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.
Fantastic work, Lyra! You addressed the theme beautifully, and for me, this poignant, painful and awkward meeting rings with authenticity. Eärendil's narrative is executed in a most satisfying way!
Aw, thank you very much! I blame this entirely on B2MeM - I chose to play Eärendil because my usual characters tend to be rather angsty, and what happened? I discovered Eärendil\'s angsty side... ;) Glad you enjoyed it!
So I decided to read this tonight because I can't sleep, and now I'm curled up in bed getting teary because this meeting is so painful and so real. Excellent, excellent story.
I think he does. He observes that they behave like "Mortals or Feanorians" in leaving their weapons, and although he feels that they qualify as neither, "not really", he is aware that in some ways, they are both (half-)mortal and (raised) Feanorian. I was also trying to allude to their Feanorian upbringing with my cumbersome description of their assymetrical cloaks, covering their right shoulder (and thus, their right arms). I probably didn't make a very good job of it, but in my 'verse, this is a typically Feanorian thing - a fashionable show of solidarity with Maedhros ("Our leader can't use his right hand, so we hide ours, too"). It's distantly inspired by the Renaissance mantella, only reversed, and as a long cloak rather than a cape. Although Elrond and Elros are no longer among the Feanorians at this point in the story, they continue to wear their cloaks "Feanorian-style", possibly as an act of rebellion or a covert vote of confidence. I am not sure Eärendil picks up on that, however, although he does pick up on the strangeness of the cloak. But anyway, yes, he knows, and when he assumes that they "called another man their father", he means Maglor.
I think they have come to understand - or at least accept - their parents' decisions at that point. And neither of them strike me as cruel people. Eärendil's fate, meanwhile, is a lot crueller than it may at first appear! Thank you for liking and letting me know!
Comments on Lives Apart
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.