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: Title Track Tolkien's titles range from epic to lyrical to metaphorical. This month's challenge selected 125 of them as prompts for fanworks.
Our Annual Amnesty Challenge: New Year's Resolution Start 2026 off with creativity! If you missed a challenge or didn't get to finish or post a challenge fanwork, complete any 2025 challenge before 15 February to receive the stamp.
He was going to die. The molten rocks would burn him just like the cursed gem in his palm did. Maybe less painfully but still being burnt hurt and Maedhros knew it. He intimately knew it from his time in Angband where Þauron burnt him often in frustration and to toy with him and his master…
“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…
Aldarion storms off towards Middle-earth. For the Title Track challenge.
Current Challenge
Title Track
Create a fanwork using our collection of 125 titles from Tolkien's books, chapters, essays, poems, and fragments as inspiration. Read more ...
Random Challenge
Song of Exile
Create a fanwork about exile or exiles. About being exiled. About the people who are exiled. About the decision to exile, the leavetaking, the consequences. About metaphorical or symbolic exile. Read more ...
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.
This presentation for Mereth Aderthad 2025 discusses the many similarities between Tolkien's three "twilight children," Tinúviel, Lómion, and Undómiel (Luthien, Maeglin, and Arwen) in terms of appearance, plot, and cultural background. Yet these three characters play very different roles in the text.
Presented at Mereth Aderthad 2025, this paper makes the case thata, although the term "aromantic" had not yet been coined in Tolkien's day, many of his characters can be read as aromantic. The paper takes a closer look at Aredhel, Bilbo, and Boromir as three examples of characters who can be read as aromantic.
“There’s a goblin hiding in the taters, Dad!” Pippin hefted the pan, which was much too big for him to carry, let alone wield.
Around the World and Web
March Challenge - Tolkien Short Fanworks
Tolkien Short Fanworks is running a challenge for the month of March to create a Back to Middle-earth Month themed challenge.
Tolkien Fashion Week 2026
This two-week-long Tumblr event is dedicated to honoring the world of fashion and textiles Tolkien wrote about in his books.
Celegorm and Curufin Week 2026
Celegorm and Curufin Week is a Tumblr week celebrating the relationship between Celegorm and Curufin Feanorion
Back to Middle-earth Month 2026
Back to Middle-earth Month is returning for it's 20th year with many prompts and archival efforts.
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.
Hi Indy! I confess, I couldn't wait, so I read it myself. :-) I absolutely love this perspective you have taken with this. I wasn't sure how you would go about it, but I really like that you took the perspective of a member of the Faithful right before her wedding day. I loved the conversation bewteen Mestie and her mother. I imagine it must have been very difficult for the Faithful during the rule of Ar-Gimilzor, and I love how you illustrated that struggle throuh Mestie as she prepared for her big day. I do hope she and her husband will exchange the Sindarin vows in private. :-)
I really like Mestie, and I hope you will write her more. I also loved that you picked the family business being a fabric store. I was grinning over that. Yes, I would love to see more of Mestie.
This was wonderful, short, but very potent and raises lots of questions about how fr is too far for a leader to go.
I\'m really glad you like the perspective. It\'s always a risk writing a fic consisting solely of OCs, and even more risky when the point-of-view character is a woman.
I think the only time it was worse was during Pharazôn\'s reign, and that\'s because they had to worry about being sacrificed.
They did. :)
This is the first of a duology, and the second one should be posted tomorrow. *laughs* I picked something that could be easily have been in the family for generations and could be for generations more. Since people will always need fabric, it seemed logical.
Yes, it does indeed raise uncomfortable questions.
This is short, but you've crammed quite a lot into a short piece. You've got the Faithful trying to adjust to the new laws and trying to sort out what's allowed and what's forbidden (is it okay for an elf to be at the wedding or not?), some of them leaving Numenor to seek safer/friendlier homes (Lond Daer), and finally a bride-to-be feeling as if her wedding somehow isn't quite right if the vows aren't spoken in the correct language.
That last point almost calls to mind some of the feelings of long time Catholics after Vatican II, when the altar was suddenly turned around and the Latin Mass went away.
I\'m glad you caught the significance of all the little details. When I saw it posted last night, I nearly panicked, because I\'d forgotten how much I\'d actually put in.
I hadn\'t even thought of the Vatican II parallel! But it fits.
That was a lovely--and fun-- piece. Rebellious young people are awesome! ;-) It must have been so frustratring for the Faithful to see their way of life so altered, and I really eenjoyed this glimpse into how they went about it. Great job!
I\'m glad you enjoyed it! I wrote it focusing on OCs instead of the court because we know why Ar-Gimilzôr did it, and I found it more interesting to see how people reacted to it. Thank you!
That was a lovely--and fun-- piece. Rebellious young people are awesome! ;-) It must have been so frustratring for the Faithful to see their way of life so altered, and I really eenjoyed this glimpse into how they went about it. Great job!
What a wonderful brief glimpse in the life of a 'normal' Numenorean with her hopes, dreams and worries. A new law is in place and yet she tries to see if there is a way around it, it feels as if we'd also do if we can.
This bit:
“With the king acting as he is, I cannot help but fear.” She stood up and kissed my forehead. “If necessary, leave Númenor and move near us. It’s safer there.”
It leaves me wishing for more! Very concisely written with an impact!
The normality of her life is what really makes this story: too many Númenorean fics focus on the court and/or the nobility, and I wanted to do something different. I\'m glad you think it had an impact, because I was worried about that with such a short piece.\r\n\r\nAs for wishing for more, this is the first in a duology. :)
An excellent tidbit, Indy. I love fics with OCs of any sort really and those that take a look at the 'common folk' of Middle-earth cultures are particularly appealing. This certainly fits the bill. I also like the implication that Númenóreans are leaving their homeland and fleeing persecution and an increasingly tumultuous society.
I'm hoping that this little gem might just be the seed crystal for a larger work. :^)
Thank you! I\'m glad you like the \"common folk\" OCs, because I haven\'t seen too many of them, which is a shame. I can\'t imagine that Númenóreans wouldn\'t flee, Faithful and not. Civil unrest has always caused it, for those who can afford to leave.
Not unless you count \"Falling Stars.\" I have no desire to further work with these characters-- I\'ve told their story. :)
Indeed, a very thought-provoking and well written glimpse at the everyday life of young people that were carefree and sometimes rebellious, but most of all they wanted to be happy and live their lives as they wished. Thank you for sharing :)
Comments on Every Wish
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.