New Challenge: Everyman
Create a fanwork about an ordinary character in the legendarium using a quote about an unnamed character as inspiration.
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.
Instadrabbling Sessions for April, May, and June
Instadrabbling continues on the first Saturday of each month on our Discord server.
New Challenge: Famous Last Words
For our March challenge, our moderators will assign you a famous last line to use as a prompt.
[Writing] a life freely given, a favor returned by skywardstruck
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…
[Writing] dye me, nocturne by skywardstruck
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.
[Writing] Til We're on the Other Side by StarSpray
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.
In the dark…
[Writing] A Hundred Miles Through the Desert by StarSpray
“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…
[Writing] Hill and Water Under Sky by StarSpray
a collection of drabbles and mini ficlets in the meanwhile the world goes on 'verse that aren't long enough to stand on their own
[Writing] The Long Arm of the Law by Elrond's Library
Turgon cannot be above the law.
[Writing] Despair and Shadows by octopus_fool
Haleth leaves to find her brother, even though her father does not permit her to.
Everyman
Create a fanwork about an ordinary character in the legendarium using a quote about an unnamed character as inspiration. Read more ...
Fandom Draws the Line: Fanworks, AI, and Resistance by Dawn Felagund, Grundy
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.
Grief, Grieving, and Permission to Mourn in the "Quenta Silmarillion" by Dawn Walls-Thumma
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.
Tolkien, Lunatic Physicists, and Abnegation by Cynthia (Cindy) Gates
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.
[Artwork] The Mirror of Galadriel by skywardstruck
Smoke rises from the Mirror, where the Lady of Lothlórien awaits to share its visions.
[Writing] Bar-en-Eladar by Gabriel
Out of the shadow, light is born anew.
A Chieftain is dead. And whilst the events surrounding his death are unclear, a son tries to come to terms with his loss.
[Writing] Why did Éowyn ask Faramir if he'd rather have a "woman of the race of Númenor"? by Quente
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?
…
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
April/May Teitho Challenge
Teithio is running a prompt challenge around the theme of "heartbreak."
April Challenge Tolkien Short Fanworks
Tolkien Short Fanworks is running a challenge around the theme of "fools," "foolishness," or "being fooled."
!!!!!!! Oh I'm so glad you explored this!
I love how you jointly draw out the characters of both Elendil and the absent Elros through comparison
He did not say it was his self-assurance, his candour that nearly overstepped the bounds of common courtesy.
😉
his promises of pomp were the very reason Elrond had given no notice of his coming.
Love an understated Elrond <3
Elrond wore no such jewels.
Oh it feels like there is such a story hidden in this line
Without ever saying it outright I like how you show Elros as the elder with all the extra attention that often goes with that.
commissioned by Felagund for Bëor the Old and became,
Such a beautiful piece of world building, and making it all the more precious as an heirloom!!
And then Elrond's grief at the end, always to lose those around him 😢
Gorgeous! Truly gorgeous 💖
Thanks so much. Started jotting things down with a pen and what do you know the characterisations leapt out at me.
Oh it feels like there is such a story hidden in this line I think so. Of course, he ends up wearing one very significant jewel soon after this (Vilya) but I've never thought that was a role he relished.
Such a beautiful piece of world building, and making it all the more precious as an heirloom!! That Finrod, gets himself involved in every story :D
Interesting encounter with all those contrasts between Elrond and Elendil, and the implications about Elros!
I can see your point about how the uncertainty about its early history might fit a heirloom of the Edain.
I'd be interested in those women bearers, if you'd be happy to say a bit more about them!
ETA; Also the title: I see what you did there...
Thank you for the comment! I've developed a bit of an investment in Elros in the last little while and enjoy exploring ideas for his character.
I have two not-fully-formed thoughts about what happened to Narsil between Brethil and Sirion:
1 - It passed to Beren's semi-canonical sister Hiril. Since we know virtually nothing of her, the possibilities are vast. I haven't thought beyond that for her.
2 - Emeldir entrusted it to Morwen who brought it with her to Dor-lomin. Why she would not have sent it to Doriath with the Dragon-helm I do not yet know, but I'm imagining she herself wears it on the journey to Doriath and then passes it on to Nienor. Nienor wears it when she follows after Morwen disguised as an elf-man and it's still on her when she's enspelled by Glaurung. But of course when she becomes frightened and flees, she casts it off with the rest of her garments. Mablung retrieves it and brings it back to Doriath. When he at last learns of the fate of Turin and Nienor, he brings it back to Brethil for their Haladin kin to do with as they see fit. I was thinking of it maybe being placed on their tomb/memorial, but then someone taking it from there and bringing it to Sirion seemed not quite right.
ETA; Also the title: I see what you did there... 😉
I like your idea for how Narsil could have been handed down! It's a very cool idea for it to be originally made for Bëor and passed down among his descendants. I like the involvement of Emeldir, Morwen and Nienor as you explain in the comments. And I agree, it's only fair and makes sense for Elrond to have some heirlooms too. :)
and Elrond noted how securely the ring circled his finger, as though it had become a part of his hand — for so jewellery appears when seldom, if ever, removed from the wearer.
Oh no, that's ominous foreshadowing . . .
And poor Elrond, who finds himself guarding both the shards of Narsil and his brother's heirs so soon.
Thank you! I'm glad you like the idea of an Edain "origin" (even if it did start with a Dwarf and an Elf). That's an insightful observation about the ring, I hadn't even thought of it (consicously).
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Comments on Shards of a Line Unbroken
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