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: Scavenger Hunt In this Matryoshka-with-a-twist, you will solve clues that point you to the challenge prompts.
Sign-Up to Hand Out Scavenger Hunt Prompts Our May challenge will be a Matryoshka built around a scavenger hunt. If you'd like to hand out prompts (and receive comments on your work for doing so!), you can sign up to do so.
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.
Fëanor shrugged, studying the contents of his wine glass. “Something must be done about that house. It will fall down eventually.” “It does not follow that it must be you that tears it down single-handedly. Are you sure you do not want help?” “It’s not as though I…
The thing about forgiveness, he thought, was that it was so much easier when the object of it was far away—or dead. It was so much easier to let it all go when those responsible were far away and unable to do any more harm.
Inspired by collecting the prompts for the Everyman challenge, this essay considers how ordinary people are subsumed and silenced in The Silmarillion, which begins a three-book arc that ends with the rise of the humble and ordinary.
Feanor and Fingolfin, from their youth to their fall.
"I will do this gladly," Fingolfin said, whispering into Feanor's mouth, grasping for reasons and sense. "Gladly, if it will bring peace between us. If it will end the madness."
A Teleri fishing boat captain turns to farming on abandoned Noldor lands after her ship is stolen. A Noldor farmer returns with Finarfin to find that his land belongs to the Teleri now.
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.
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.
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.
Bilbo, the strange old hobbit with the wandering feet, senses something special in young Frodo the first time he sees the lad; as they become close, they find in each other a cameraderie not well understood by other hobbits. Five poignant moments between Bilbo and Frodo Baggins over the course…
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.
Oh, I really like this! I saw the title in my email alerts earlier today, from Ao3, and had been looking forward to reading it from that alone.
Your Finrod is lovely here, especially in how much he echoes the other Noldor like Fëanor. He might not be as reknowned in crafts as them, but he is just as prideful in his work when he's finished, whether that's wise or not.
Thanks so much! I love to think about Finrod as being very much of a Noldo. He might have a grandmother who is Vanyarin and mother who is Telerin, but his deeds and his work represent for me the people he helped lead to M-e. I imagine his marvelous cave city designed and fashioned in a manner that is quinessentially Noldorin. (I know he was influenced by Menegroth also, but I imagine his stonework to have a different character than descriptions of that city.) Also, I cannot forget that Tolkien always referred to him was one of the greatest Princes of the Noldor. So, of course, he takes a Noldorin pride in his work in my interpretation. I get a big kick out of writing Finrod as not quite as totally perfect as some fanfic writers characterize him. (I really love him a lot, which moves me to humanize him!)
Thanks again for reading and letting me know how it struck you.
I loved the intimacy between Galadriel and Finrod and their familiar banter. (Finrod is so adorable!) Galadriel seems only a tad aloof here and not as remote as I think of her. As usual I find your characterizations brilliant and the tone of this fic is so hopeful and exciting! I really enjoyed this.
Oh, thanks so much, Jenni! I love to do family interactions. I grew up among seven siblings, so I like to think I have the background for it!
I love Finrod and Galadriel together, so I enjoyed writing them. No one but an older brother could tease her the way he does. That in and of itself humanizes her.
What a charming little scene with the two siblings! I love that Finrod (he is adorable here) teases his sister and she pays his back. Lovely story :D Thank you!
Comments on Finrod Fashions a World
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.