New Challenge: Epic 80s
This month's challenge features hundreds of fresh prompts from the bodacious decade of the 1980s.
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: Epic 80s
This month's challenge features hundreds of fresh prompts from the bodacious decade of the 1980s.
Cultus Dispatches: Communities Do Comment
Comment data from the SWG underscores community as an essential component to a robust commenting culture.
Instadrabbling Sessions for July, August, and September
Instadrabbling continues on the first Saturday of each month on our Discord server.
New Challenge: Scavenger Hunt
In this Matryoshka-with-a-twist, you will solve clues that point you to the challenge prompts.
[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] Eä's Redemption by AaronAzrael
This is my new poetical attempt to add my own interpretation to Tolkien's Cosmology as to Eru's Creation and the Valar's minds and behind-the-scene providence reasons and mechanisms.. I often review Eä as part of our own world, just in another dimension, this is why I have always seriously…
[Writing] Wrensong and Roses by Isilme_among_the_stars
Concerned by his responses to the paraphernalia of healing, Fingon steals Maedhros from his room for an impromptu garden excursion. Maedhros battles with dark thoughts.
[Writing] The Mirror Crack'd by AdmirableMonster
Rescued from a brutal Angband hunt, an ex-thrall with a strange and powerful artifact embedded in his spine is brought to Himring, for it is one of the only places in Beleriand which welcomes such folk. Though he has no memories of his life before, Anniavas slowly becomes accustomed to his new…
[Writing] Bon(e)fire by Fuin
On the night before the battle, Caranthir and his ally share thoughts about their peoples' traditions:
Burning bones ward off evil.
[Writing] Until the Stars are All Alight by Dagstjarna
Reembodied in Aman, Celebrimbor decides to return to Middle earth to help heal the darkness and hurt wrought by the ring.
Epic 80s
Create a fanwork using on of our righteous prompts based on popular culture from the 1980s. Read more ...
Competition
Create a fanwork about competitions using a song from the Eurovision Song Contest as a prompt. Read more ...
Communities Do Comment: Expanding the 3C's of Commenting with SWG Data by Dawn Walls-Thumma
Expanding on my 2018 article "Why People Don't Comment," comment data from the SWG underscores community as an essential component to a robust commenting culture.
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.
[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.
Tolkien Gen Week 2026
Tolkien Gen Week will run from July 6-12, 2026 to appreciate all of the incredible characters and relationships within Tolkien’s legendarium that fall under the broad category of “gen.”
Tolkien Disability Pride 2026
This Tumblr event focuses on ALL creative works focusing on disability in Tolkien's universe.
Tolkien Native Language Appreciation Fest 2026
A Tumblr event to celebrate the linguistic diversity of the Tolkien fandom.
Scribbles and Drabbles 2026
Scribbles & Drabbles is a fic and art exchange with a minimum word count of 100 words.
<3 This little story. I love Túrin. What happened to him was 50% bad luck (probably caused by Morgoth) and 50% spectacularly bad decisions (on his part and also his family's and the people near him). I feel sorry for the guy.
Anyway, I liked this glimpse of his youth: the foreshadowing of his death, alone in the forest, and the way he calmed after the storm. He's very much like a storm himself... one very prone to killing people, unfortunately.
Aw, thank you! (I think the bad luck was also involved in the bad decisions, at least if you read the Narn traditionally ;)). I feel sorry for him as well, and it was fun to write him at a somewhat more innocent time. Thank you for commenting!
It's taken me ages to try and come up with a good review for this, hence the belated reaction. You probably won't be surprised to hear that I loved this - the hints at the culture of perception of the Valar by the Sindar, Nellas' sheer joy and optimism (which is a) adorable, and b) quite enviable), the fact that you picked these two characters in the first place --- three leaves! --- and the author's notes, which were just as wonderful as the story.
And this doesn't even cut close to what I want to say. Long story short, I don't deserve it. Thank you for writing it anyway. <3
Yay, you found it! I was worrying that I should've sent you a notice since I wasn't certain if you had time for the SWG at the moment.
I was hoping that you'd like it - writing those two certainly was a first. Nellas' character here has been largely formed by our discussion about who might make a good pb for Nellas and the brief mention of River Tam - except that (I thought) Nellas would be River but without the trauma (aside from general anxiety, I guess). Turns out River without the trauma is Luna Lovegood. ;)
Anyway, I'm glad you found and enjoyed this, which was after all the point. As for the deserving, that's the sneaky thing about gifts - the gifted doesn't get to decide that... ;)
*hugs*
Hi Lyra! I just love stories where an author writes from a youngster's point of view - be they an elfling or a child of Man. Nellas was enchanting and doubtless much older than little Turin had imagined! ;-) Really nice demonstration of how a simple incident, faced with the help of a gentle guide, can go a long way in bolstering a child's confidence and preparing him to manage the greater challenges life will eventually throw at him. Thoroughly enjoyed the story and learned a lot myself! Thanks for sharing it with me!
Hi Elletheril! I always find it a bit difficult to write youngsters (I'm afraid of overdoing "childish" voices!), so I'm really happy that you liked this little story, especially if you're a fan of the genre. It certainly was fun to write Túrin in a (relatively) non-angsty situation! ;) Thank you for letting me know what you think!
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Comments on Watching the Dance
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