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: Scavenger Hunt In this Matryoshka-with-a-twist, you will solve clues that point you to the challenge prompts.
Sign-Up to Hand Out Scavenger Hunt Prompts Our May challenge will be a Matryoshka built around a scavenger hunt. If you'd like to hand out prompts (and receive comments on your work for doing so!), you can sign up to do so.
New Challenge: Everyman Create a fanwork about an ordinary character in the legendarium using a quote about an unnamed character as inspiration.
Cultus Dispatches: Fanworks, AI, and Resistance by Dawn and Grundy The fan studies column Cultus Dispatches returns with a history of how Tolkien fanworks fandom has reacted and resisted generative AI by drawing strong boundaries in a way that is not typical for the fandom.
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…
In his old age, Isildur's former esquire Ruinamacil, known to later histories only as Ohtar, writes his own account of his escape from the ambush at Gladden Fields and journey to Imladris, and the history of his friend whom Isildur ordered to flee with him.
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…
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.
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.
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.
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…
A Chieftain is dead. And whilst the events surrounding his death are unclear, a son tries to come to terms with his loss.
Around the World and Web
Scribbles and Drabbles 2026
Scribbles & Drabbles is a fic and art exchange with a minimum word count of 100 words.
Russingon Week 2026
A Tumblr week event focusing on the relationship between Maedhros and Fingon.
Boromir Week 2026
If you are Boromir girlies/gents/stans/simps, then this event is for you! So, come join us, and bring your fanfiction, art, gifs, moodboards, and headcanons that highlight everything you love about our Captain of Gondor!
Silmarillion Epistolary Week 2026
Silmarillion Epistolary Week is a Tumblr challenge dedicated to creating fanworks to tell the story of the Silmarillion in the style of an epistolary novel.
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.
Oshun, I love this! Feanor is very, very attractive here, and no one can blame Fingolfin being totally into that. (Also, the bit about Fingolfin's cheekbones. Heh!) Also, forgive this irrelevant aside, but whenever I read your works, I always secretly wish you would include recipes at the end -- those salmon cakes with ginger sound great!
Thank you! I am so happy you liked it. On the recipes--I have seriously thought of doing a receipe book for my fanfiction. I am hooked on this one online for A Game of Thrones (Inn at the Crossroads - http://www.innatthecrossroads.com/2011/06/). My daughter is helping me collect photos. She reminds me now if I forget to take a picture of something I may use in a story. I do have food icons for this story--among others. I may add a separate chapter here to share them.
I said on your LJ but I want to say here as well how much I enjoyed this story. You captured the awkward passion of youth so well, and the humor was much appreciated. It made me long for what could have been in the tumultuous story of the Feanorians. Well done and highly recommended!
i like this! in my hopeless head i never imagined this pairing other than angsty...but youth and blitheness are healthy! XD fingolfin bashful in bed, can't help the giggles... i can also find hints that make it perfectly imaginable why things would become as they were later.
would you mind if i ask for a favor? i wish to translate this into chinese and post it in our community. a good friend of mine was just lamenting yesterday that the pairing lacked any hope for happiness. she'd love to see this. of course, your name and the link will be put above the translation.
Thank you for he lovely review. And thank you for asking about the translation. Although I do not read Chinese, I would love to have a link to your site also.
I really love this! It's very rare to see happy fic for this pair, so I'm so grateful that you write this :) Their dynamic is really interesting and both are very very attractive here, especially Fëanor. This is just so lovely, I really wish there's more! :)
You are so incredibly kind to read this and to comment. It is just a little romp of a story. Every time I try to write Feanor and Fingolfin really young, they always come out very fond of one another. I guess I must admit that in my own imagination they are really, really different and because of circumstances sometimes jealous and envious of one another, but still love one another. To imagine a happier earlier period makes what follows that much more poignant. I personally am not interested in reading unmitigated misery. I need contrast to fully appreciate what they lose when the strife between their factions among the Noldor separates them. TMI. Pardon me! Thank you so very much for reading.
(Oops. One last remark. Magic words--you said you wished there was more. I am working on a story at the moment--a chapter of a story actually--that also has a lot about the earlier relationship between Feanor and Fingolfin. I hope to finish and post it very soon.)
It's so nice to read a story when they are happy and fond of each other. Fëanor already has the passion that will make him be who he is, later on, but the darkness has not started to fester yet. Makes one wonder how Fingolfin would have felt later on.
Comments on Before Strife Was Born
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.