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!
New Challenge: Scavenger Hunt In this Matryoshka-with-a-twist, you will solve clues that point you to the challenge prompts.
Sign-Up to Hand Out Scavenger Hunt Prompts Our May challenge will be a Matryoshka built around a scavenger hunt. If you'd like to hand out prompts (and receive comments on your work for doing so!), you can sign up to do so.
New Challenge: Everyman Create a fanwork about an ordinary character in the legendarium using a quote about an unnamed character as inspiration.
Cultus Dispatches: Fanworks, AI, and Resistance by Dawn and Grundy The fan studies column Cultus Dispatches returns with a history of how Tolkien fanworks fandom has reacted and resisted generative AI by drawing strong boundaries in a way that is not typical for the fandom.
This is my new poetical attempt to add my own interpretation to Tolkien's Cosmology as to Eru's Creation and the Valar's minds and behind-the-scene providence reasons and mechanisms.. I often review Eä as part of our own world, just in another dimension, this is why I have always seriously…
In his old age, Isildur's former esquire Ruinamacil, known to later histories only as Ohtar, writes his own account of his escape from the ambush at Gladden Fields and journey to Imladris, and the history of his friend whom Isildur ordered to flee with him.
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…
By definition, fanworks fandom does not draw a lot of boundaries, but community archives and events have taken a strong stance against AI-generated fanworks due to ethical considerations and member input.
In a book as full of death as the Quenta Silmarillion, grief and mourning are surprisingly absent. The characters who receive grief and mourning—and those who don't—appear to do so due to narrative bias. Grief and mourning (or a lack of them) serve to draw attention toward and away from objectionable actions committed by characters.
This presentation for Mereth Aderthad 2025 discusses the parallels between the concept of abnegation in the scientific work surrounding the atomic bomb and in The Silmarillion. The relinquishment of self-interest in favor of the interests of others, abnegation was identified by Tolkien as a powerful act of spirit and reason. The legendarium has many examples of the complexities of abnegation, which parallel similar discussions held by physicists during and after World War II.
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…
A Chieftain is dead. And whilst the events surrounding his death are unclear, a son tries to come to terms with his loss.
Around the World and Web
Scribbles and Drabbles 2026
Scribbles & Drabbles is a fic and art exchange with a minimum word count of 100 words.
Russingon Week 2026
A Tumblr week event focusing on the relationship between Maedhros and Fingon.
Boromir Week 2026
If you are Boromir girlies/gents/stans/simps, then this event is for you! So, come join us, and bring your fanfiction, art, gifs, moodboards, and headcanons that highlight everything you love about our Captain of Gondor!
Silmarillion Epistolary Week 2026
Silmarillion Epistolary Week is a Tumblr challenge dedicated to creating fanworks to tell the story of the Silmarillion in the style of an epistolary novel.
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.
Thank you! What an awesome surprise to find nine reviews to match the series! :D
Btw, I still owe you an email to set up a date. I have not forgotten. I\'ve just been more-than-usual overwhelmed with some RL Issues and a greater than usual touch of winter depression.
This is absolutely what I was going for with this second drubble. That and the fact that, the more I thought about Elrond because of your writings and such on him, the more I realized how rough he had it, that everyone left him. I wonder if this was intentional on the part of JRRT, who seemed eager to demonstrate that the mortal\'s lot in life truly was a gift.
Thank you (again! :) What I\'m not sure here is if Elros will live to return the next year. I can contemplate, but do not think I have the strength to write (right now), the year Elrond will return to their meeting place and Elros never comes ...
You know I had to put some naughty bits in a story intended for you. ;) Unfortunately, I didn\'t realize when writing this the depth of your loathing for Celebrian, so in hindsight, I should have written a different character opposite Elrond in the pairing ... :^S
I know! :D Someday, I will make it up to you by writing an Elrond story with a character you don't dislike so much. (The Tides of Time isn't up anymore, is it? Well, maybe I can do justice to my own OFC. ;)
Thank you so much for all these reviews. It was quite a delight to find these when I'd logged on to do a school assignment. (So much more fun than a school assignment!) *hugs*
A wonderfully memorable evocation of Elrond, who really does have one of the most complicated histories in Tolkien's work. The use of 'droplets' as a recurring theme is a good touch, and I'm glad you chose to end it on a more optimistic note. Liked the idea of Elrond liking Valinor best in its rare imperfection too.
Thank you, Clotho! This was written years ago for my friend Juno; I hadn't given Elrond much thought before then *hangs head* but she really inspired me to understand and want to explore more deeply the complexity of his life. Since it was a gift, I felt it should end on a happier note (a goal I haven't always met in subsequent gift stories :).
Lovely start. I am, however, wondering why you gave Maglor 'raven-dark' hair when in AMC you mentioned that he had 'chocolate-brown' hair. Did it grow darker (again) over time?
Wow--you're observant, Maglor! :) There was no reason for this. It was just a discrepancy that, now that I'm aware of it, I'll fix. I suspect it happened because I don't really consider this story to be part of the AMC-verse, even though there's no reason it couldn't/shouldn't fit in.
Comments on Droplets
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.