New Challenge: Everyman
Create a fanwork about an ordinary character in the legendarium using a quote about an unnamed character as inspiration.
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.
Instadrabbling Sessions for April, May, and June
Instadrabbling continues on the first Saturday of each month on our Discord server.
New Challenge: Famous Last Words
For our March challenge, our moderators will assign you a famous last line to use as a prompt.
[Writing] a life freely given, a favor returned by skywardstruck
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…
[Writing] dye me, nocturne by skywardstruck
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.
[Writing] Til We're on the Other Side by StarSpray
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.
In the dark…
[Writing] A Hundred Miles Through the Desert by StarSpray
“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…
[Writing] Hill and Water Under Sky by StarSpray
a collection of drabbles and mini ficlets in the meanwhile the world goes on 'verse that aren't long enough to stand on their own
[Writing] The Long Arm of the Law by Elrond's Library
Turgon cannot be above the law.
[Writing] Despair and Shadows by octopus_fool
Haleth leaves to find her brother, even though her father does not permit her to.
Everyman
Create a fanwork about an ordinary character in the legendarium using a quote about an unnamed character as inspiration. Read more ...
Swinging 40s
Choose a prompt from a list of music, films, novels, inventions, and more from the 1940s. 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.
[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.
[Writing] Why did Éowyn ask Faramir if he'd rather have a "woman of the race of Númenor"? by Quente
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?
…
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
April/May Teitho Challenge
Teithio is running a prompt challenge around the theme of "heartbreak."
April Challenge Tolkien Short Fanworks
Tolkien Short Fanworks is running a challenge around the theme of "fools," "foolishness," or "being fooled."
“-Macalaurë still out there searching-“
Voices. Loud, angry voices sounded from somewhere close by.
“-your own son lying senseless and where is it that Tyelkormo finds you?!”
A hand stroked his forehead and idly smoothed his hair. Celebrimbor opened his eyes and saw the tired face of his uncle Amras, red-rimmed eyes frowning at something his nephew could not see.
Very vivid - the little details tell the story, rather than being told to the reader. A sympathetic approach to the sons of Feanor, as elves with the same capacity for grief as anyone else, is all too rare.
I was a bit confused by the shifts through time and Celebrimbor's memories, but it all made sense in the end, and I think it's always difficult to manage time and scene transitions. I particularly liked this bit from Feanor's death and Celebrimbor's return to consciousness, however - the words leap right into the imagination of the reader.
Thank you very much! That bit was satisfying to write- I'd wondered how to show the dynamics between the brothers after Feanor's death without ending up with terrible, longwinded writing. And I completely agree with you; it's strange for me that there are so many people who see the Sons of Feanor as mindless murdering machines (yay alliteration), particularly the "three Cs" and out of those three, Curufin.
Also, thank you for alerting me to the ambiguity of the time-switches! *winces* I will try to remedy that using italics to show the transitions- here's hoping it works.
aw! so vivid and moving. Many people see the feanorions as murderers who were incapable of love and other emotions, but we see that Celebrimbor still yearns for his father, as his father yearned for his, through the salvaging of the ring.
I go a little confused by the time shifts, but got it after re-reading it, skim reading is not good for storys- you get so confused. I need to learn not to skim read. XD
Deffo an 'add to favourites' simply for how good it is and the fact you make them seem human. also because i'm a suckedr for the feanorions and beautiful fics about them :)
Lindale
I loved the way you portrayed Celebrimbor's changing perception of his father - it changed my perception of Curufin, too. The human side of Curufin (so to speak) is very believable, and flawed (as it should be).
The third last line is heartbreaking (sorry - there's no other way I can describe it).
Curufin is a character I hadn't given much thought to before I read your fic. Reading your story made me see another side of him.
Mistrali
This is the most heartbreaking piece on the Feanorians I have ever read. It was touching to see another, more flawed and vulnerable side to the so-called "fell" elves.
The departure from Doriath of Celegorm and Curufin drew me in and from there I couldn't stop reading (though I should be sleeping). I've always speculated how Curufin reacted when his son refused to join him and I think your version is both plausible and very, very sad.
The last scene between Curufin and his son was the most heartbreaking of all, especially when the ring dropped from Curvo's hands. Thanks for sharing this.
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Comments on Thicker Than Water
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