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 ...
Random Challenge
Holidays in Arda
Set a fanwork in a place that you would like to visit on Arda, whether a city, region, island, or body of water. 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.
Subscribe to the SWG Newsletter
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.
I love this, Oshun. I do absolutely revel in these times and conversations between Maedhros and Fingon; they are so insightful and so deep. Fingon's spirit is seen so very strongly in this : light tone relating to deadly serious matters. Yet I understand that; sometimes matters are so weighted with potential disaster, (and this *matter* falls so heavily on Maedhros' shoulders) that to give them that one sometimes has to banter.
Fingon always feels as if he is trying to lift Maedhros, to keep his spirit up, and it comes across as empathic and deeply loving.
Thank you so much! I always think of you when I write them, because I you follow my story cycle and I was afraid you might not see the serious side under the fluffy surface. In my verse, Fingon is definitely always Maedhros's light.
I love the conversations between your Fingon and Maedhros. Bold and bright Fingon may speak in what appears to be a flippant manner, but he so often carries weight in his words. For example...
"Obviously, I would not change any of those," Fingon answered, his voice exploding with passion. "I have struggled through some miserable valleys, but the views from the mountaintops have been stupendous. Wait! I can think of one thing I'd do differently. I should have taken your advice at dinner tonight and had the ale you recommended and left the red wine alone. After all this is over, we will have look into ways to provide you with better wine in this Valar-forsaken location."
Fingon is such a passionate appealing character. Indeed you have crafted him as Maedhros' light, one that I find satisfyingly illuminating.
Oh! Thank you! I could not resist those lines from that poem.
I read a fic once where Maedhros is strong-arming/brow-beating Fingon against his will and better judgment to participate in the N.A. I'm not saying it couldn't be written convincingly, but I have never seen anything in the texts that made me want to write Fingon that way. I guess I am repeating what I often say that most of my fanfiction is either a polemic against the original canon sources or fic I have read.
As always, your Maedhros and (especially) your Fingon are delightful. And Fingon is right; they did do the best with what they'd been given, after the Oath and the Kinslaying. Too bad that it simply wasn't enough to overcome the Doom.
I thought I'd leave my MEFA review of this fic here.
There have been many fanfic characterizations of Maedhros and Fingon, but, for me, Oshun's depiction of their passionate relationship amidst the politics of their extended families, is, by far, my favorite. I'm always happy to see more of them and so this little morsel was a treat. In addition, Oshun often begins a story with a wonderfully poetic quote and this one by Rupert Brooke fit the scene beautifully. The scene takes place the night before the lovers separate to fight the terrible Battle of Unnumbered Tears and it's a quiet moment of reflection before the storm in which Maedhros asks Fingon if he would change anything about their lives. It attains poignancy through gentle humor as well as a certain acceptance of what has been and what will be, which made it very satisfying for this fan.
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.