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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!

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SWG News

Silmarillion Writers' Guild - Mereth Aderthad 2025 - July 19, 2025 - Burlington, VT, and online - a celebration of creativity and scholarship inspired by the works of J.R.R. Tolkien

Register for Mereth Aderthad!


Mereth Aderthad Interview: Interview with Kai by Shadow
Kai is the featured artist for Maglor's Mereth Aderthad 2025 presentation, "Gil-galad was an Elven King: Kingship and Personhood in the last High King of the Noldor." Shadow spoke with Kai about his wide range of interests and inspirations in the legendarium and why Maglor's presentation so intrigued him that he finished the art for it the first night.

Mereth Aderthad Interview: Interview with Dawn Felagund by Shadow
In our series of interviews of creators for Mereth Aderthad, Shadow spoke with Dawn about her story, written for Savannah Horrell's "By Guile Committed: Comparing Tolkien’s Thieves to Beowulf" presentation, the balance of planning an event and creating for it at the same time, and the intersection of Tolkien and Beowulf.

Mereth Aderthad Interview: Interview with Cindy Gates by Grundy
Cindy Gates' upcoming Mereth Aderthad 2025 presentation "Tolkien, Lunatic Physicists, and Abnegation" considers the ethics of science in the legendarium. Grundy spoke with Cindy about her research, her own experience as a professional scientist, and her long-running fascination with the Manhattan Project.

So You Want to Present at a Tolkien Conference? Actually Presenting!
Part of our ongoing series to support fans who want to present at Mereth Aderthad and other Tolkien conferences, this session will share strategies for delivering a presentation at a conference.

All SWG News

Known Site Issues

New & Updated Fanworks

[Writing] High in the Clean Blue Air by StarSpray

They passed out of Lhûn and the wider coastline of Middle-earth opened up before his eyes. He had wandered those shores for centuries, and even now he felt the pull of that same wanderlust, and knew he would miss them for the rest of his life. Their wildness, the untamed waves, the rocky…

[Series] Instadrabbling by SWG Moderators

We get together from time to time on the SWG Discord and produce spontaneous fanworks based on randomly chosen prompts. This collection includes drabbles, ficlets, and other flash fanworks produced as part of our instadrabbling sessions.

[Writing] The only student of Maglor on record on this side of the Sea by Himring

Drabbles from the life of Emlinn, Maglor's Sindarin student from Brithombar, who is the narrator of my story "The West Wind Quartet".


Insta-drabbles written on the SWG Discord back in December 2020 (which apparently I did not cross-post here?), with another one written in June 2025. …

[Writing] and love is not a victory march by atlantablack

Fëanáro thinks of many things during his exile for he has nothing but time and a chest full of fury.


He thinks of his hatred for Melkor. He thinks of his children and the toil the exile is taking on them even if they will not voice it. He thinks of his father and the disappointment he’d…

[Reference] Interview with Grundy by Shadow by Grundy, daughterofshadows

Long fascinated with the Manhattan Project, Grundy was naturally drawn to Cindy Gates' Mereth Aderthad 2025 presentation “Tolkien, Lunatic Physicists, and Abnegation" and is making a work of glass art to accompany it. Shadow spoke to Grundy about her inspiration on the project and long love of…

[Writing] Eä's Redemption by AaronAzrael

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…

[Writing] All That the Waves Did Not Claim by Isilme_among_the_stars

Little moments of reflection with Maglor as he comes to terms with grief. A collection of drabbles and other short writings to accompany One in the Deep Waters.

Current Challenge

Period Drama
A Matryoshka challenge where prompts are inspired by common tropes found in period dramas and historical fiction. Read more ...

Random Challenge

Teen Spirit
In honor of the SWG becoming a teenager, create a fanwork about an adolescent character or adolescence using our prompt generator. Read more ...

New in References

Interview with Grundy by Shadow by Grundy, daughterofshadows

Long fascinated with the Manhattan Project, Grundy was naturally drawn to Cindy Gates' Mereth Aderthad 2025 presentation “Tolkien, Lunatic Physicists, and Abnegation" and is making a work of glass art to accompany it. Shadow spoke to Grundy about her inspiration on the project and long love of Tolkien.

Interview with reese by Dawn by halethleia, Dawn Felagund

Reese is the featured author for polutropos's presentation "'Kidnap Fam' and the Living Legendarium" at Mereth Aderthad 2025. Dawn spoke with reese about the silences storytellers leave, mythology, and the appeal of alternate universe fanfiction.

Interview with Kai by Shadow by Kai, daughterofshadows

Kai is the featured artist for Maglor's Mereth Aderthad 2025 presentation, "Gil-galad was an Elven King: Kingship and Personhood in the last High King of the Noldor." Shadow spoke with Kai about his wide range of interests and inspirations in the legendarium and why Maglor's presentation so intrigued him that he finished the art for it the first night.

Featured Themed Collection

Orcs Are People by cuarthol

Part of our Themed Collection series for our newsletter, this collection features fiction, artwork, and essays that transcend the idea of Orcs as the enemy, instead considering their humanity.

Alliterative Verse for Arda by Rhunedhel

Part of our Themed Collection series for our newsletter, this collection features alliterative poems about Middle-earth.

Beyond the Silmarillion

[Artwork] Floating through the Forest River by Varda delle Stelle

Bilbo and Thorin's Company are arriving to Lake Town floating through the Forest River with the barrels

[Writing] The Wondrous Tale of the Bee-wolf by bunn

Once upon a time, JRR Tolkien wrote a fairy-tale retelling, an attempt to reconstruct an alternative version of the ancient poem called Beowulf, and he called it Sellic Spell: 'strange tale' or 'wondrous tale'.


Once upon a time, on the long road home from the Lonely…

[Writing] Dáin's Saga by bunn

The tale of Dáin Ironfoot, told loosely in the style of a saga of Iceland (in English translation).

Around the World and Web

Scribbles and Drabbles 2025
Scribbles & Drabbles is an annual Tolkien event where artists create artwork and writers then write stories (a drabble or longer) inspired by the art.

Camp Tolkien 2025
A Tumblr event with daily prompts aimed at different stages of the writing process.

Boromir Week 2025
Boromir Week is a Tumblr event for fanworks about Boromir.

Celebrimbor Week 2025
A Tumblr event celebrating Celebrimbor as he is depicted in all books and media.

June challenge at tolkienshortfanworks on Dreamwidth
The June challenge has been posted to the tolkienshortfanworks community on Dreamwidth: thematic prompt: reward - regard; formal challenge: alliteration. As always, these prompts can be filled separately or combined freely with other challenges that allow it.

View all Around the World and Web announcements.

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Bedtime Stories by Anérea

| | |

Fanwork Notes

Listed vaguely in in-universe chronological order, this selection ranges from post-creation to the Third Age.

Podfics run from a few minutes to over an hour. Check individual podfics for ratings and warnings.

I'll probably keep adding to this list as I come across more.

For ziggy, who thought this would be a good idea. Thanks for your enjoyment and encouragement!

Fanwork Information

Summary:

Just a few of my favourite podfics that I've found soothing for bedtime (or middle of the night, or any time really) listening.

Major Characters: Celebrimbor, Narvi, Belladonna Took Baggins, Gandalf, Bungo Baggins, Original Character(s), Original Female Character(s), Elwing, Eärendil, Olwë, Númenóreans, Dúnedain, Elrond, Celebrían, Maglor, Maedhros, Celegorm, Caranthir, Mandos, Frodo, Samwise Gamgee, Narvi, Aulë, Ilmarë, Thuringwethil, Fox, River-woman

Major Relationships: Celebrimbor/Narvi, Celebrían/Elrond, Ilmarë/Thuringwethil, Daeron/Maglor, Eärendil/Elwing, Caranthir/Original Character

Genre: Fanwork Collection, Recommendation List

Challenges: In Rare Form, Jubilee

Rating: Creator Chooses Not to Rate

Warnings: Check Notes for Warnings

Posted on 11 January 2025 Updated on 12 January 2025

This fanwork is a work in progress.

A Promise of Lightning (read by Chestnut_pod, written by The Wavesinger)

The story of Ilmarë and Thuringwethil, from the beginning to the beginning, again. 

Length: 40:53

Major Characters: Ilmarë, Thuringwethil
Major Relationships: Ilmarë/Thuringwethil
Rating: Adult     Warnings: Sexual Content (Moderate), Violence (Mild)

Alternative on AO3

Paper (written and read by Dawn Felagund)

Curufin escapes to the realms of fantasy to escape the pressures of his family and discovers the thrill of first love.

Major Characters: Curufin, Unnamed Canon Character
Major Relationships: Curufin/Unnamed Canon Character
Rating: Teens
Warnings: Sexual Content (Mild)

Beyond the Western Shore (read by Anérea, written by StarSpray)

In her wanderings through Aman, Minyelmë comes to the farthest shore.

Length: 3:10

Major Characters: Original Female Character
Rating: General
Warnings: None

Hearken Still Unsated (written and read by polutropos)

When the Noldor return to Middle-earth to make war on Morgoth, only rumours reach Menegroth of their reasons for coming, but Doriath's minstrel experiences their loss and longing through his connection to Music and the gift of his Queen. Years later, he is sent to the Feast of Reuniting and meets the Elf whose grief he felt. A story about the Eldar returning home, their connection to the land and to each other, and their relationship to Music and fate, love and free will. 

Length: just over 1.5 hours

Major Characters: Daeron, Maglor, Melian
Major Relationships: Daeron/Maglor, Daeron & Melian
Rating: Adult 
Warnings: Sexual Content (Mild)

No Traveler Returns (read by Tanis, writen by IgnobleBard)

Namo confronts a newly dead Elf.

Length: 8:12

Major Characters: Mandos, Original Character
Rating: General
Warnings: None

Original text

Lake Helevorn: A Summer Romance (read by Anérea, written by Himring)

Uncanonical take on Caranthir's canonical wife: in himring!verse she's not an elf.

Length: 4:15

Major Characters: Caranthir, Original Female Character
Major Relationships: Caranthir/Original Female Character
Rating: Teens
Warnings: None

Unstrung (read by polutropos, written by tehta)

Right before the War of Wrath, Maglor explains himself.

Length: 18:36

Major Characters: Maglor, Maedhros, Celegorm
Major Relationships: Maedhros & Maglor, Elrond & Elros & Maglor
Rating: Teen
Warnings: None

All They Had to Lend (read by Chestnut_pod, written by gogollescent)

From a few hundred feet up, the swan ships could be seen to hesitate.

Length: 18:18

Major Characters: Elwing, Eärendil, Olwë
Major Relationships: Elwing/Eärendil
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: None

What Lies Beyond The End (read by Anerea, written by Melesta)

"The Silmaril falls slowly, so slowly, as if taking its time to caress the weightlessness of Ulmo’s waters. Does it seek relief also, Maglor wonders, to be free at last of all the hands that lusted after its blessed shine?"

Maglor casts his Silmaril into the Sea.

Length: 6:18

Major Characters: Maglor
Rating: General
Warnings: None

Alternative on AO3

Three times, the forge (read by Chestnut_pod, written by LiveOakWithMoss)

Celebrimbor kisses Narvi. Narvi kisses Celebrimbor. Somehow, Celebrimbor is still perplexed.

Length: 8:35

Major Characters: Celebrimbor, Narvi
Major Relationships: Celebrimbor/Narvi
Rating: Teens
Warnings: Sexual Content (Mild)

Alternative on AO3

Those Who Have Dwelt In Darkness (read by the_dragongirl, written by LadyBrooke)

Narvi is hesitant to put his trust in others to make their weapons for the Final Battle.
Aulë sees too many similarities to past events.

Length: 8:55

Major Characters: Narvi, Aulë
Rating: General
Warnings: None

Stay, Forever (read by polutropos, written by Melesta)

The first snow brings bittersweet memories for Elrond. Through remembrance and song, he reveals a feeling that has been budding in his heart for a long time.

Length: 9:26

Major Characters: Elrond, Celebrían, Maglor
Major Relationships: Celebrían/Elrond, Elrond & Maglor
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: None

kâtha batîna lôkhî (read by Chestnut_pod, written by vardasvapors (cynewulf))

For even after the ruin the hearts of the Dúnedain were still set westwards; and though they knew indeed that the world was changed, they said: 'Avallónë is vanished from the Earth and the Land of Aman is taken away, and in the world of this present darkness they cannot be found. Yet once they were, and therefore they still are, in true being and in the whole shape of the world as at first it was devised.'

The title translates from Adûnaic as "all roads are bent".

Length: 11:51

Characters: Númenoreans, Original Characters
Rating: Not Rated
Warnings: None

Concerning Hobbits (read by Thimblerig, written by WerewolvesAreReal)

As in all matters, the hobbits handled their Creation quietly, and this is because they were not created at all.

Length: 16:25

Major Characters: Frodo Baggins, Sam Gamgee
Rating: General
Warnings: None

My Adventure, by Belladonna Baggins née Took (written and read by Thimblerig)

Gandalf exclaimed once: 'That I should live to be 'Good morninged' by a son of Belladonna Took!' Bilbo's mum has a story to tell and this is it. Holidays by the Sea, Elves, and much Falling in the Water.

Length: approximately 100 minutes

Characters: Belladonna Took, Gandalf, Bungo Baggins, Original Characters
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: None

A Vulpine Gentleman With Business of His Own (read by Chestnut_pod, written by bunn)

A brief interlude in the life of a fox with a job to do.

Length: 5:14

Major Characters: Fox Passing Through the Wood On Business of His Own, Riverwoman
Rating: General Audiences
Warnings: None

Almacombë Lairesto: A Tolkien Poetry Podfic Anthology by Chestnut_pod (various authors)

From Nortonion, an anthology to keep. This highly anticipated first edition of collected poetic works from the Western Lands of Arda features 13 poets, 27 poems, and innovative audio formatting. The First Edition of The Nortonion Almacombë Lairesto is an excellent tool for teachers and an unmatched resource for students.

Includes:
Art in the Ordinary by lferion
Song of Lake Linaewen by Zdenka
Alchemy by Lady_Branwyn
Fragment: In the long days of Darkness by losselen (zambla)
Gil-Galad Was No Elven-king by kimikocha
To Drain a Lake by Himring
A Song for Goldberry by KhamulTheEasterling
Gross Reflections (On the Fifth Battle) by lferion
The Shieldmaiden and the Witch-king by Zdenka
Black and White by Lingwiloke
The north-march by losselen (zambla)
Three Bredlik poems by Himring
For which we were created by LiveOakWithMoss
Grey and White Wings by lferion
Rían at the Hill of Slain by Zdenka
Cirdan by primsong
Gacela of the stolen sun by losselen (zambla)
Hope Across Helcaraxe by orphan_account
To an absent lover by Himring
F*ck Me When the War Is Done, and Other Poems by Ninnachel by amyfortuna (elwinfortuna)
Erebor Waits by lferion
Middle-earth Poetry by Zdenka
Pippin in Gondor by primsong
Two poems for Daeron by losselen (zambla)
Song for a dark road by Judin
Song of the Laughing Maiden by Zdenka
Paths of Story by Himring

Length: 56:19

Characters: various canon and original characters
Rating: General Audiences to Mature
Warnings: Major Character Death (in some poems)


Red clouds framing a starry nightsky

daughterofshadows

4 months 3 weeks ago

Permalink

I'll have to check these out…

I'll have to check these out next time I'm looking for something to listen to. Thanks for taking the time to put this together!

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