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
Gates of Summer
Create a fanwork based on prompts about summer taken from Tolkien's life, canon events, and quotes from his letters and stories. 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 have a few guesses as to who might be the recipient of the narrator's tale (one of which is the narrator's daughter), and I had fun guessing the children's names, but I won't say anything not to spoil the fun ;)
Your guess would be right. :^) Likewise, coming up with the hints of who these children became entertained me. Thanks so much for reading and commenting! Glad to know you liked this out-on-the-limb story.
A most intriguing story! I think it could have been longer; it feels a bit like an episode in a miniseries; but the story is so imaginative and beautifully written that those are minor quibbles. I love the sketchy portraits of the young narrator's mighty benefactor and his tent-mates - very good sketches of those individuals, indeed.
And you know I want to see more of his sister in later Ages!
Thanks, Raksha! Be assured I will keep adding to this series. I love the challenge of having a "scientifictious" underpinning but described with more poetic language. I try to imagine the narrator's attempts at explaining what would be very alien to a denizen of Middle-earth in terms that she or he would comprehend.
The sister will make an important appearance in The Elendilmir. :^)
Hey, I believe Spiced Wine mentioned me to you? Yeah, I'm finally getting around to reviewing your awesome 'verse, and have decided to do so in internal chronological order. So...
I cannot put in words how many feels I have for kid!Mairon. I just... :'( *hugs* *hugs rest of the Maiar* The other children mentioned (apart from Mairëa) were Eönwë, Saruman, Radagast and Gandalf, in that order, right?
Hi, Khaosity! Yes, indeed, Spiced mentioned you to me. Thanks a million for tackling the Pandë!verse :^), and I really appreciate that you're reading these fics. I'm afraid I have far too many WIPs (a bona fide Career™ cuts into my fan fic time :^D), and Light Over the Mountain is one of them. That's not to say that I don't have very clear ideas of the next little vignette with young Mairon, his sister, and the other children.
I absolutely love your backstory for Mairon and the valar! Your story is just so beautifully written, and the concept is great! I can't wait to see what happens to them and how it leads up to what happens to them in the future! I wonder what Gandalf thinks about Sauron in the future since they knew each other as kids.
Comments on Light Over the Mountain
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.