New Challenge: Everyman
Create a fanwork about an ordinary character in the legendarium using a quote about an unnamed character as inspiration.
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: 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.
Instadrabbling Sessions for April, May, and June
Instadrabbling continues on the first Saturday of each month on our Discord server.
New Challenge: Famous Last Words
For our March challenge, our moderators will assign you a famous last line to use as a prompt.
[Writing] Til We're on the Other Side by StarSpray
It was only the second time Finwë had come out foraging with them, and of course this would happen—of course the Hunter would come, the Dark Rider on his steed with its terrible, heavy footfalls, and the deep-throated laughter that held no mirth, only malice.
In the dark…
[Writing] A Hundred Miles Through the Desert by StarSpray
“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…
[Writing] Hill and Water Under Sky by StarSpray
a collection of drabbles and mini ficlets in the meanwhile the world goes on 'verse that aren't long enough to stand on their own
[Writing] The Long Arm of the Law by Elrond's Library
Turgon cannot be above the law.
[Writing] Despair and Shadows by octopus_fool
Haleth leaves to find her brother, even though her father does not permit her to.
[Writing] In Continuance of Me... by Ellie
King Finwë of the Noldor was not the only one who died that day.
[Artwork] More than Memory by StarSpray
"In sorrow we must go, but not in despair. Behold! we are not bound for ever to the circles of the world, and beyond them is more than memory." - The Return of the King
Stitched for the Famous Last Words challenge for the prompt: "And with that, they stepped into…
Everyman
Create a fanwork about an ordinary character in the legendarium using a quote about an unnamed character as inspiration. Read more ...
Exchange Student
Send a character as a student to an unfamiliar culture and create a fanwork about his, her, or their experience. Read more ...
Fandom Draws the Line: Fanworks, AI, and Resistance by Dawn Felagund, Grundy
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.
Grief, Grieving, and Permission to Mourn in the "Quenta Silmarillion" by Dawn Walls-Thumma
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.
Tolkien, Lunatic Physicists, and Abnegation by Cynthia (Cindy) Gates
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.
[Writing] Bar-en-Eladar by Gabriel
Out of the shadow, light is born anew.
A Chieftain is dead. And whilst the events surrounding his death are unclear, a son tries to come to terms with his loss.
[Writing] Why did Éowyn ask Faramir if he'd rather have a "woman of the race of Númenor"? by Quente
For most of my life, when reading Lord of the Rings, I read it through the perspective of Gandalf's words about Éowyn, that she'd spent years trapped as a caregiver, watching the realm she love fall from honor into disgrace.
But what if Éowyn was also a student of history?
…
[Writing] here you will dwell, bound to your grief by Elrond's Library
Arwen grieves, and loves.
Angbang Week 2026
Angbang Week is a tumblr event focusing on the relationship between Morgoth and Sauron, running from May 5-11, 2026
Gondor Week 2026
A Tumblr week event focusing on the history of the realm of Gondor.
Crablor Day
A day dedicated to everyone's favourite warcriminal crustacean - April 26, 2026
April/May Teitho Challenge
Teithio is running a prompt challenge around the theme of "heartbreak."
April Challenge Tolkien Short Fanworks
Tolkien Short Fanworks is running a challenge around the theme of "fools," "foolishness," or "being fooled."
This is well written-- and an explanation for Maedhros's reasoning I don't think I have come across before.
Thank you! As I mentioned in my response to Oshun I was trying to work out his reasoning for myself. Tolkien gives us very little other than the fact that he chose to go. I actually came to this from my other story because I was frustrated with why the brothers just accepted his fate. There had to be a reason for that behavior--Fingon certainly did not have such a passive response to it. These gaps that Tolkien leaves us are just begging for interpretation. I must say that writing both of these stories gave me even more sympathy for these two brothers and got me all emotional about these events again. Thanks for reading and for the review!
Interesting concept and well-argued. I'm not sure it's one I would go with, but that's the fun of fanfiction seeing how others imagine the motivations and backstories that we are not given by the author.
Thank you. It's hard to determine what his reasoning was to even consider what seems to me to be such an obviously disastrous choice. He had options. He could have sent Makalaurë. Or any of his brothers. Or refused to parley. Grief and stress have unexpected effects on even the most brilliant of minds. I wrote this after my other story about Maglor telling the brothers what Maedhros had done (They Choose the Path) because I was trying to work it out for myself and trying to rationalize why Maglor would be so seemingly passive about his captivity. To me it's a fascinating time in the Silmarillion and one that leads to far more questions than answers.
You are definitely right--the questions outweigh the answers. And, as they say, "hindsight is 20x20."
The questions give us much room for interpretation and thus more fan fiction! Thanks so much for reading and reviewing. You and Himring are two of my favorite Silmarillion fic authors and I have a tremendous amount of respect for your work.
This was wonderful! It is so intense, driven by the dialogue; I could not stop reading till I reached the end. I will echo Oshun and Himring that Maedhros's reasoning is not an approach I've seen taken before but I like it (as I like interpretations that assume logic and humanity for the Feanorians rather than blind lust for the Silmarils). The end was heart-rending. Really nicely done!
(On a mod note, I'm not sure if you intended this to be a round-robin story? That means that any other SWG member can add chapters. If you didn't intend it and need help getting it set back as a regular story, just drop me a note in your reply and I'll fix it.)
*mod hat off*
Once again, I really enjoyed this and am glad you posted it here! :)
Oh thank you so much for the review!
I really felt I needed to write this after I wrote the story about what comes after--with the brothers finding he has gone and learning of his capture. Maglor often comes off poorly in versions of that time and I couldn't imagine Nelyo didn't have reasoning and justification for his actions--he is far too astute a politician for that and he knew what he was leaving for Maglor--he just didn't realize Maglor wouldn't tell them he promised Nelyo not to go after him!
I see the Fëanorians as far more than just singleminded obsession with obtaining the jewels. They are deep, insightful, intellectual and flawed individuals but they are far more than just their Oath.
I did not mean it to be round robin! Still learning on this site. If you can fix it that would be great! Thank you!
Never mind! I think I fixed it!
Oh thank you so much for the review!
I really felt I needed to write this after I wrote the story about what comes after--with the brothers finding he has gone and learning of his capture. Maglor often comes off poorly in versions of that time and I couldn't imagine Nelyo didn't have reasoning and justification for his actions--he is far too astute a politician for that and he knew what he was leaving for Maglor--he just didn't realize Maglor wouldn't tell them he promised Nelyo not to go after him!&
I see the Fëanorians as far more than just singleminded obsession with obtaining the jewels. They are deep, insightful, intellectual and flawed individuals but they are far more than just their Oath.
I did not mean it to be round robin! Still learning on this site. If you can fix it that would be great! Thank you!
Never mind! I think I fixed it!
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Comments on Choices Seal Our Fate
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