New Challenge: Scavenger Hunt
In this Matryoshka-with-a-twist, you will solve clues that point you to the challenge prompts.
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.
[Writing] The Second Music by Hilya Lórienva
The story diverges from canon at the beginning of the Second Age (SA 600). In this alternate timeline, Sauron does not adopt the guise of Annatar to deceive the Elves of Eregion. Instead, he pursues a different path of dominion - one that threatens the very foundations of Arda itself.
[Writing] Funeral Dirge by Artano
Two Dwarves mourn the loss of their lord after the Ninraeth Arnoediad.
[Writing] She who holds a Circa by vigil_ardensole
She is one and many, the heroine and the victim, the courageous and the victim, the dead and the living, her feelings and sufferings are felt and shared together, and no justice, divine or earthly could mend her pain in the aftermath.
[Writing] Systems in place by daughterofshadows
Tuor arrives in Gondolin and admires the gardens.
[Writing] From That Rubble by StarSpray
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…
[Writing] Add Another Stone by StarSpray
The thing about forgiveness, he thought, was that it was so much easier when the object of it was far away—or dead. It was so much easier to let it all go when those responsible were far away and unable to do any more harm.
[Writing] How Tolkien Presents Ordinary People in "The Silmarillion" by Dawn Felagund
Inspired by collecting the prompts for the Everyman challenge, this essay considers how ordinary people are subsumed and silenced in The Silmarillion, which begins a three-book arc that ends with the rise of the humble and ordinary.
Scavenger Hunt
Solves clues to find your prompts for this Matryoshka challenge. 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.
[Writing] Down the Long Years by Isilme_among_the_stars
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…
[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.
Week of Kiliel
A Tumblr event dedicated to the relationship between Kili and Tauriel.
Aspec Arda Week 2026
This week-long event celebrates asexual and aromantic spectrum interpretations and headcanons of Tolkien’s Legendarium.
April/May Teitho Challenge
Teithio is running a prompt challenge around the theme of "heartbreak."
Tolkien Reverse Summer Bang 2026
The Tolkien Reverse Summer Bang is back for another summer of collaboration between artists and writers!
Site © Dawn Felagund
Logo © Bunn
All copyrights for creative work hosted on this site are retained by their creators.
This site is built using Drupal and the theme W3CSS.
Characters and stories associated with J.R.R. Tolkien's works remain the property of his estate. Creative work using this material has been written solely for the enjoyment and enlightenment of its creator and their associates. No profit is made on the materials shared on this site.
Comment by Himring for Lúthien Tinúviel, Part 1
Great to see the first part of your bio on Luthien!
Well done! I like the points you are making here and the quotations you picked.
Re: Comment by Himring for Lúthien Tinúviel, Part 1
Thanks so much for reading and letting me know, Himring! I hope the next part is satisfying. This one has been harder than I ever expected!
Comment by Lilith for Lúthien Tinúviel, Part 1
Terrific worK on a very challenging topic.
Re: Comment by Lilith for Lúthien Tinúviel, Part 1
Oh. ooops! I forgot that I am not getting notifications of comments these days! Sorry I did not thank you. It took a lot out of me. I was pretty much warming up to the topic and no longer being totally neurotic about it by the time I got part one done. Now I have to get back in saddle and see where I find myself within part 2! Thanks so much for the support!
Comment by Himring for Lúthien Tinúviel, Part 2
I like this bio and your thoughts on Luthien's character!
And that extended trailer is fun.
(Such hard work, a three-parter like this--thank you for doing it and sharing it!)
Re: Comment by Himring for Lúthien Tinúviel, Part 2
Thank you so much for reading it. You are so kind. Despite all my drama, I have enjoyed every minute of it! (Great story!)
Comment by IgnobleBard for Lúthien Tinúviel (1)
You really outdid yourself on this one. This story is so fragmented and complicated it's s difficult to detail But you managed it beautifully. Ive always loved Huan with his talking and prophesies and wolf killing. But, of course, Luthien is the star of the tale. I regret that Tolkien pulled back from the magical, fairytale elements in his published writings. I like that aspect.
I always enjoy the sources you pull for these bios and the various elements of the story you give me new perspectives on.
Re: Comment by IgnobleBard for Lúthien Tinúviel (1)
Thank you so much! I am so glad you enjoyed it. Thank you also for copy checking various drafts. The length of it seemed overwhelming at times.
<i>I regret that Tolkien pulled back from the magical, fairytale elements in his published writings. I like that aspect.</i>
Those are unique. I would have liked a little more internal point of view and perhaps more dialogue. But honestly, if he'd have written it in my favorite style it would have been an epic novel. It's a great story and the more I read its component parts, the more character depth one sees in it. Even in our favorite dog! I am really happy I had the chance to write it.
Are you there for me if I decide to write Beren? Then I would have full set. Already have Thingol and Melian.
Comment by IgnobleBard for Lúthien Tinúviel (2)
Am I there for you? Always! I can't wait to read about Beren and the haunted forest.
And isn't the Beren and Luthien story an epic novel now? Christopher Tolkien published it fairly recently, right?
Re: Comment by IgnobleBard for Lúthien Tinúviel (2)
I wonder if anyone has written fanfic with that!
Beren and Luthien is like a History of Middle-earth book except it covers only one subject and is not definitive in that case--very partial. Cherry picks items to include. It is required reading for me, but I would not highly recommend it for others--too watered-down for hardcore geeks and too nit-picky to be a popular read. And never by any stretch of the imagination is it novelistic. It is not organized like Children of Hurin, which does more or less read like a novel. I liked the Beren and Luthien book because it was fun to follow Christopher Tolkien's lead and see what he might include and where. I have been told the illustrations are good but I cannot see them. Too faded and desaturated for my failing eyesight. (I did not like that style when I was fully sighted! Give me some color and definition, please!)
Comment by IgnobleBard for Lúthien Tinúviel (3)
Beren and Luthien would have been the story to novelise, what a missed opportunity.
If you ever run across a Beren in the haunted forest fanfic please let me know. I'd love to read it.
i love book illustrations that look like they were done in the old days (which goes back a ways at my age), but I don't like when they look faded. I'm a fan of color too.
Re: Comment by IgnobleBard for Lúthien Tinúviel (3)
You would be a good person to write one!
Comment by Lilith for Lúthien Tinúviel, Part 3
I'm commenting on this one, though I might comment on any number of others. I remember being very grateful because of what I had been writing at the time that you were completing this particular bio. I think, for that story, I read this one, Celebrimbor's, Thingol's, Galadriel, Huan, and more, simply to be sure I was on the right track to my own apostacy. If I have a grasp on any of those characters, it is due in part to you. If I don't, which I may not, I may have veered closer to the correct direction as a result.
These are informative, amazingly well researched, entertaining and very clearly written. They are definitely a labor of love and I appreciate them and you greatly.
Re: Comment by Lilith for Lúthien Tinúviel, Part 3
That is very, very kind of you. That's exactly how we originally conceptualized that they might be used. To enable writers to do their creative stuff! Apostacy is more fun when it has some seeds in canon! Right?