Founded in 2005, the Silmarillion Writers' Guild exists for discussions of and creative fanworks based on J.R.R. Tolkien's The Silmarillion and related texts. We are a positive-focused and open-minded space that welcomes fans from all over the world and with all levels of experience with Tolkien's works. Whether you are picking up Tolkien's books for the first time or have been a fan for decades, we welcome you to join us!
Character of the Month: Marach There are few details in the texts about Marach, but he is noteworthy for his allegiances and his descendants, who would become pivotal to the history of Middle-earth and the eventual defeat of Morgoth and Sauron.
New Challenge: Allusive Literature and art constantly refer back to each other using allusions, and this month's prompts are inspired by allusions to literature, myth, art, and history.
New Challenge: Building Middle-earth Let global architecture be your inspiration in this challenge, where you will work with a prompts that are architectural styles, locations in Arda, or both.
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…
Fëanor shrugged, studying the contents of his wine glass. “Something must be done about that house. It will fall down eventually.” “It does not follow that it must be you that tears it down single-handedly. Are you sure you do not want help?” “It’s not as though I…
Of course, she knew that in the Blessed Land, true harm was unlikely to come to him. The Valar watched over them all, and the lesser spirits were everywhere. It was a great hound of Oromë who had found him happily splashing in the creek, in fact. But anyone could drown in mere…
Across three surveys and ten years, the Tolkien Fanfiction Survey has document when authors began writing. These data reveal trends in how film promotions, the films themselves, the books, and other historical contexts have influenced not only who writes but how long they stay.
Current Challenge
Allusive
Choose from our list of allusions to history, literature, mythology, and art to create a fanwork. Read more ...
Random Challenge
Exchange Student
Send a character as a student to an unfamiliar culture and create a fanwork about his, her, or their experience. Read more ...
Across three surveys and ten years, the Tolkien Fanfiction Survey has document when authors began writing. These data reveal trends in how film promotions, the films themselves, the books, and other historical contexts have influenced not only who writes but how long they stay.
There are few details in the texts about Marach, but he is noteworthy for his allegiances and his descendants, who would become pivotal to the history of Middle-earth and the eventual defeat of Morgoth and Sauron.
A dissenting voice in Marach's alliance with the Elves of Beleriand, Amlach experiences a change of mind after a mysterious twist in the story reorients his priorities toward enmity with Morgoth.
Bilbo, the strange old hobbit with the wandering feet, senses something special in young Frodo the first time he sees the lad; as they become close, they find in each other a cameraderie not well understood by other hobbits. Five poignant moments between Bilbo and Frodo Baggins over the course…
The Silmarillion Writers' Guild is more than just an archive--we are a community! If you enjoy a fanwork or enjoy a creator's work, please consider letting them know in a comment.
Once again, you expertly reveal Elond's intent and feelings without exposing us directly to all of his thoughts. I know I've complimented you over and over again for being able to do that so well, but every time you do it again, I have to tell you again.
Thank you very much! There is more to come, but I don't know how long it will take me to write.
I think some people found a bit of time to write over Christmas and there might be a couple more posts soon. But just wait until March! Things will get really lively during B2MeM, I'm sure.
As usual you have reduced me to tears- this is perfect. How you manage to write such sublime prose I cannot imagine- that the small glimpses of life speak so hugely of Maedhros and hsi tragic and heroic life. I think the last part really pulled my heart strings- so much glory, so much courage and now no one speaks of them for shame. But Elrond remembers.
This is fascinating. The mix of Maedhros' Noldorin sensibilities and their Sinda guide's somewhat different attitude, him resolving to look at it as Findekano would, and the idea that even though he's no longer a prisoner, Maedhros is more vulnerable than most to Morgoth's power... (Am I reading into it, or was that also a dash of very subtle Ulmo in there, when the water restored him to himself?)
Glad that these ideas appealed to you! Some of these themes return in different form elsewhere in my stories.
As far as I remember, I wasn't consciously involving Ulmo personally here, although I've written about his canonical influence through Sirion elsewhere. But I do tend to feel somewhat like Tolkien's elves about running water anyway, and this fic in particular also alludes to "A river runs through it", in which the role of water also seems rather Ulmo-esque... There is also meant to be a hint that Gelion is a person, at least to the Sindar.
Comments on The Walls Will Serve
The Silmarillion Writers' Guild is more than just an archive--we are a community! If you enjoy a fanwork or enjoy a creator's work, please consider letting them know in a comment.