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 ...
Analysing Arda
Create a work of nonfiction. All nonfiction is welcome, from headcanons to essays to multimedia responses. 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."
What a sad farewell!
the chaos of the time appealed to me as well as the panic of a mother trying to mae her children as safe as she can even when she cant be with them and putting the responsibility on the oldest to look after them :) thanks for reading
Oh, wow! This was written in response to my request! I am sorry I did not see it sooner. It passed by me. I think I must not have been tracking the LJ thread and missed it when you posted it here.
My apologies and thank you so much for such a lovely fill of this prompt. It is beautifully done and devastating in its authenticity. I love the characterizations of the different sons.
Atarince and Carnistir will not leave their backs exposed but they need a steady hand. Macalaure, what will this do to that mind, enveloped in this. Do not let him lose his way, do you hear me, keep him on the right path. Tyelkormo will be lost, as a limb tore from the tree, hearing too many whispers on the wind and none of friends. And the Ambarussa, keep them close, do not let them out of sight or one will never set foot on the other side.
This entire section is convincing (of course, we are viewing it with the knowledge of what to come--but the importance is not the deeds as much as the how and the why of it. Your interpretation of them speaks to that).
The most heartbreaking part is that she feels by the time Maedhros begs her not to stay behind, the time for making a choice has already long passed and he is not the person who could have convinced her in any case. The most traumatic for her is that she wants so much to try to protect all of them, but in her desperation to hope against all hope and reason that her firstborn (and possibly best loved) son might be able to do something to help, she neglects to convey to him her love for him and take part of that last precious moment to say good-bye.
Feanor! He already burned his bridges and your short story explains that as well. When he stops listening to her, he lost his last best hope. And I am not unsympathetic to him. I see the provocations he is operating under also.
Thank you so much for writing and sharing this story filled with illuminating riches of interpretation.
I am glad you found it lol and glad you enjoyed it. as soon as i saw your prompt the story came into my head, the desperation of losing her children, the huge responsibility put on the eldest child...
there was so uch happening all at once so many decisions and farewells. it must have been a truly heartbreaking time both for those leaving and, maybe even more, for those staying behind knowing their loved ones were walking into lands where violence and death happened as in opposition to valinor. to see those you love the most go to war against a god.... i cant even imagine the horror of it which is why i concentrated on just one voice in this.
I am not unsympathetic to Feanor either LOL but writing him, not as evil nor as a hero but simply someone beyond her ability to help was a nice change (she says as if she hasnt been out of writing for years)
Thank you for reading oshun and thank you for, a always, lovely feedback xx
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Comments on Caught in the maelstrom
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