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…
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.
I suspect you've spent some time around teenage boys. This sounds terribly familiar to my not-so-distant past when my friend group was all male ... they didn't have crushes on each other (to the best of my knowledge ;) but you get the expressions perfectly.
I touch myself in the dark at night when I think of you
*sporfle!*
Though he is my imaginary boyfriend, I have to disagree with Nelyo here. This is very funny! :D
Thanks, Dawn! Poor Neylo! Well, he gets his revenge in my later stories where they have to listen to what he says.
Yes, Much too much time around teenage boys. Until a couple of years ago, this place was crawling with them all the time and they never watched their mouths around me either.
I'm afraid I've "converted" from Maitimo-ism to Celegorm-ism so I really enjoyed his very direct speech here. And Maglor is as sweet as I imagine him to be. ;-)
Thanks! And, sorry! (About the immature giggles, I mean.) There were a couple of parts where I though "I can't believe I wrote that" and then thought "No. I'm not gonna cross it out." I did feel like I was channeling teenage boys somehow.
Of course it is funny Maedhros! Hehehe, I suspect he will feel the laughing stock of his brothers in the years to come. Which, by the way, adds more to your verse when Maedhros finally can claim his love. I told you already, but the brotherly banter is wonderfully done. From the direct and blunt Celegorm who does want to share his giggles with Maglor, to Maglor who is oh so keen enough to tease Maedhros with his observations. It could have been worse for Maedhros though... imagine all seven and perhaps his cousins teasing him! ;) Well done Oshun, I love this!
I realized I missed responding to this comment! So sorry. I love torturing Maedhros in this period. The earnest, responsible oldest brother must have been such a target for those guys. From the dynamics of a large family, I recall that sheer joy of us younger ones finding out that one of the older siblings, who knew more, had more privileges, and yet so often was called upon to enforce parental policy, had a weakness. An irresistible target, I’m afraid.
Thanks for the comment. I conceptualized it thinking of how funny a houseful of sons of Feanor would think any secret crush would be and only that much moreso if it involved their well-behaved oldest brother. (Shameless Fingon is, of course, a no brainer in my verse.)
Thanks, Binka! I do not know why I am provoked to have Maedhros's brothers tease him so much. (This must be at least the third story or ficlet where I have brought it up.)
I really enjoyed the idea that the brothers were aware of Kano and Nelyo's affection and teased them about it. Very brotherly. Not to mention the vision you've painted of Kano on horseback. YUM! I'd have my tongue out too.
Thanks for the great comment. I’m so glad you enjoyed it. I imagine that those seven brothers lived in one another’s pockets. And poor Maedhros must have gotten payback in teasing from that headstrong crew for the role in was forced to play as surrogate parent at times—the dynamics of a large family are very familiar to me. \r\n\r\nI loved the idea of the slightly older Maedhros pining after young Fingon when I wrote my very first story in this cycle (Maitimo and Findekáno). But as I developed Fingon over the last couple of years, I realized what a tarty little flirt he must have been been during that period when Maedhros was waiting for him to growup just a bit. (I love watching dressage.)
Dawn made me do it! I was inspired by scenes in Another Man's Cage when Macalaure does so incredibly baldly at dressage. I thought it would be fun to make Fingon good at it.
Comments on That's Not Funny!
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.