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
Potluck Bingo
Help yourself to a collection of prompts on bingo boards designed by members and friends of the SWG. 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.
I was swayed by the mystery of the music and the emotions evoked as if I was a hidden spectator.
Who is this mysterious silvery fluet player? Will Maglor ever see him again? or will he be a passing moment of katharsis? Whichever, it is a precious moment.
thank you, glad you liked it. The mysterious flute player is Tinfang Gelion (Warble), but the name was not yet in the list. Well, Maglor at least has no clue who this mysereious elf is. They will meet again, not in this story but in one set several years later. This ficlet will be a kind of prequel. I plan to write a second chapter nevertheless, with the focus on Tinfang's thoughts and emotions, as I had to keep a certain word limit, so I focussed on Maglor.
I'll echo Scarlet's words. This is enchanting. Your prose is gorgeous and riveting, and I felt myself immersed in the realm of Faerie when reading this. You've taken a rather obscure character from BoLT and brought him to life. Tinfang Warble comes across as elvish but Other, too, and that is just perfect. The build-up of sexual and aesthetic tension is conveyed beautifully through the imagery of music entwined with humanity. Very, very nice, Lintalómë a.k.a. Amaranth!
Thank you so much for your kind words. I think my mind was floating in the realm of Faerie when I wrote this; I had an exact picture of the scene in mind and tried to capture it with words. I found the ficlet a bit difficult to write, I had a word limit of 2000 words and never before had to keep a word limit, so I had to make the descriptions short yet wanted them to convey as much of the emotions and the magic of the moment as possible.
I really fell in love with Tinfang when I read the few details Tolkien mentioned in BoLT and he is spooking my mind ever since. That Tolkien played with the thought of Tinfang being a half-Maia and the few things he mentioned about the magic of Tinfang’s flute play makes him even more special and mysterious…it is so inviting to take those few details, add own ideas and make Tinfang come to life.
The Book of Lost Tales has always had a raw, ethereal magic to it that JRRT's later writings lost, in my opinion. It is rare when I read a story or find a writer who can capture the unique feeling of that book, but you do that here. This story is breathtaking; Maglor's first sight of Tinfang was such that I nearly gasped along with him. The synesthetic imagery, where music unleashes memories and perception, is very effectively done and maintains that magical quality to the end. Very beautifully done--thank you! :)
Thank you, glad you liked it. And thanks for adding Tinfang to the name list, I might need him again in future. I had a rather detailed picture of the scene in mind, Tinfang with his pale hair and skin bathed in moonlight while he dances and plays. And the magic that hung in the air, inspired by the remarks in BoLT where it says that the stars come out too soon when Tinfang plays and that the people who hear him play feel a strange longing, I think this was roughly what BoLT said. And I thought it interesting to let two musicians of such skill express themselves with music instead of words, music that evokes vivid pictures in the mind and conveys their emotions and thought with far more depth as any spoken word could.
I love picking BoLT, opening one of the books at a random page and then having a look what new mysteries I encounter. Whenever I do this, I find something new and interesting that I seemingly overlooked or that did not draw my attention at first. Tinfang was one of the cases where I purposefully researched after I encountered him in the Lay of Leithian, but only after reading what was written about him in BoLT, I became totally hooked.
Faerie indeed! The atmosphere is magical and your description of Tinfang conveys his otherwordliness (even for a Valinor elf). The way tension builds up (both music and sex) is wonderfully described.
Thank you, glad you enjoyed it. Tinfang enchanted me when I read about him in BoLT, he has something special about him and I tried to get this across as best as I could. I think trimming and tightening it because I had to keep a word limit of 2000 words added greatly to the tension, yet it was challenging to say everything I wanted to say in those few words and keep a certain level I thought pleasing.
Sorry for the late reply, I had a hell of a week and was too tired to spend additional time at the computer in the evening. Thank you for your review, I am glad you liked the story. I always try to be descriptive when it comes to the emotions of the characters, trying to give a certain depth.
Sorry for the late reply, I had a hell of a week: second week at the new job, a rather nasty cold and looking for a new car; I collapsed into bed like a stone each evening. Thank you for your review, I am glad you liked the story. It really amazes me how well it was received and it is very encouraging. It was a hard piece of work, it always is, as I often think too German and have problems to word my thoughts in English…I try to think in English to make it easier.
Tinfang is a rather inspiring little muse; he is so enchanting and always sets my mind in motion.
Comments on The Dance of Flute and Harp
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.