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.
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…
"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…
Current Challenge
Everyman
Create a fanwork about an ordinary character in the legendarium using a quote about an unnamed character as inspiration. Read more ...
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.
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.
It is so lovely to finally meet another writer who loves Curufin.
I really like how complex Curufin is. Such a great character to explore.
This was a wonderful exploration of Curufin's feelings about his wife, her choice not to follow him into exile and what marriage means to him.
I find it rather sad that she chose to stay behind, because I think with her support Curufin may not have become the person he became before he died. She may not have been able to do much about the oath, but things may have been quite different had she gone with him and her son.
Isn't that what marriage is all about? Through the good and bad times you stand by your partner, in support. No wonder he has lost trust in women.
Thank you very much for your kind review :) I'm glad you enjoyed it!
According to my understanding of Curufin (who is indeed a very complex character), I believe that her following him into exile would not have prevented him from becoming who he became. Indeed, things would have been different, but the oath would have been there nonetheless, and I think Curufin wouldn't have suffered any influence or impedement in his choices. After all, it is said about Fëanor that even Nerdanel couldn't hold him back in the end, and Curvo's "decline", I believe, went much further than his father's (and well, his relationship with his wife was not that of Fëanor with Nerdanel). Unfortunately I tend to think that, in any case, there would have been a separation (as there was with Celebrimbor)
Also, these are questions of interpretation and characterization and I cannot claim my point of view to be "the one" ;)
Comments on Broken faith
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.