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.
Finrod and Bëor stop for a while on the road to Nargothrond to rest. The bodies of the Secondborn often grow weary, and Finrod laments, massaging Bëor's back and renewing his beloved's vigor with the work of his hands. But Finrod has other burdens of his own, Bëor soon discovers, returning…
Maglor without Maedhros, Daeron without Lúthien. Alone, they are nothing, but together, they can be something more. Where do you turn, when you have no one else left?
Written for Tolkien Reverse Summer Bang 2023, featuring artwork by athlai.
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…
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.
But what if Éowyn was also a student of history?
…
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Angbang Week 2026
Angbang Week is a tumblr event focusing on the relationship between Morgoth and Sauron, running from May 5-11, 2026
Gondor Week 2026
A Tumblr week event focusing on the history of the realm of Gondor.
Crablor Day
A day dedicated to everyone's favourite warcriminal crustacean - April 26, 2026
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.
Thank you! I did; I couldn't resist. (I really hope she doesn't disappoint in the movie.) It's a complete stand-alone. For some reason that I have yet to figure out even months later, the prompt combined with something I read in a magazine and out sprung the story. Though I'll probably end up using the Avarin communication network in something else; I like the idea too much to leave it alone.
Again this is such a wonderful and smooth read. I just love the differences between father and son, the strategic exchange of information and Maglor checking the room for anything that could help him if he will be attacked.
This was every bit as good as I expected it would be. It's great to have the occasional (additional) glimpse into Maglor's wandering, and even though you fitted in a lot of different elements, the story made for a fitting whole.
Thank you! I honestly worried-- even as I posted-- that the two halves were two separate stories rather than a unified whole. So to hear that you thought otherwise was wonderful.
This is a very plausible situation; Maglor would have every reason to worry that his presence among the Elves in the West would do more harm than good with Sauron arisen again. The dialogue between Thranduil and Maglor is great.
I really like this! It's an interesting look into Maglor's life in the Third Age. I like how even though he's mostly separated from the elves he still kind of keeps tabs on them, to know what's going on and how they're doing. The way he's always thinking about who he might run into and how to avoid that show how stressful that balance must be.
The interaction with Thranduil was interesting...there's definitely some hard feelings there, but Thranduil doesn't really dredge them up. Seeing Tauriel in the story was great!
Thank you so much! I really like the network the Elves have among the clans; it'll probably pop up in other stories of mine eventually. I tend to think the Avari are a bit more accepting, but Maglor's too much of a wanderer to feel comfortable settling down anywhere.
I think, after that long and having to deal diplomatically with people he doesn't like for the sake of his kingdom, Thranduil's more than able and willing to give Maglor a chance to explain himself and give him a chance to not cause trouble. I could not resist a Tauriel cameo despite this story being otherwise entirely bookverse.
Comments on In the Darkness
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.