made for him with their traditional embroidery
https://etnodim.com/en/man/man-embroidered/embroidered_shirt_tor-product.html?offer=30798&gclid=Cj0KCQiAz9ieBhCIARIsACB0oGLf91eNcwtg-lusE7CVATyo8QnsGaBsuGs6ooRJCvSfpsnTo9nlImYaAnQCEALw_wcB
Music
And I cannot help but throw in these songs
Finrod’s song battle with Sauron from the Lay of Leithian Rock Opera
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jxOBnGpGPTM
This gives me Finrod in the dungeon vibes
SKÁLD - Då Månen Sken
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=c8hMEHPr6Yg
And I have indescribable Finrod feelings associated with this song
Cruxshadows - Helen
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l2HXRXbyJSI
