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: Title Track Tolkien's titles range from epic to lyrical to metaphorical. This month's challenge selected 125 of them as prompts for fanworks.
Our Annual Amnesty Challenge: New Year's Resolution Start 2026 off with creativity! If you missed a challenge or didn't get to finish or post a challenge fanwork, complete any 2025 challenge before 15 February to receive the stamp.
He was going to die. The molten rocks would burn him just like the cursed gem in his palm did. Maybe less painfully but still being burnt hurt and Maedhros knew it. He intimately knew it from his time in Angband where Þauron burnt him often in frustration and to toy with him and his master…
“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…
Aldarion storms off towards Middle-earth. For the Title Track challenge.
Current Challenge
Title Track
Create a fanwork using our collection of 125 titles from Tolkien's books, chapters, essays, poems, and fragments as inspiration. Read more ...
Random Challenge
Trinkets and Treasures
Create a fanwork about an object that is magical or otherwise valuable in some way, either canonical or of your own invention. Read more ...
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.
This presentation for Mereth Aderthad 2025 discusses the many similarities between Tolkien's three "twilight children," Tinúviel, Lómion, and Undómiel (Luthien, Maeglin, and Arwen) in terms of appearance, plot, and cultural background. Yet these three characters play very different roles in the text.
Presented at Mereth Aderthad 2025, this paper makes the case thata, although the term "aromantic" had not yet been coined in Tolkien's day, many of his characters can be read as aromantic. The paper takes a closer look at Aredhel, Bilbo, and Boromir as three examples of characters who can be read as aromantic.
“There’s a goblin hiding in the taters, Dad!” Pippin hefted the pan, which was much too big for him to carry, let alone wield.
Around the World and Web
March Challenge - Tolkien Short Fanworks
Tolkien Short Fanworks is running a challenge for the month of March to create a Back to Middle-earth Month themed challenge.
Tolkien Fashion Week 2026
This two-week-long Tumblr event is dedicated to honoring the world of fashion and textiles Tolkien wrote about in his books.
Celegorm and Curufin Week 2026
Celegorm and Curufin Week is a Tumblr week celebrating the relationship between Celegorm and Curufin Feanorion
Back to Middle-earth Month 2026
Back to Middle-earth Month is returning for it's 20th year with many prompts and archival efforts.
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.
I'm really loving this! Poor Maglor, he's so lost inside his own echo chamber he just can't comprehend that the kindness and compassion he's receiving is actually from genuine love for him. And so lost in layers of trauma of so many kinds. And hearing others singing when he can't. So owie!
This is the first story I have read on this site - actually, the first LOTR fanfic I have managed to read all the way through, being both a lifelong Tolkien nerd and seasoned fanfic author, therefore terrified of the Gawdawful possibilities:).
I can't believe I've got to the end of chapter 17 without commenting. I'm so sorry! There's so much wonderful writing here, and it's hard to know where to start. And I must confess that I haven't read much of Unhappy into Woe yet, because I wanted to be sure that things would get better first...
But I found this a particularly powerful, interesting chapter – although there seems no end to poor Maglor's suffering. Him thinking about Finwë's death and his father's reaction really hit me (I feel incredibly sad for Fëanor and all his family in that moment, as it must have been such a terrible shock). In general though, there's so much I love about this story: Elrond's children are so kind and delightful, and Tari is wonderful, and I'm just so glad that Maglor has made it to Rivendell to be loved and cared for by Elrond. Thank you for writing such a long tale, and for updating so regularly. :)
Thank you so much! I'm so glad you like this fic. <333
(I'm afraid the regular updates are awfully out of character for me--I wish I had this momentum on all my WIPs! But Pebbles is completely written at this point, and I'm posting as I finish the final edits for each chapter. :D )
I just wanted to pop in quickly to say thanks again for creating this series of fics! I had to pause my reading for a while again but my eyes and energy came back online a few days ago and it's just so cosy to slip back into this again. I'm loving everything about it!
Ah, the moment he picked up the harp my heart sang with joy for how far he as come. I so strongly wanted to give all of the a hug at so many points in this. It hurts to see Maglor suffer and the beginning, and it hurts to see Elrond so torn by Arwen's choice in the end. But the relentless hope that weaves its way through this story tells me that the joys in their lives are not going to be dimmed by the sorrow, and they're going to be okay. I know I'm going to be thinking about this one for a long time (and glad there is a sequel which I will gladly turn to and explore more of Maglor's journey).
Comments on Clear Pebbles of the Rain
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.