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: 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.
It was only the second time Finwë had come out foraging with them, and of course this would happen—of course the Hunter would come, the Dark Rider on his steed with its terrible, heavy footfalls, and the deep-throated laughter that held no mirth, only malice.
“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…
"In sorrow we must go, but not in despair. Behold! we are not bound for ever to the circles of the world, and beyond them is more than memory." - The Return of the King
Stitched for the Famous Last Words challenge for the prompt: "And with that, they stepped into…
Current Challenge
Everyman
Create a fanwork about an ordinary character in the legendarium using a quote about an unnamed character as inspiration. Read more ...
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.
For most of my life, when reading Lord of the Rings, I read it through the perspective of Gandalf's words about Éowyn, that she'd spent years trapped as a caregiver, watching the realm she love fall from honor into disgrace.
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.
Every serious House of Finwe writer has to eventually write their story of Thangorodrim. This one is difficult to read, but not without hope. (Or whatever it is that passes for hope for those living under the Curse.) Fingon's struggles and the physical details of those are communicated in a manner intense enough that reader feels like he has personally experienced them.
I liked the small scene at the end with Caranthir; it very much mirrors my own thoughts about the conflicting attitudes Maedhros' brothers mighy have had when faced with Fingon's rescue:
Caranthir tore his eyes away from his older brother and met Fingon's eyes, the traces of old friendship back warring with respect, gratitude and worry. 'And you, cousin, should I send healers to you as well?' his voice was gruff from carefully held back emotions.
Thanks for reading Oshun. Funny thing I writing Thangorodrim in such detail never entered my mind until this part of the vodka universe started clamouring for attention. It may sound odd but I am glad it was hard to read, it was hard to writ too trying to make it intense trying to catch what Fingon could have felt and had to do and so on. I wanted it to feel realistic if that makes sense with talking eagles and all ;)
Caranthir appeared from nowhere but was almost straight away torn in his reactions, the joy, the guilt... the gratitude and the renewed respect/ friendship of someone that they al seem to have been close to on the other side of the sea.
Fingon of course keeps trying to stand in the middle of it all :P Some day I might even add on another chapter to this, it feels like there should be one.
Never before I read something more graphic than this concerning Maedhros' being rescued from his torture, but is really next to what really would have happened.
Though using rough words and pictures, you really did this well, not weaving words around it, to hide the bitter and bloody trueth, but to change cruelty into mercy, and maybe some wish fullfillment, along.
Comments on Thangorodrim
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.