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.
As beautiful as he is dangerous, Aegnor, an elven prince, stands against the looming shadows of Angband. Brother to Galadriel, he commands the siege with a fierce intensity, a duty that exacts a heavy toll on him. Beneath the iron walls he has built lies a broken soul, haunted by a devastating…
We get together from time to time on the SWG Discord and produce spontaneous fanworks based on randomly chosen prompts. This collection includes drabbles, ficlets, and other flash fanworks produced as part of our instadrabbling sessions beginning in 2026.
Ailinel, orphan of Numenor, is one of the poor girls dowered by Tar-Ciryatan and titled a "King's Daughter", encouraged to sail East to his colonies and find herself a husband.
It doesn't take her that long.
But even after she and Shipman Gaerondur find love, life in the colony isn…
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…
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
Zingers
Prompts for this challenge include zingers and insults from literature and pop culture. 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.
chrissystriped has requested the following types of constructive criticism on this fanwork: Setting, Spelling, Grammar, and Mechanics. All constructive criticism must follow our diplomacy guidelines.
This was very good. I enjoyed how the different parts of the story were linked together, but I especially loved the last part. The moment when he started to tell his story to Finrod, and the story was cleverly linked to the beginning. It was very emotional story, and heartbreaking. Great use of the prompt!
That moment was actually the point were the story started at first, I'd intended to end it with their death. But then Finrod decided to save that fea by dragging it with him to Mandos and I thought it best to rearrange the whole fic.
Thank you! I was remembering that line where Tolkien says that the werewolves were spirits imprisoned in wolf shapes and was thinking that not all of those spirits might have been unwilling, if that meant they'd have a body. He's been going down a dark road for a very long time. Finrod decided very quickly he couldn't just leave him behind when he realised he was an elf once and he doesn't regret it, even after he's heard the whole story. Namo, I think, would accept anyone in his halls who comes to him and be just -- if and when they can leave again, is another matter.
Something that is so very real, how an early emotional wound that one is not fully aware of can drive one to committing acts that are against one's nature, and when those misguided attempts fail to assuage the hurt, more and more damaging actions are tried, until one becomes vulnerable emotional prey, loathing oneself, losing oneself, yet unable to stop oneself. An origin story of addiction, come to think of it — and (thank you!) redemption.
It's so in line with Finrod's character, at least the way I view him.
The whole story kind of sneaked up on me (which is fitting with him being a wolf), revealing only bit by bit what was going on and who he was.
I had a really bleak ending in mind, but Finrod had other ideas. I think he's a very understanding person and someone who'd give everyone a second chance who asked.
I'm glad you like the name! Elfdict gives both 'white' and 'cold' as translations for ninque and I liked that double meaning for him and the rabbit in contrast to what he would become.
And thank you so much for the corrections! (English comma rules are my bane and life/live is something I know how to use in theory but seem always to forget to apply.) I rephrased some sentences and hope it's clearer now.
The only thing I left is 'fea' because that's a concious decision. I don't use the diaeresis on principle, because in german (my native language) ä and ö are differently pronounced than a and o. Pronouncing names like Eärendil or Eönwë the way Tolkien intended them to be pronounced, threatens to break my brain because it insists on reading them in german ;-).
Oh! I like how Ninquelopo now waits with bated breath... the poor elf must be beside himself with nervousness!
Ah, yes, Cold White Rabbit is an even better name for a hot blooded dark wolf. Ai, poor Ninquelopo, it's going to be a long road to recovery.
That's interesting about the pronunciation of the diaeresis in German, I learn something new! But please don't let it break your brain, I like what it makes!
The story of how he came to be a wolf - refusing the call to Mandos - is fascinating. Finrod, of course, is as wonderful as usual - showing both empathy and forgiveness (something Uncle Fëanor needed to learn really).
Comments on The Binds of Death have been Unwound
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.
chrissystriped has requested the following types of constructive criticism on this fanwork: Setting, Spelling, Grammar, and Mechanics. All constructive criticism must follow our diplomacy guidelines.