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.
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.
Created for the 'Geography/Maps/Places' prompt on the "Tolkien meta" bingo board, this is a collection of maps marked with the various people groups showing how they arrived and moved about Beleriand. This collection focuses specifically on the time from the arrival of the Teleri, Vanyar, and…
This is an analysis on whether the Sindar ate the Petty-dwarves during the years they hunted them, completed for the 'Literary Analysis' prompt on the "Tolkien Meta" bingo card.
Current Challenge
Potluck Bingo
Help yourself to a collection of prompts on bingo boards designed by members and friends of the SWG. Read more ...
Random Challenge
Start to Finish
Choose one of the famous first lines from the list below and use it to start your story. If you are creating a fanwork other than writing, you may use one of the first lines to inspire your fanwork. 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.
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.
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.
November challenge at tolkienshortfanworks
The challenge for November has been posted to the tolkienshortfanworks community on Dreamwidth. Thematic prompt: refuge. Formal challenge: include imitation of a sound. As always, these can be filled independently and also freely combined with SWG and other challenges. 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.
You wrote two people I love and did so beautifully. I really like how you've seen their story and can hear their voices --- Gil feels just the way I know him and Elrond has that trace of sweetness in him that I always look for.
Gil-galad's idea that Sauron wouldn't think the ring might be with Elrond is clever and makes sense. And of course he knew he wouldn't survive, just wasn't going to say so.
Really enjoyed your view of what must have been a difficult relationship, at least for the first year or so.
Thank you so much for your kind words! This is my first time writing from Gil-galad's POV so it was a bit of a struggle but I'm glad you think I succeeded. And the thing with the ring was what took me the longest, because I knew Elrond wouldn't believe a BS excuse, nor would Gil-galad want to give him one! So yeah, thank you, I'm really glad you like it :)
Gil galad is a favorite of mine. So when I saw this I pounced on it.
I can fully understand Gil galad's reticence and suspicion with the twins appearance, when he thought them dead. I would probably do the same if I was in his shoes. I mean no-one trusts the Feanorions especially when it comes to the Oath. So Gil is within his rights to treat the boys as suspect until they earn his trust.
I'm so glad you liked this first part - I must admit, it made me more nervous than the others, because I didn't know if I was correct about the suspicion thing, and then in balancing it out so it doesn't make him look bad. Your comment encouraged me about the idea, so thank you :)
This was sweet. Now see, this is why I like Gil galad. He is such a great and noble example of how a king should be. Always willing to admit when he is wrong, both with the Feanorions and the twins, even if it made good sense to be cautious in the onset.
And this is the humble beginnings of a relationship that would span ages.
I appreciate your comments about Gil-galad - I have begun to appreciate him as well, and although most of my muse centers around the Feanorians, I have enjoyed getting to know him through this fic. I do like the idea of him being willing to admit when he's wrong, but I also like that he can do something wrong, because sometimes I feel like portrayals of him are 100% perfect and it was fun to delve into something other than that. Thanks for writing in! :)
I like your take on how Elrond comes by Vilya. It seems fitting.Yet a little sad knowing this is Gil galad's last battle and one of the last times he and Elrond will see each other.
I have to say I love the idea of Gil galad seeing the spirit's of Maedhros and Maglor charging beside Elrond into battle. I've had the same idea myself, but haven't quite gotten around to writing it.
Thank you for sharing, Eris. This was quite enjoyable.
I'm glad you liked the Vilya thing (which was a surprise from my muse, considering it hadn't been part of the original fic request), and I am thrilled you liked the spirits thing! I was nervous about posting that considering the whole Feanorians thing, but I am happy to hear some positive feedback about it. I love the Feanorians and I definitely headcanon that although Elrond and Gil-galad have an extremely tight bond, Elrond still remembers the Feanorians and loves them as the ones who raised him. And Vilya, crafted by Celebrimbor, was my way of showing Gil-galad's acceptance for that love and also showing his own. :)
I really enjoyed this story. I love Gil-galad and Elrond and I love to think about the relationship to him and the rest of their long-sundered people when they finally return. Then tension and mistrust is not surprising. I love Elrond's strength and vulnerability and also Gil-galad native skepticism based in what he thinks he knows and his ability to reassess his assumptions. Very moving characterizations.
Thank you so much! I'm really glad you enjoyed my portrayals of Gil-galad and Elrond. I've been working on my characterizations for them and I hope to do more soon :)
I read that earlier story, Fourth Father, and although I liked it a lot, it feels much more rounded now you've given us Gil-galad's side of things as well and a clearer view of the development on their relationship, especially with that final scene, explaining how Elrond manages to carry on, as he does.
Thank you so much! I'm really glad you liked the added perspective. THe final scene was an afterthought but I'm really glad you liked that too! I think it's my favorite part of the story.
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.