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!
A Sense of History: Straight Road The next in a series of articles about ships passing to and from the West, Simon uses "The Fall of Númenor" to attempt to arrive at Tolkien's reading of the exordium to "Beowulf."
Fandom Voices: Comments and Feedback Our Fandom Voices project tackles the fraught questions of feedback: what it is like to leave and receive feedback in the world of Tolkien fanworks.
Call for Contributors: Themed Collections Are you passionate about a topic related to Tolkien or fanworks? Do you have an impressive collection of bookmarks and favorites? We are looking for contributors who want to put together themed collections on the topic of their choice.
Over thirty people contributed their thoughts on the experience of leaving and receiving feedback on fanworks. Emotions run high on all sides, but community and connections emerge as factors that promote feedback while easing its difficulties for readers and viewers.
Over thirty people contributed their thoughts on the experience of leaving and receiving feedback on fanworks. Emotions run high on all sides, but community and connections emerge as factors that promote feedback while easing its difficulties for readers and viewers.
He and Diamond were visiting, though Pippin had been disappearing every afternoon, and taking Frodo and Elanor and most other lads and lasses in the neighborhood with him—though why they couldn’t use Pippin’s own pony, Sam couldn’t imagine.
So gathered they were to Bree, what lieutenants who could be spared, from their scattered watches west and east, for their chieftain had returned from his long sojourn in lands godless and mountains strange.
Aragorn returns from the South to tells his tales. Halbarad listens.
August challenge at tolkienshortfanworks on Dreamwidth
The August challenge has been posted to the tolkienshortfanworks community on Dreamwidth. The thematic challenge is: magic trees. The formal challenge is: call and response. New participants welcome.
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.
Beautiful Bard, like * Hearts Like The Sea * this is another very early time frame which is wonderfully written. I do like the end, very foreboding with the first thunder of doom.
Thanks Fanari. I wrote this for a "First Impressions" challenge and I liked the idea of Varda seeing the Elves she'd worked so hard for. I thought she must have been sad when she saw the Silmarils and knew the Elves had surpassed what she had seen for them.
Very nicely done! I can only imagine the first reaction of the Valar to creatures so small and seemingly weak and "constrained to one aspect"; now you've got the bunnies nibbling me! (Bad bunnies! ;) And those last lines are wonderful; I great conclusion to the piece.
I gave *you* a plot bunny? Wow! I'm speechless! Thanks so much for the kind words, Dawn, especially about the last lines. I knew what I wanted to project but had a hard time getting it to come out right. I appreciate your comments.
I'll take 'Well done', Moreth. Definitely! I was interested in the part of the Sil where it said that even though the Valar had seen what was to come when they were actually faced with it, it was like a new unforseen thing to them. I tried to imagine what it might be like from Varda's pov. I'm glad you liked this one. Thanks so much for commenting.
I'm struck by Varda's sense of the familiar ("their strength a reflection of that of my kinsmen") and then we see the alien nature of the Valar - "forms confined to one aspect" and Varda hoping that her form will put them at ease. With those words, you convey a great sense of The Other when considering the Valar.
Those last two sentences capture Varda's grief oh, so well. One can see how much she cares for the Elder Children of Iluvatar, but can she - The Other - truly understand them?
Thanks, Pandemonium! The Valar could envision the Elves but they could not know them, even after calling them to Valinor. I like to think this desire to know them and seek to understand them is what caused the Valar to want the Elves near them, and not just for selfish purposes. Then I talk to Oshun and change my mind again. lol Thanks for reading and commenting. I'm glad you enjoyed this little piece.
Beautifully wirtten. Lovely language. I completely agree this is how Varda could veiw the elves. However, if you wanna argue about the Valar, I'm up for it! However, I don't expect they see themselves as interfering and condescending! Nor would I see them as ever being intentionally ill-willed, just think there is another side of the story! (Did I mention how I love it when you write a Silm fic?)
Thanks, Oshun! I know how you love to argue about the Valar. lol I learn so much talking to you. And I'm glad you like my Silm fics. I didn't use to even consider trying to write them but thanks to you I'm getting bolder.
I wanted to leave a different note/review than I just wrote for the MEFA's, but I just read this piece twice over to take this beautiful piece in oh so slowly on a lazy Sunday afternoon. I am glad that I was able to review it on time for the MEFA's, but truly... what genre can you not write! Every time I am amazed by your skill and talents, and thanks so much for sharing this wonderful piece with us at the SWG. In a way this story woke up my muse regarding a novel set prior to the arrival of the elves (my current Nano-novel) and I really like your take on Varda, it kind of reminds me how I initially loved this Valie, but I think Vána has some dire competition now thanks to this piece. Adding this one to my fav's, oh yes!
Comments
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.