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 ...
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.
So sad! I am old enough to know better, yet it is always sad and unbelievable to see people change so drastically and grow estranged. This piece shows that so well! I love how we see how different both A and P are, yet we see the companionship they share very vividly too, all the more poignant because we know how it all ends. Great work!
They really did grow in different directions didn't they. I don't think Amandil fully understands at the end of the story quite how involved in the mission's failure Pharazon was. I'm glad you enjoyed it, and thank you for the feedback.
A funny story; and I loved Azare's determination to bed Gil-Galad! It's refreshing but rather sad to see Pharazon and Amandil as friends; I remember Tolkien mentioning it in HoME...And the use of Numenorean names is very effective.
I'm glad you liked Azare. I must admit that I enjoy causing a would-be Mary Sue to make a complete and total idiot of herself-and then have to deal with the likely consequences of her actions. I'm glad you liked the parrot. One of my earlier ideas had to Gil-galad give it to Cirdan who then walked around with it on his shoulder... but Cirdan is really not very piratical and it didn't fit with the story as it worked out. I'm glad you enjoyed it, and thank you for the feedback.
I am halfway reading this story and it is just fabulous! I love the air of the two cocky men you captured here: the brash Pharazon and the curious yet trying to be diplomatic Amandil. Then of course the cultural differences between the two races, two worlds grown so apart... And oh, monkeys, who wants monkies: that had me nearly choking on my beverage. But this, oh this had me roaring from laughter:
Amandil watched in horror as some nearby elves turned interested expressions their way. "Bush of whizzish..." one said, obviously trying to puzzle out what the captain was saying. "What's a whizzish bush?" he asked.
Amandil thought frantically, and decided that a little white lie was the best part of valor here. "The whizzish bush grows only in Numenor," he said. "We make a special alcoholic drink from the fruit and he thinks he's had too much of it."
It is that I am in need of sleep, but I could read many more chapters of this utmost goodness!
The whole bush of whizzish thing started off as a voice dictation error. I looked at it and suddenly realized that it opened some wonderful opportunities for mayhem and went with it. I'm glad it worked as I hoped it would. Thank you for the feedback; it really helps me to know when what I'm doing is working and when it isn't.
Hi, Aiwen. i started reading this, and I really enjoy your Amandil! I love seeing the friendship between him and Pharazon. It's not often that perspective is touched upon. I look forward to reading more!
They are an odd pair, and that part of the story was interesting to write because I was never quite sure how it would work out. I'm glad you enjoyed it and thank you for your feedback.
I did not know that there were more than one chapter! And I'm so glad I found the rest of it ;-D What a fun, witty, clever, hilarious, intriguing, insightful story! The different misunderstandings and blunders were too much fun to rrad but, at the heart of it, the knowledge that both kindreds had drifted toomuch apart to be reconciled quite so easily.
Little did Amandil know that his heirs would make friendship with those same Elves...
My idea for the story started off as one blunder after another but when I actually wrote it down I realized that the subject matter was serious enough I had to treat it with a little more respect than I had originally intended. I'm glad that two levels came across properly. Thank you very much for the feedback.
What a wonderful depiction of a diplomatic mission! The awkwardness feels very believable, and the parrot had me snickering madly! Seeing Amandil and Pharazon in their youth was a treat also. Great job!
I'm glad you enjoyed it. This story grew in dribs and drabs in my head for several months before I wrote it down. Diplomacy afflicted by ill will and Murphy's law...
This was a humorous story with definite undertones of the seriousness of the matter. The culture clashes were well-handled. And the differences in personality and the later conflicts between Amandil and Pharazôn were superb.
"Now if you want a difficult castle in the hands of enemies why don't you go attack Barad-dur?" "You never know," Pharazon said with a smile. "Someday I just might."
These were my favorite lines of the piece. Obviously meant in jest here, but so foretelling. (Make me wonder if they rememberd this conversation when it did happen.)
Comments on The Day the Numenoreans Left
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.