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.
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!
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.
Instadrabbling Sessions for April, May, and June
Instadrabbling continues on the first Saturday of each month on our Discord server.
[Writing] After the Kinslaying by Deborah Judge
A Teleri fishing boat captain turns to farming on abandoned Noldor lands after her ship is stolen. A Noldor farmer returns with Finarfin to find that his land belongs to the Teleri now.
[Writing] Add Another Stone by StarSpray
The thing about forgiveness, he thought, was that it was so much easier when the object of it was far away—or dead. It was so much easier to let it all go when those responsible were far away and unable to do any more harm.
[Writing] How Tolkien Presents Ordinary People in "The Silmarillion" by Dawn Felagund
Inspired by collecting the prompts for the Everyman challenge, this essay considers how ordinary people are subsumed and silenced in The Silmarillion, which begins a three-book arc that ends with the rise of the humble and ordinary.
[Writing] Blessed are the Leave-takers by Isilme_among_the_stars
As prince Curufinwë Fëanáro makes an historical speech from the high court of the King upon Túna, those at the back of the crowd strain to hear.
A silly little scene inspired by Monty Python's "Blessed are the Cheesemakers" scene from The Life of Brian, written for …
[Writing] I Sit and Think of Times There Were Before by Erdariel
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.
[Writing] Until the Stars are All Alight by Dagstjarna
Reembodied in Aman, Celebrimbor decides to return to Middle earth to help heal the darkness and hurt wrought by the ring.
[Writing] a riot of shadow and shine by Elrond's Library
These were simply flashes, a hint of a wider, greater world. A tantalizing glimpse of more, always at the edge of awareness, never within reach. Míriel would grasp it, if something as intangible as the concept of color could overflow in bounteous wonder over her hands.
But…
Everyman
Create a fanwork about an ordinary character in the legendarium using a quote about an unnamed character as inspiration. Read more ...
Book by Its Cover
Go ahead and judge a book by its cover! Prompts are vintage book covers. 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] 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.
[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.
Week of Kiliel
A Tumblr event dedicated to the relationship between Kili and Tauriel.
Aspec Arda Week 2026
This week-long event celebrates asexual and aromantic spectrum interpretations and headcanons of Tolkien’s Legendarium.
April/May Teitho Challenge
Teithio is running a prompt challenge around the theme of "heartbreak."
Tolkien Reverse Summer Bang 2026
The Tolkien Reverse Summer Bang is back for another summer of collaboration between artists and writers!
Sometimes one can get lost in Tolkien's world and have it feel very much like our own and permit oneself to accept its magical element as plausible and reasonable. With this tale, you fly off into the realm of pure fairie--nothing ordinary or day-to-day about this setting. And yet you touch emotional truths that one can understand.
"Still, between her, Tilion and Eärendil there was nothing going on on Arda’s surface that at least one of them did not know about."
This is a very entertaining concept and interesting part of their interactions with the world and one another.
What I really like about Tolkien's world is that it is so enormous and immersive and it feels like anything's possible without the characters themseves being omniscient and emotionally so distant that they become unavailable.
The Sun and the Moon are visible to everyone, so why shouldn't everyone also be visible to the Sun and Moon? That was basically my reasoning. I'm glad you liked the idea!
I really like the idea of those three beoming friends--that Earendil's arrival helped to resolve the tension between Arien and Tilion.
It does seem to be the kind of task for which even a Maia might need some emotional support.
Such a sad glimpse of Nerdanel, coming to enquire after Maglor--and yet it's almost a comforting thought that at least she had Arien to ask about him.
Thank you! Three people dissolve the tension that can exists between two, and with time Eärendil's arrival calmed down the tempers of both Arien and Tilion. I think that once Tilion's crush (can we call it that?) faded, his behaviour returned to 'normal' and Arien saw the person underneath the nuisance.
Haha, I personally don't think the Ainur in gener are all that skilled when dealing with emotions, which was how Melkor was able to manipulate so many of them. (Part of Melkor's rebellion consisted of being in touch with his feelings and acting on them, I imagine).
Yes it is, isn't it? Despite being hailed as Cursed and Dispossessed Fëanorians, they are her children, as well and I think that is something people forget once they arrive in Beleriand. Arien feels Nerdanel's grief, and by extension empathizes with Maglor.
Oh, I loved this! Firstly, it's great to see Tilion and Arien interact (beyond his silly attempts to chase her and get his beautiful vessel burnt!) and also befriending Eärendil, but moreover because it gave so much thought to how this would work out in the long run! I never thought about how they might cope with everything they get to witness from above. The thought of Eärendil and Tilion as gossipers was as amusing as Nerdanel asking Arien about Maglor was heartbreaking. Loved the description of Arien's mansion and the thought you gave to the physical reality of the Maiar, too!
Thank you! It makes me so happy when people like my stories. Haha, with the phases of the moon and all I don't think Tilion will ever truly stop chasing Arien ;) It was the idea of Tilion and Eärendil as Arda's finest gossipers that made me choose Arien as a subject for this challenge! One day I will write a story about the two of them! I think that Tilion and Eärendil became really close; when Eärendil joined them in the sky, Tilion acted as his mentor, since they most often sailed together. Eventually that morphed into a brotherhood, and when Tilion and Arien made up, she joined them too. I don't think Eärendil would've been able to bear the weight of his duty without Tilion. I don't think that even the Valar can truly comprehend what an impact that can have, which made them find comfort with each other.
The interaction between Arien and Nerdanel almost wrote itself and I can't deny it made me shed a few tears as well ;)
oh, this is wonderful! A gentle, yet sad tale in its own way, but the friendship between Tilion and Earendil made me smile. And of course Tilion is still chasing Arien *wry grin* as though he could do anything else!
Arien feeling Nerdanel's pain made me cry for them both though. The things these Watchers of Arda must see...*wishes I could hug Arien, if she wouldn't burn me that is*
Donut: *perches on his Kaylee's shoulder and offers Arien a fish* Mine?
Hm :) silly seagull. but Donut has an interest in Earendil and Elwing, so that explains him poking in on my review, lol. *giggles*
Thank you for posting this wonderful story! :)
Thank you for the review! Arien, Tilion and Eärendil are the new trinity ;) and with the phases of the Moon being what they are, Tilion can hardly stop chasing her, now can he?
Arien is not really a people person, but nonetheless is deeply empathic. And you can hug her! As long as she's wearing her physical form, you are fine!
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Comments on Sunset to Sunrise
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