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
Ancestors
Create a fanwork in which a character's resemblance or connection to an ancestor plays a central role. 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.
Rover is a great name, thank you very much! ;) I really like Salmë; she sounds wonderful. A former spy-master, and now second-in-command - and a potter (or painter)? Sign me up! Good advice from her, too.
I do hope Maglor will be able to patch things up with Mithrandir. Somehow I don't think the old wizard was as hostile towards Maglor as Maglor seemed to think...
Indeed! I'm kinda poking fun at myself with that, actually; Narya dared me to name him Rover and he will be. If I can find a variant that isn't "Randir."
I knew Salmë was a potter (and very firm on her nickname being Sal)-- this scene has been in my head nearly since I began the 'verse-- but the spy-master bit was a surprise.
Mithrandir was absolutely not as hostile as Maglor assumed, but it's difficult to show that from a limited POV. The next fic will have to be from a different perspective, I think.
You roped me in as soon as I saw the summary -- puppies and Maglor? A must read and two of my favorite things. I really like how you depict Maglor in your stories. Quite realistic in my mind.
I really enjoyed the meeting with the puppies and with Salme. They have personality, Salme, and also Maglor's new dog! I hope to see more of both.
I suspect Gandalf intentionally saved Maglor from an unpleasant scene, there, in the Hall of Fire. Maybe the two will understand each other better in time.
Maglor's too stuck in his "everyone hates me" mindset to be willing to give people he doesn't know a chance. The situation will be addressed (somewhat) in the next fic.
Concerning the name: Well, instead of Sindarin, you could go for Quenya! The Quenya equivalent of randír appears to be rána - wayward, wanderer - which also happens to be a by-name of the moon. So if you're inclined to pun, Maglor could name the dog Isil (or Ithil in Sindarin), Moon, with the connotation of erratic wandering. (Although I am now tempted to make Moon Moon jokes!) -- You could also tack -rain "erratic wandering" to a Sindarin word of your choice, such as hû "dog"?
I think the limitations of the perspective are fine - Maglor can't know everything, and he's doubtlessly unused to understanding people's motives after such a long time on his own - but of course I can't help speculating about the motivations of the other characters. ^^ Though a chapter from Elrond's, Gandalf's or Salmë's perspective would doubtlessly be cool!
Comments on Encounters
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.