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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 chrissystriped by Dawn
In our series of interviews of creators for Mereth Aderthad, Dawn spoke with chrissystriped about her story, written for Shadow's "The Aromantic in Tolkien" presentation, her process as a writer, and the importance of representing aro-ace characters in fanfiction.

Mereth Aderthad Interview: Interview with Dr. Zara Ashkenazi-Khan by Saelind
The third kinslaying is one of the Silmarillion fandom's favorite topics of discussion because of its moral complexity. In our latest interview for Mereth Aderthad 2025, Dr. Zara Ashkenazi-Khan discussed her paper "Exile, Ruin and Resistance: Beleriand as Postcolonial Palimpsest" with Saelind, the application of postcolonial theory to the most challenging and violent moments in "The Silmarillion," and where scholarship and fanworks each take their place in understanding them.

Mereth Aderthad Interview: Interview with Silmalope by Dawn
Silmalope is the featured artist for Shadow's Mereth Aderthad 2025 presentation, "The Aromantic in Tolkien." Dawn spoke with Silmalope about their approach to making art, what inspires their work, and the importance of diverse representation in fanworks.

New Challenge: Period Drama
A Matryoskha challenge with prompts inspired by common tropes in period dramas and historical fiction.

All SWG News

Known Site Issues

New & Updated Fanworks

[Writing] Elrond's Dream by bunn

A dream that Elrond never mentioned to Maglor son of Fëanor.

[Writing] One in the Deep Waters by Isilme_among_the_stars

Maglor finds himself alone with only sorrow and song for companions. But lamentation can neither undo the sorrows of which it tells, nor turn new hardships aside.

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

Bunn is the featured author for for cloudyhymn's presentation "The Design of Dragons and the Doom of Dwarves" and the featured artist for Savannah Horrell's presentation "By Guile Committed: Comparing Tolkien’s Thieves to Beowulf." Shadow spoke with bunn about the mystery of dragons, the appeal…

[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…

[Writing] The First Age 503 Football Finals by myrtaceaae

Nogrod vs Doriath, in the first match of the F. A. 503 finals season. Will Doriath at the top of the ladder beat Nogrod, currently at third on the ladder, or will Nogrod's strong side be victorious?

[Reference] Interview with chrissystriped by Dawn by chrissystriped, Dawn Felagund

Chrissystriped is the featured author for Shadow's Mereth Aderthad 2025 presentation, "The Aromantic in Tolkien." Dawn spoke with chrissystriped about her story for Mereth Aderthad, her process as a writer, and the importance of representing aro-ace characters in fanfiction.

[Writing] consider the hairpin turn by atlantablack

The footsteps come to a stop in front of him and he does not have a moment to wonder at his brother’s intentions before fingers are sliding into his hair and tugging his head back. He glares up at Fëanáro, tears on his cheeks, heart racing like a plea. Fëanáro stares back, expression strangely…

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

April's Fool
Create a fanwork in which a character tricks or plays a prank on another. Read more ...

New in References

Interview with bunn by Shadow by bunn, daughterofshadows

Bunn is the featured author for for cloudyhymn's presentation "The Design of Dragons and the Doom of Dwarves" and the featured artist for Savannah Horrell's presentation "By Guile Committed: Comparing Tolkien’s Thieves to Beowulf." Shadow spoke with bunn about the mystery of dragons, the appeal of Dwarves, and the many ways Tolkien's work connects to Beowulf.

Interview with chrissystriped by Dawn by chrissystriped, Dawn Felagund

Chrissystriped is the featured author for Shadow's Mereth Aderthad 2025 presentation, "The Aromantic in Tolkien." Dawn spoke with chrissystriped about her story for Mereth Aderthad, her process as a writer, and the importance of representing aro-ace characters in fanfiction.

Interview with Dr. Zara Ashkenazi-Khan by Saelind by Dr. Zara Ashkenazi-Khan, Saelind

In her upcoming paper for Mereth Aderthad 2025, "Exile, Ruin and Resistance: Beleriand as Postcolonial Palimpsest," Dr. Zara Ashkenazi-Khan considers why the third kinslaying stands apart in a book filled with violence. Saelind recently spoke with Zara about her paper, postcolonialism and The Silmarillion, and how fanfiction and scholarship each contribute in important ways to our understanding of Tolkien.

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

[Writing] Dáin's Saga by bunn

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

[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] Saying Goodbye by StarSpray

Frodo spent his last summer in the Shire much as he had the one before he’d gone on his journey.

Around the World and Web

Numenor Week 2025
Numenor Week is a Tumblr event created for fans of the tragic and beautiful story of the Land of the Gift, from its birth to its downfall.

Monster Fucker May 2025
This is an 18+ Tumblr and AO3 event for smutty fanworks involving monsters from the legendarium, put on by the Tolkien Pinup Calendar.

May Challenge at tolkienshortfanworks on Dreamwidth
The May challenge has been posted at the tolkienshortfanwork community on Dreamwidth. This month it is a number of prompts containing "may", including "May It Be", by Enya.

Teitho May/June Challenge: Weddings
The theme for Teitho's May/June contest is "weddings."

Tolkien Ekphrasis Week 2025
This is a Tolkien-fandom-wide event dedicated to the art of ekphrasis in Tolkien's worlds. Its goal is to illuminate the artistic surroundings of the places, people, and stories we love, in as many media as possible.

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 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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