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.
Finrod and Bëor stop for a while on the road to Nargothrond to rest. The bodies of the Secondborn often grow weary, and Finrod laments, massaging Bëor's back and renewing his beloved's vigor with the work of his hands. But Finrod has other burdens of his own, Bëor soon discovers, returning…
Maglor without Maedhros, Daeron without Lúthien. Alone, they are nothing, but together, they can be something more. Where do you turn, when you have no one else left?
Written for Tolkien Reverse Summer Bang 2023, featuring artwork by athlai.
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.
“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…
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.
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?
…
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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
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.
Such a well-written triptych. I loved the imagery you've chosen, and I loved your Maedhros, Maglor and Fingon. (Mairon, not so much! But that comes with his job description. ;))
Thank you! I don't usually write Mairon - I think this might actually have been the first time I've written him? - so I'm glad he was sufficiently evil! :)
Thank you! I was really inspired by how, in the fic I linked in the notes (Weep and Be Burned), Melkor and Mairon try to convince Maedhros that his predicament is his own fault. And I figured since he's Feanor's son, making him forge the band that holds him to the side of Thangorodrim would be the kind of think the Angband crew would do. Because irony.
I always figured Maedhros came to the decision to pass on the kingship pretty quickly once he knew Fingolfin and co. had arrived. I imagine that he knew the Oath was going to have to come first, and he didn't want to have that kind of conflict of interest as High King.
Oh, so very poignant! I particularly liked the interaction between Fingon and Fingolfin, and the former's resolve to do as his mind and heart told him even if it went against his entire family (and people). And, of course, the lullaby in the end... beautiful!
I really like how you used the allegory of metals. This was hard to read but so very well-done! You also did a great job with Mairon - he is terrifying here.
Their whole interaction was really heartbreaking. Seeing Maitimo like this is never easy and still you managed to bring Finno's undying devotion to his cousin so beautifully. I really loved it!
Thank you!! :) I wrote this quite a while ago but I definitely remember it making me really emotional while writing. Maedhros' decision to give the crown to the Nolofinweans is one of my favorite events to explore - it says so much about his character - and I think it would definitely have been something he told Fingon as early as possible.
Comments on Thangorodrim Triptych
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.