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: Title Track Tolkien's titles range from epic to lyrical to metaphorical. This month's challenge selected 125 of them as prompts for fanworks.
Our Annual Amnesty Challenge: New Year's Resolution Start 2026 off with creativity! If you missed a challenge or didn't get to finish or post a challenge fanwork, complete any 2025 challenge before 15 February to receive the stamp.
He was going to die. The molten rocks would burn him just like the cursed gem in his palm did. Maybe less painfully but still being burnt hurt and Maedhros knew it. He intimately knew it from his time in Angband where Þauron burnt him often in frustration and to toy with him and his master…
“Come on.” Maedhros grabbed his hand and pulled him along down the path, both of them quickening their pace now, until the trees opened up into a wide meadow filled with flowers, bright yellow celandine and dandelions and sweet-scented pale chamomile mingling with cornflowers and irises. On…
Aldarion storms off towards Middle-earth. For the Title Track challenge.
Current Challenge
Title Track
Create a fanwork using our collection of 125 titles from Tolkien's books, chapters, essays, poems, and fragments as inspiration. Read more ...
Random Challenge
X Marks the Spot
In this modified Matryoshka challenge, your prompts will come from the journey you take around a map. Read more ...
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.
This presentation for Mereth Aderthad 2025 discusses the many similarities between Tolkien's three "twilight children," Tinúviel, Lómion, and Undómiel (Luthien, Maeglin, and Arwen) in terms of appearance, plot, and cultural background. Yet these three characters play very different roles in the text.
Presented at Mereth Aderthad 2025, this paper makes the case thata, although the term "aromantic" had not yet been coined in Tolkien's day, many of his characters can be read as aromantic. The paper takes a closer look at Aredhel, Bilbo, and Boromir as three examples of characters who can be read as aromantic.
“There’s a goblin hiding in the taters, Dad!” Pippin hefted the pan, which was much too big for him to carry, let alone wield.
Around the World and Web
March Challenge - Tolkien Short Fanworks
Tolkien Short Fanworks is running a challenge for the month of March to create a Back to Middle-earth Month themed challenge.
Tolkien Fashion Week 2026
This two-week-long Tumblr event is dedicated to honoring the world of fashion and textiles Tolkien wrote about in his books.
Celegorm and Curufin Week 2026
Celegorm and Curufin Week is a Tumblr week celebrating the relationship between Celegorm and Curufin Feanorion
Back to Middle-earth Month 2026
Back to Middle-earth Month is returning for it's 20th year with many prompts and archival efforts.
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.
I've always loved the Athrabeth! I really liked this study of the languages and nuances of linguistics that your fic focused on and how each of them views these issues. Finrod just becomes more fascinating with each interpretation.
i am always feel sad when I think of Andreth. Even if it was only for a brief time she could have had some joy in her life with Aegnor. It strikes me as monstrously unfair that Aragorn, Tuor and Beren got to marry their true loves but Andreth did not.
There is a bit of a linguistic angle to the Athrabeth itself, in particular to Finrod's explanation of amdir and estel. But it seemed to me that even more could be said about that side of it, perhaps. I'm glad you enjoyed this attempt to do so!
Yes, it's sad about those two. Maybe Aegnor would have willingly chosen mortality to be with Andreth, if that option had been on the table.
of all the complex shapes in the universe, the shapes of thought are easily the most elaborate, and elusive.
this is a good discussion about one of the trickiest topics in philosophy; the indeterminacy of translation is still generating tons of tomes. but i like the way you ended with a slop bucket, philosophers say 'remember the table'.
language is impossible, obviously, but you know what i mean...
i like your 'devastatingly sincere' Finrod. reminds me of Professor Kirke from Narnia, as though you have channeled 🙈 C.S.Lewis. of course, i havent read the Athrabeth.
I'm glad that this makes sense to a reader who hasn't read the Athrabeth! (The summary I linked is a good one, if you haven't got access to the text, but of course it isn't in the Professor's voice.)
I feel I've only touched on the topic, almost, really.
Tantalising! I wish they could have discussed this at greater length, although I definitely understand Andreth's discomfort at trying to explain this to Finrod (not just because she might pick it to pieces, but simply because it is hard to put into words what she means, especially without the linguistic terms to start with!). And the ending was heartbreaking. Andreeeth. ;_;
I'm really glad that someone undertook it. I wish I could remember their name--I saw it in that Tumblr post I mentioned, but couldn't remember exactly what I'd read, afterwards.
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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.