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.
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…
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.
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.
“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…
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.
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?
…
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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
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.
“So I ask again: how are you?” When Elrond opened his mouth, Gil-galad said, “Or rather, how is Maglor?”
*snorts* I love how well Gil-galad knows Elrond, and that he specifically gave him the screen for a scenario like this one.
I really enjoyed this, Indy. I think my favourite moment was the forehead kiss Elrond gave him to check his fever was gone - my heart broke a little! But I do like that in this version of events, Elrond knows Maglor is still alive and they see each other from time to time.
:D Gil-galad rather stole the show, didn't he? The screen's actual purpose was a surpise to me; it came out while writing and just sat there blinking for a couple of seconds.
Thank you! That is a lovely moment. No matter what 'verse I'm writing in, Elrond and Maglor always keep in contact for a little bit into the Second Age, though the length of that contact does vary by story. I'm too fond of them to do anything else.
Elrond waited for a short while before kissing Maglor’s forehead to check one last time that his fever was truly gone. Satisfied for now, he slipped into the living room to snatch another couple hours of sleep before needing to wake to check on Maglor again.
OMG! I adore that. So a wonderful image and a great way to show their closeness. It's a lovely story, beautifully rendered.
I love stories when Elrond and Maglor get to meet again after the War of Wrath, and this was no exception! I feel sorry for Maglor for having been poisoned, but at the same time I'm happy that he got to be Elrond's guest for a while. Loved wary yet sympathetic Gil-galad. And what a clever way to use that beautiful screen!
Thank you! I'm glad you enjoyed it. The screen was literally a "hey, I wanted to do this challenge specifically with the screen and all I need to do is replace the door with it" and then the screen turned out to be a minor plot point!
Maglor sharing embarrassing young!Elrond tales.... I need this xD
I quite like your Gil-Galad; he's too often made out to be hateful against the Fëanorians, which - to me - doesn't mesh well with his actions through the years...
As odd as it seems, I'm also quite pleased that he forced Elrond to consider what should be done if the worst happened; it's a good quality in a King, contingency-making.
Unfortunately, I'm constitutionally incapable of writing them!
Gil-galad surprised me; I went into the story knowing that he knew Elrond visited Maglor but not that he'd sneakily encouraged it. I can see why people think Gil-galad would hate the Fëanorians… but I also disagree with it. I'm one of those writers who doesn't go for strict binary thinking when it comes to characterization.
Yes, it is. Both as a king and as a relative and as someone who will be (is becoming?) a friend.
I loved reading this! I'm quite a fan of the Fëanorians and their relationships with the people around them. Elrond regularly visiting Maglor is my new headcanon now, and I love how Gil-Galad encourages it within his role as King <3
Comments on The Space Left Behind
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.