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: Building Middle-earth Let global architecture be your inspiration in this challenge, where you will work with a prompts that are architectural styles, locations in Arda, or both.
He’d ventured into the little fishing village in search of food and maybe a dry place to sleep for a night of rain and wind—he hadn’t expected this, to be bullied into a hot meal and a healer’s attention.
Tuor and Elwing’s recreational sailing excursion goes terribly awry when a carnivorous siren casts her gaze upon their vessel. With her song, she enchants the mariners and boards with evil intent. She kills and eats their crewman, she demands Tuor’s hand in marriage, and for dessert…
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…
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…
The Lord of the Rings and Hobbit film trilogies mark perhaps the most influential events in the history of the Tolkien fanfiction fandom. As the Rings of Power show approaches its third season, data from the Tolkien Fanfiction Survey shows that it is not even close to matching the impact of the films ... yet.
Data from the 2025 Tolkien Fanfiction Survey shows demographic changes in participant gender, age, and education and new revelations about neurodiversity.
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.
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…
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.