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Chrissystriped is a prolific author on the SWG whose work spans characters and ages and topics. For Mereth Aderthad 2025, chrissystriped is writing for Shadow's presentation, "The Aromantic in Tolkien," and will be sharing a Third Age story that features Bilbo and Boromir as aromantic characters. Dawn spoke with chrissystriped about her story, her process as a writer, and the importance of representing aro-ace characters in fanfiction.
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Since our first challenge back in 2005, Strong Women, the SWG has sought to establish a creative space where fanworks about characters from underrepresented groups aren't just welcomed but explicitly encouraged. Shadow's Mereth Aderthad 2025 presentation, "The Aromantic in Tolkien," is the perfect example of a fan-turned-scholar bringing forward a character identity that typically goes unseen and unacknowledged. Silmalope is the featured artist for Shadow's presentation, bringing their vibrant style and diverse character representations to the project. Dawn spoke with Silmalope about their inspiration as a creator of Tolkien-based fanworks, their connection to Shadow's topic on ace-aro characters, and the importance of diverse representation in fanworks.
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The third kinslaying at Sirion is one of the most controversial and discussed moments in The Silmarillion by its fandom. But what makes this moment stand apart in a novel that Dr. Zara Ashkenazi-Khan describes as one of "spectacular violence"?
Saelind interviewed Zara about her upcoming presentation for Mereth Aderthad 2025, "Exile, Ruin and Resistance: Beleriand as Postcolonial Palimpsest." They of course discussed the third kinslaying and why it is "a moment of rupture ... [exposing] a faultline in the narrative’s presumed moral and civilisational order," but they also discussed how The Silmarillion is a text full of such breaking points, moral ambiguities in Tolkien's work, and the role of fanworks and scholarship both in revealing and understanding these complexities.
You can read Saelind's interview with Dr. Zara Ashkenazi-Khan here.
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A rustle of silk, the song of a sword unsheathed, the rhythmic clop of hooves on cobblestones … Period dramas take us back in time—to the good times, that is, and an escape to a past where we aren't asked to endure the absence of antibiotics, electric lights, or basic rights for most of the population; when people and clothing were beautiful (and had all of their teeth), no one stunk, and toileting practices are left to the imagination.
This month's challenge is a Matryoshka challenge, where you will choose a prompt set based on a level of difficulty, revealing one prompt at a time as you move through your fanwork. Prompts are based around common tropes found in period dramas. It is important to note, however, that your fanwork does not need to be a period piece itself. Any genre, topic, and approach to the prompts is welcome!
How a Matryoshka Challenge Works
Matryoshka dolls are also known as Russian nesting dolls, with each doll containing a smaller doll inside. A Matryoshka challenge works similarly, requiring creators to fit their response to each prompt within a fanwork already underway for previous prompts.
You will use multiple prompts for a Matryoshka challenge. First, choose your difficulty level: Beginner (two prompts), Easy (three), Medium (five), or Difficult (seven … and good luck!) You will include each prompt in your story, opening them one at a time as you create your fanwork. (See below for how to use the prompts for formats other than fanfiction.) Prompts will include directions about when you can open the next prompt. Prompt sets can be found below.
If you want to create a fanwork other than fiction for a Matryoshka challenge, you can use any of the following approaches to your prompt set:
This month there is a special stamp available for nonwritten fanworks made using the Matryoshka prompts! This would include artwork, audio, link collections, playlists, videos, and multimedia fanworks. Writing is allowed but should also include one of these other types.
Thank you to Zdenka for this month's banner and stamps!
In order to receive a stamp for your fanwork, your response must be posted to the archive on or before 15 June 2025. For complete challenge guidelines, see the Challenges page on our website.
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