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: Scavenger Hunt In this Matryoshka-with-a-twist, you will solve clues that point you to the challenge prompts.
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.
This is my new poetical attempt to add my own interpretation to Tolkien's Cosmology as to Eru's Creation and the Valar's minds and behind-the-scene providence reasons and mechanisms.. I often review Eä as part of our own world, just in another dimension, this is why I have always seriously…
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.
Fëanor shrugged, studying the contents of his wine glass. “Something must be done about that house. It will fall down eventually.” “It does not follow that it must be you that tears it down single-handedly. Are you sure you do not want help?” “It’s not as though I…
Rescued from a brutal Angband hunt, an ex-thrall with a strange and powerful artifact embedded in his spine is brought to Himring, for it is one of the only places in Beleriand which welcomes such folk. Though he has no memories of his life before, Anniavas slowly becomes accustomed to his new…
Middle-earth Museum
Stroll the halls of an imaginary Middle-earth Museum and choose one (or more!) objects from our prompt list to inspire the creation of a fanwork. 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.
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…
A Chieftain is dead. And whilst the events surrounding his death are unclear, a son tries to come to terms with his loss.
Around the World and Web
Scribbles and Drabbles 2026
Scribbles & Drabbles is a fic and art exchange with a minimum word count of 100 words.
Russingon Week 2026
A Tumblr week event focusing on the relationship between Maedhros and Fingon.
Boromir Week 2026
If you are Boromir girlies/gents/stans/simps, then this event is for you! So, come join us, and bring your fanfiction, art, gifs, moodboards, and headcanons that highlight everything you love about our Captain of Gondor!
Silmarillion Epistolary Week 2026
Silmarillion Epistolary Week is a Tumblr challenge dedicated to creating fanworks to tell the story of the Silmarillion in the style of an epistolary novel.
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.
These are as powerful here as when I first read them in the netherworld. :^) My hat's off to your depiction of the immediacy of Alqualondë from the viewpoint of Teler and Noldo with such crisp language! Nicely done!
Congratulations on taking the plunge! You're doomed now, you know. :^D
I really like how you've conveyed the contradiction of attitudes in these two drabbles: the horror and chaos of the attack from the point of view of the victim, and the steel-cold drive of a trained assailant. The skillfulness would be later turned into pain and remorse, but it would be too late to atone for the disaster. Very well done, and thank you for sharing :)
Thanks Robinka - the idea for the first one came from a discussion with Rhapsody in LJ (the second one was written first, in fact...) Glad you enjoyed and thanks for commenting!
What a debut, Moreth! This is wonderful characterization in these two drabbles. You absolutely broke my heart in both of them. You captured the scene so well. The first character is so young and unaware he will soon be facing something he has never even thought about. (The "Nana" and the "stars are fading" pushed me over the edge.) The Feanorian on the other hand, has been prepared, but is nonetheless tragic, because part of his preparation has been don't think, just keeping moving, do what you have to do. His grief and guilt will necessarily have to be dealt with later.
This moved me far beyond much more ambitious and much longer pieces I have read about Alqualonde.
I'm glad you enjoyed (if that's the right word). The whole scenario seems pretty horrific and confused to me - I'm glad that came across. Indeed, the poor Feanorian is going to have a very bad time afterwards!
Drabbles seemed easier to start on then some full blown epic - so I suspect I'm cheating a little, but thank you ;)
I'm going to have to agree with the others: a most impressive debut! :^D Both drabbles are fantastic and, put together, create a great effect. I literally had shivers by the last line of the first. Such innocence about to abruptly end. Actually, I think that's somewhat true of both, when both Elves are about to learn hard lessons about the world, about the capabilities of their own kind to commit violence.
Again, wonderful work, most highly recommended to anyone stumbling through and willing to take my word on things. :)
Hi Rianna, and thanks for the comment! I hope you have as much fun as I am. The guys (gender neutral) here are great, so I'll pass on the advice given to me - "Go for it"!
There's a lot of detail left out in Tolkien's writing - I can see why, but gritty detail is soooo much more interesting to write! And the more I think about it, the worse it gets for the poor guys... (I entirely blame Rhapsody for the first drabble!)
You know, I absolutely hate people who use so few words and do so much with them. And that is a compliment, immediate and very traumatic, it gives the sense that violence, and the use of weapons to kill is new to the Noldor and Teleri, the shock at the feeling of dying and the shock the Noldo who has killed feels after, fighting, putting all they have learned into practice, seems reflexive, but after - that is when realization hits home. * claps *
Oh, thank you :D Coming from someone who writes such beautifully intricate detail it is a compliment indeed! I tried for something that depicted the shock of violence - from both sides. It was an interesting challenge to balance the two.
This was incredible. The two scenes show such contradicting views but on some level are quite similar, and fit together nicely. And the line, “Nana, the stars are fading...” *shudders* Terrifying, but sort of scarily beautiful.
Like my own kinslayer, yours also just goes through the motions of what he has learnt. When they learnt it, they were probably told of the dangers of Middle-earth, where they would hopefully go some day, perhaps even of Orcs - I don't believe that killing other Elves was ever even thought about in their training.
And when he's finished, and stops to think - yes, I totally believe your desrciption.
Comments on Alqualondë
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.