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.
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.
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…
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
Major Arcana
Select a Tarot card and use any aspect of the card or its description 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.
This was such a moving & elegantly read and I think you gave the prompt an immense romantic spin, yet so fitting! Fingon as a character, his growth and confidence just jumps at me. Its in his words and movements, equal partners yet unique alone. Then there is another thing, even though both know that their love for each other is endless, the third fear to me is the risk of growing apart, especially if both live so far apart for that greater cause. Why I suddenly have to think of 'Never tear us apart ' by INXS, but it suits them.
What a terrific comment, Rhapsody. I love the lyrics and think they fit perfectly with this story. (You are the second person who has given me lyrics for these guys! Pandemonium gave me lyrics for A New Day.) I think I will not be able to restrain myself from posting them and bagging about you finding them on my LJ. I am also excited that you see Fingon growing—still the same guy, but his experiences are sobering him (just a bit!).
Ooooh, the opening lines are wonderful. I especially like "in deep winter, the cold could reach bone deep." Exactly how I imagine the stronghold at Himring. The detailed description of the suite is noteworthy, too. Easy for me to imagine the constrast of the cold winter without and the warmth within.
you half expect to find me wallowing in melancholy, if not barking mad.
Fingon wrapped his arms around him and squeezed him until Maedhros let out an unlordly squeak
These made me smile. A lot. I love their interactions and banter. And nice fade to black.
A nicely drawn sketch of these fellows that fits snugly in their story arc.
I am so glad that it worked for you, since you know my story arc about as well as anyone could. I was wondering how it would be during the period when they do not get to spend very much time together, both involved with everything they need to be doing apart. It seemed to me that Fingon would still be worrying about Maedhros and not having Fingon around might make Maedhros worry they could grow apart. Yet in my version they do not. I guess you already figured that, despite his vulnerability, my Maedhros does not do emo, but deep down inside . . .
I didn't think it possible to make this prompt romantic, but I've underestimated you! :) This is such a lovely scene, however poignant their separation. Beautifully done!
This glimpse at older Mairtimo and Findekano burdened by the routine and reponsibilities of running their lands but still perfectly in love is lovely. And, as it was said, to turn this prompt into a sweet, romantic addition to the story arc is quite a feat. It makes perfect sense that at this point their greatest fear should be themselves and their relation rather than dragons and orcish raids. I loved the story.
Thanks, Angelica, for reading and commenting. So happy the ficlet worked for you. You are right that I am thinking of this period as a relatively quiet as far as outright hostilities against the Enemy, but also one when they are forced to be very productive. (I suppose I think of Maedhros as handling what we would call Post Traumatic Stress Disorder very well in light of his past experiences, but that Fingon would remain concerned for him.)
Contrary to the previous ficlet I just read, this has a serious touch to it, but is no less enjoyable. I admire how you portrayed them with the burden of their years and experiences, but they still have a joyful, youthful note to their attitude. Well done again :)
I love the way you show these two expressing their fears: honest (and what very realistic fears for both of them to have!) and yet not soppy or emo in the least. Your Maedhros and Fingon make a lovely pair!
Thank you so much. I am so happy it worked for you. I often feel a little uneasy about giving a positive spin on their lives when so many writers love to milk the tragedy. But real life has taught me that one could not be as effective as either of them if their focus had been entirely on those aspects. And yet...the fears are there, of course. (By the way, I just read your most recent Maedhros story, which I liked very much. Still intend to comment on it, but there is so much to say I have been stalling. Will do it properly soon.)
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.