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: Potluck Bingo Sit down to a delicious selection of prompts served on bingo boards, created by the SWG community.
Bingo Cards Wanted for Potluck Bingo Our November-December challenge will be Potluck Bingo, featuring cards created by you! If you'd like to create cards or prompts for cards, we are taking submissions.
Tolkien Meta Week, December 8-14 We will be hosting a Tolkien Meta Week in December, here on the archive and on our Tumblr, for nonfiction fanworks about Tolkien.
New Challenge: Orctober Orcs on a quest for freedom seek a place sheltered and safe from the Dark Lord. Fulfill prompts to gather the clues needed to bring them to freedom.
The majority of the Silmarillion was penned by a single Elf--an Elf who was so thoroughly written out as to appear only through the ways in which their perspective shaped the stories we see. This is their story, the historian's history, the Pennas Pengolodh.
The Exiles of Gondolin come to Sirion. The residents of Sirion welcome them, and friendship blossoms between the last remaining loremaster of Gondolin and a young poet of Sirion.
Fingon returns to Barad Eithel after a late-autumn hunt, finding someone unexpected with his wife. The night takes an even more unexpected turn for all three of them.
Current Challenge
Potluck Bingo
Help yourself to a collection of prompts on bingo boards designed by members and friends of the SWG. Read more ...
A series of articles featuring fan-made maps of all the lands of Arda. Part III explores the island of Númenor and mainland Middle-earth during the Second Age.
A reworking of the 2018 article for Long Live Feedback that includes data from the 2020 Tolkien Fanfiction Survey, pointing to a lack of comments as related to skill, confidence, and community connection.
Part of our Themed Collection series for our newsletter, this collection features fiction, artwork, and essays that transcend the idea of Orcs as the enemy, instead considering their humanity.
Lord of the Rings Secret Santa 2024
LotR SESA has been ongoing for twenty-one years and is running again this year as a prompt meme hosted on AO3 for all genres of Tolkien-based fanfiction.
Kiliel Week 2024
Kiliel Week is a Tumblr event for fanworks about the Kili/Tauriel pairing.
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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.
Thank you very much for your kind review; I'm very glad you liked the descriptions of the couple's travels and, most of all found this take on Nerdanel interesting, I worried it might fqall a bit flat.
As for the doll you are right, it is quite alarming still I'm glad you didn't find it unbelivable.
I really like this! The whole thing has a very airy feeling to it, yet also focuses on difficult topics. Nerdanel has always been one of my favourite Silmarillion characters, though I haven't written much about her, sadly.
Thank you very much for having taken the time to read and review this fic. I'm extremely glad this managed to convey anything, moreso to a person who likes the character, I feared all effect was lost in the translation. Yes, the themes are difficult, still that seems to be bound to happen when you are in any way, shape or form related to Fëanor and his brood. Anyway I wanted to depict a person who managed to go on despite everything without bowing.
This is wonderful work. I found your characterization of Nerdanel to be very sympathetic and relateable, and the imagery you evoke is fantastic. "Swallowed by darkness like a wave by the sand" is just one of many turns of phrase that delighted and intrigued me. Well done indeed!
Thank you so very much for having taken the time to read and write such a kind review for this piece!
I'm incredibly glad you liked the characterization and knowing that someone who writes as well as you do finds some merit in what I write is an honor. I was worried about the style ending up being redundant in translation and kowing it can still evoke images is a relief.
Comments: I've always been very fond of the concept of Nerdanel as a woman with a different beauty that the one generally recognized by the society she lives in. I think it's a very very important detail, and it gives her much more depths as a female character. And that's the first reason your fic appears as very important to me.
But I also really enjoyed the way you talked about sculpture and creation, and all the things you said about illusion. The parallels on this matter, the way you explained it and expanded the concept of illusion from her art to her reality (and to Fëanor's reality)... That's absolutely fantastic. That's a very clever way to talk about it, and I read avery single word of it with and increasing interest!
I've always been convinced that Nerdanel's difference was a strength rather than a weakness, that her body (which is suppose to be less beautiful than others') gives her a huge advantage comapring to others. Because, beyond the self-consciousness which haunts her, she's wise enough to maybe detach herself from it, and see beyiond the flesh (and when it's related to her work as a sculptor, it's fascinating)
So I loved reading your fic, which isn't only interesting in its content but also wonderful in its form. It was beautiful in every way.
(Plus, Nerdanel and Fëanor as a couple always fascinate me; their relationship is so interesting and I love them so much *cries because feelings*)
(sorry for the looong review, your fic gave me so many feelings!)
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.