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.
Feanor and Fingolfin, from their youth to their fall.
"I will do this gladly," Fingolfin said, whispering into Feanor's mouth, grasping for reasons and sense. "Gladly, if it will bring peace between us. If it will end the madness."
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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…
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.
Curvo CAN be devious - though it's easier when Mags doesn't realise he's being played. He enjoys talking about his talented friends, though, so I can't think he'd really mind...
OMG! This is a adorable. I love it. Great characterization all the way through. I love the younger, softer Curufinwe which one does not often find in fics. I love almost tossed away passing characterization of the others. Love the idea of Maglor gathering artists of all sorts around him to help him produce extravaganzas. I especially love the half-Telerin/half-Vanrarin young woman who is not intimidated by grumpy, hyper-focused Feanor.
I really like your Telperina and how her relationship with Curvo develops!
The way you integrate the artifacts of the challenge seems very natural and they add just the right kind of touches to make your take on Valinor feel more fully realized.
I sprinkle them everywhere! (I kind of enjoy the idea of this challenge, I'm wondering how many I can get into this framework, either as pieces of my 'mueum' or as throw-away mentions in the fic itself... we shall see!)
I just discovered this tonight and I think it's lovely. Very creative way of incorporating the objects and prompt. I really like the fact that you chose Curvo and his courtship for the story line. The characterisations are excellent and the undercurrent of humor here, especially regarding Kanó (and intoxicated Finno), is quite entertaining. I often feel an undercurrent of sadness/impending tragedy when I read fics set in the happier days in Tirion before the Darkening but I don't get that from this story and that is refreshing. I like the fact that Curvo is a bit out of his depth and that he has rough edges and imperfections--especially his utter lack of fashion sense! The romantic tension is well done and I am as ready for them to kiss as they are!
I'm happy the lack of impending tragedy works (I, too, read so many woe is coming fics, but it really didn't fit this story to be angst that way)
My Curvo is definitely not smooth... And honestly I don't even know when the kissing will happen ;) also, yay, I'm secretly funny! Well, I'm most often funny by accident, but I did want to explore the brothers' dynamics without worrying too much about the darker parts of the story (may still happen, you never know) because I don't think any of them are the same characters in happy tirion (for a certain degree of happy, anyway) as they are later, under the influence of the deeds they have done, the Oath, and all the rest.
I cannot tell you how much I adore the attempted lock picking scene and how you have characterised them all so well. Carnistir and his lock picking, Maitimo overseeing everything but also in charge of the little ones, Tyelko gleeful at the prospect of climbing up to the roof and Makalaure irritable. But their seriousness when discussing the rule of no locking up craft rooms and their palpable worry about Curvo, who most certainly should know that rule. Also the lovely touch that they have often had to drag him away when he is creating or manage to get food into him. really lovely details. And of course they will be discussing pulleys and ropes because they are problem solvers and full of unique and creative ideas, even for breaking into Curvo's forge.
Tyelko's thoughtful bundle of food is perfect.
And what a great scene in the forge! I love how completely flustered he is that his carefully laid plans have been brought to a shambles. And that he has made a dozen rings and can't decide which is best for her but has one defiinitely fo himself.
I had a feeling Feanaro would show up and be able to get in. I love that he reprimands for the locked door, not much else. Great chapter. Can't wait to see the brothers reactions. They know, I'm sure of it.
I hadn't actually planned to write their reaction... but now I surely must :O Also Nerdanel... I shall continue beyond ze deadline ^^
Curvo certainly does know the rule, it just didn't seem quite as important as his plans at the time... even if it led to being interrupted by his father (and, yes, Fëanor DID really go make a key to unlock the door - he was worried, too).
Fëanor, in general, strikes me as someone who would notice the ring she was wearing, realise why she was wearing it (recognising Curvo's work, perhaps), and be a little lenient... - he'd remember when it was he and Nerdanel hiding out in a forge, after all. Their similarity would probably allow him to guess that Curvo would not do so if he wasn't serious, which meant there'd be little reason to protest.
The wild begetting-day party, swamped by too many inebriated brash young Noldor! But none more brash than "with Prince Half-Naked"--love the descriptions and cultural blending and contrasts. What one would expect at a party like that of the best and brightest of the younger generation of a privileged people. Just as I would expect in the golden age of Tirion.
Fingon stoned out of his mind, draped all over his favorite cousin, and Maedhros being relentlessly correct and gracious while taking his leave of their hostess!
I love the almost-kiss scene. That was so well done--terribly romantic and suspenseful and then annoying drunk Maglor! Oh, well. There will be another chance. They are lovely together. Love that she manages to reach him with mind-touch and bid him an affectionate farewell that way.
What a great story! Thoroughly enjoyed it. Great depiction of Curufin before everything blew up. He's so often depicted as sinister (a la Nargothrond). Makes you wonder how he even had a wife. Your tale showed his better side and you did a wonderful job in showing how their love bloomed from that initial meeting.
Comments on A Walk down Memory Lane
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.