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.
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: 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.
Cultus Dispatches: "The Rings of Power" Is a Ripple (So Far)
Tolkien Fanfiction Survey data for 2025 shows that "The Rings of Power" TV series has not had the same impact on the fandom as the film trilogies did ... so far.
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.
Cultus Dispatches: Six Demographic Takeaways from the 2025 Tolkien Fanfiction Survey
Ten years of demographic data from the Tolkien Fanfiction Survey show consistencies in who reads and writes fanfiction, as well as a few key demographic shifts.
[Writing] From That Rubble by StarSpray
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…
[Writing] Explain This by Elrond's Library
Melkor demands an account of Mairon’s failures.
[Writing] Message in a Bottle by StarSpray
Over the course of his very long life he had found a handful of messages in bottles, but it had been a very long time. So when he found the glass bottle on his little stretch of pebbly beach, he picked it up with the intention of tossing it into his recycling. But it wasn’t, he found, just…
[Writing] Eä's Redemption by AaronAzrael
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…
[Writing] A Thousand Winds that Blow by StarSpray
When uneasy dreams bring him back into Beleriand, Daeron finds a pair of twins who have lost their home, and an enemy who has lost himself. The Shadow's reach is growing ever longer, and if they are to survive, they must do it together.
[Artwork] Nerdanel/Nienna moodboard by Independence1776
A Nerdanel/Nienna moodboard.
[Writing] The Stars of Home by Idrils Scribe
Elrohir has been found after his long abduction by the Black Númenóreans of Umbar. He comes home to Rivendell, but all is not well: the Elf-child that was taken is now a Man grown. War and darkness have left Elrohir deeply scarred, and even at home there is danger...
An alternate universe…
Strong Women
Choose a female character from The Silmarillion or related texts who contributes something of value and create a fanwork about her. Read more ...
"The Rings of Power" Is a Ripple (So Far) by Dawn Walls-Thumma
The Lord of the Rings and Hobbit film trilogies mark perhaps the most influential events in the history of the Tolkien fanfiction fandom. As the Rings of Power show approaches its third season, data from the Tolkien Fanfiction Survey shows that it is not even close to matching the impact of the films ... yet.
Six Demographic Takeaways from the 2025 Tolkien Fanfiction Survey by Dawn Walls-Thumma
Data from the 2025 Tolkien Fanfiction Survey shows demographic changes in participant gender, age, and education and new revelations about neurodiversity.
Communities Do Comment: Expanding the 3C's of Commenting with SWG Data by Dawn Walls-Thumma
Expanding on my 2018 article "Why People Don't Comment," comment data from the SWG underscores community as an essential component to a robust commenting culture.
[Writing] Down the Long Years by Isilme_among_the_stars
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…
[Artwork] The Mirror of Galadriel by skywardstruck
Smoke rises from the Mirror, where the Lady of Lothlórien awaits to share its visions.
Finwean Sibblings Prompt Fest 2026
A prompt-based fandom event aiming to focus on celebrating Finwë's children: Fëanor, Findis, Fingolfin, Lalwen, & Finarfin - ships, gen relationships, or character-centric
Tolkien Sapphic September
Tolkien Sapphic September is a month long event focusing on Sapphic relationships and characters in Tolkien and adjacent materials.
Gigolas Week 2026
Gigolas Week is a tumblr event focusing on the relationship between Legolas and Gimli
Innumerable Stars 2026
A character-based Tolkien fandom gift exchange is returning for another year of gifting.
That's a very interesting take on Nerdanel!
I especially like the description of their travels on the outer edge of Valinor and what it meant for them.
The idea of that doll is quite alarming--but it is believable that a sculptor might do this.
Thank you very much for your kind review; I'm very glad you liked the descriptions of the couple's travels and, most of all found this take on Nerdanel interesting, I worried it might fqall a bit flat.
As for the doll you are right, it is quite alarming still I'm glad you didn't find it unbelivable.
Thank you again.
I really like this! The whole thing has a very airy feeling to it, yet also focuses on difficult topics. Nerdanel has always been one of my favourite Silmarillion characters, though I haven't written much about her, sadly.
Thank you very much for having taken the time to read and review this fic. I'm extremely glad this managed to convey anything, moreso to a person who likes the character, I feared all effect was lost in the translation. Yes, the themes are difficult, still that seems to be bound to happen when you are in any way, shape or form related to Fëanor and his brood. Anyway I wanted to depict a person who managed to go on despite everything without bowing.
Thank you again for your review.
This is wonderful work. I found your characterization of Nerdanel to be very sympathetic and relateable, and the imagery you evoke is fantastic. "Swallowed by darkness like a wave by the sand" is just one of many turns of phrase that delighted and intrigued me. Well done indeed!
Thank you so very much for having taken the time to read and write such a kind review for this piece!
I'm incredibly glad you liked the characterization and knowing that someone who writes as well as you do finds some merit in what I write is an honor. I was worried about the style ending up being redundant in translation and kowing it can still evoke images is a relief.
Thank you again.
Comments: I've always been very fond of the concept of Nerdanel as a woman with a different beauty that the one generally recognized by the society she lives in. I think it's a very very important detail, and it gives her much more depths as a female character. And that's the first reason your fic appears as very important to me.
But I also really enjoyed the way you talked about sculpture and creation, and all the things you said about illusion. The parallels on this matter, the way you explained it and expanded the concept of illusion from her art to her reality (and to Fëanor's reality)... That's absolutely fantastic. That's a very clever way to talk about it, and I read avery single word of it with and increasing interest!
I've always been convinced that Nerdanel's difference was a strength rather than a weakness, that her body (which is suppose to be less beautiful than others') gives her a huge advantage comapring to others. Because, beyond the self-consciousness which haunts her, she's wise enough to maybe detach herself from it, and see beyiond the flesh (and when it's related to her work as a sculptor, it's fascinating)
So I loved reading your fic, which isn't only interesting in its content but also
wonderful in its form. It was beautiful in every way.
(Plus, Nerdanel and Fëanor as a couple always fascinate me; their relationship is so interesting and I love them so much *cries because feelings*)
(sorry for the looong review, your fic gave me so many feelings!)
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Comments on Nerdanel and the doll
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