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 ...
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."
I like this a lot!
So Maglor is a cavalry commander again? And Alatar is a spymaster and likes teasing Maglor?
I also like the way you describe the actual storm clouds, but also get a lot out of the storm as a metaphor.
Thank you!
Yes, Maglor is a cavalry commander again; it seemed fitting. I didn't want him completely in charge, but wanted him to have a position of some authority. Alatar is indeed a spymaster and also the person in charge of the local area (neither wizard is like Gandalf in not having a home, though Pallando travels more often than Alatar)-- and he absolutely enjoys teasing Maglor.
Yay, I am pleased to see this! When you mentioned it on DW I was really excited to read it; it's an intriguing concept, and I love Maglor-through-the-Ages.
The slave trade is more active than it has been in years, even in places where we thought it had been abolished. Armies are gathering, the gore crows flying. That all of his attention is on the northwest region of the world, that there is some power growing there to challenge or even supplant him. People are too afraid to flee because if he wins, they will become his targets for lacking faith in him, but they are afraid to stay in case he loses. Trade West and South is drying up for those who are neutral and gone for those who oppose; some of the delicacies we have now are the last we will see of them. That if his attention is turned here, we will lose.
I love that you describe the economic impact too, as well as the military and the general sense of doom/fear. Of course that's what the reality of war is to many people - most people, even.
I enjoyed the dynamic between the wizard and Maglor - shifting from chatter about the weather to a battle of wits and back again - and Alatar calling him a whippersnapper made me chuckle. I also like that you gave the Blue Wizards a role in the war; I always wanted to know more about them, but I guess that's why we have fanfic.
This was a really interesting scene and it made me want more. Thank you so much for sharing!
Thank you! Maglor through the Ages is one of my favorite things to read and write.
Yes, it can't all be focused specifically on the military aspects; the world doesn't work that way. Being farther from Mordor than Gondor is, the immediate effects would be the economic ones and only later the military.
I'm glad to hear that. I'm firmly on the side that the Blue Wizards never fell, but helped in their own ways. I did take a little bit from the other version in that both Alatar and Pallando have their own lands they rule, but they're not despots. It's more of an influence thing for international politics than anything else.
At this point, I don't have plans to write more with this scenario. Thanks for commenting!
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Comments on After the Storm Ends
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