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!
Mereth Aderthad Interview: Interview with polutropos by Dawn "And love grew after between them"—those words have fascinated a fandom intent on revealing the how and why of the "kidnap fam" plot point in "The Silmarillion." In this interview, polutropos discusses her upcoming Mereth Aderthad paper on the topic, “'Kidnap Fam' and the Living Legendarium."
Mereth Aderthad Interview: Interview with Maglor by Shadow Who is Gil-galad? That might seem a silly question, but we know very little of his character beyond his kingship. In this interview, Shadow talks with Maglor about his upcoming Mereth Aderthad presentation "Gil-galad was an Elven King: Kingship and Personhood in the Last High King of the Noldor" that explores who Gil-galad might have been, beyond the last king of the Noldor.
Mereth Aderthad Registration Is Open! Registration for attending Mereth Aderthad is open for both in-person and virtual attendees and will remain open through the day of the event.
They passed out of Lhûn and the wider coastline of Middle-earth opened up before his eyes. He had wandered those shores for centuries, and even now he felt the pull of that same wanderlust, and knew he would miss them for the rest of his life. Their wildness, the untamed waves, the rocky…
Eärendil has to find his way in this unfamiliar land. Luckily (or unluckily, depending on your point of view) for him, it's a time of festival in Valimar...
Dawn spoke with polutropos about her upcoming presentation for Mereth Aderthad, “'Kidnap Fam' and the Living Legendarium," including the appeal of kidnap fam, the appeal of Maglor's character, and how The Silmarillion as an incomplete, complex word makes it ripe for both fanworks and…
Sketches inspired by the 2025 Birthday Bash challenge prompts!
Current Challenge
Birthday Bash
Daily word, image, and poetry prompts are loosely structured around events and milestones leading up to our 20th birthday. Read more ...
Random Challenge
Back To The Future
This month's challenge asks you to put a character, culture, or place in Arda in the Seventh Age. When the Seventh Age actually is--is it right now? in the future? or was Tolkien totally wrong and it's actually passed?--is completely up to you. Read more ...
Dawn spoke with polutropos about her upcoming presentation for Mereth Aderthad, “'Kidnap Fam' and the Living Legendarium," including the appeal of kidnap fam, the appeal of Maglor's character, and how The Silmarillion as an incomplete, complex word makes it ripe for both fanworks and scholarship.
As one of the most beloved Silmarillion characters, Maglor is a bundle of contradictions undergirded by a complex textual history. Warrior, musician, wanderer, and survivor, Maglor brings to the fore key themes in Tolkien's early legendarium, such as the role of music, oaths, and exile.
Maglor spoke with Shadow about his upcoming presentation for Mereth Aderthad, "Gil-galad was an Elven King: Kingship and Personhood in the Last High King of the Noldor," and what makes Gil-galad such an intriguing—and mysterious—character.
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.
One wrong decision can make a world of difference. When one of the Fellowship makes the mistake, the consequences are so severe that only the Valar can repair it. But will they?
Glorfindel daughter's life is in Elrohir's hands and only she remembers th eir love for each other. The fate of…
The Gardens of the Entwives are fallen, but two Entwives remain.
Around the World and Web
April Challenge at tolkienshortfanworks
The tolkienshortfanworks challenge for April has been posted to the Dreamwidth community. The thematic prompt is: wood. The formal challenge is: linnod (Gilraen's canonical verse form). These can be filled separately and freely combined with other challenges and prompts that allow this.
Celedriel Week 2025
Celedriel Week is a Tumblr events for fanworks about Galadriel and Celeborn.
Neurodivergent Arda Week 2025
Neurodivergent Arda Week is a Tumblr event to celebrate neurodiversity in Tolkien's works.
Tolkien at UVM Registration Open
The theme for this hybrid conference is Tolkien and War with John Garth as the keynote speaker.
Tolkien Ekphrasis Week 2025
This is a Tolkien-fandom-wide event dedicated to the art of ekphrasis in Tolkien's worlds. Its goal is to illuminate the artistic surroundings of the places, people, and stories we love, in as many media as possible.
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.
chrissystriped has requested the following types of constructive criticism on this fanwork: Spelling, Grammar, and Mechanics. All constructive criticism must follow our diplomacy guidelines.
Thank you! I'm not sure myself if this will turn towards canon or not. I think Tolkien wrote somewhere (Letters, maybe) that after the War of Wrath Sauron tried to be good out of fear. I like to think he's currently at a point where it could go either way with him. And at least Celebrimbor is warned (not sure how much good that will do, he's still a Feanorian after all XD).
Gondolin is gone, but lots more people survived because they had a chance to evacuate before the attack. There's actually a huge chunk of the fic posted, if you are interested (and I realise now I might have added a link): https://www.silmarillionwritersguild.org/node/4749 I'm currently in a bit of a writing low and my WIPs suffer from it, but it is not abandoned.
Ooh, it gives such a delicious extra flavour to Annatar in Ost-in-Edhil fics when you put Maeglin in their midst. Annatar’s feelings when he sees Maeglin there must have been all over the place. It was somehow heartening to read that he wished to have met him there in the first place. I of course love Celebrimbor’s reaction when he learns about Annatar’s identity from Maeglin. Just as I see him. This was an enjoyable story!
Mairon can see how good Maeglin is at what he's doing and he misses to talk to likeminded people. He's a bit lonely, I think, and not completely past the point of no return. Celebrimbor wants so much for his vision to work and if that means to give Sauron a chance, he's going to do it. Maeglin knew he'd decide like that, I think, and he's going to keep an extra pair of eyes on Annatar.
This is so powerful and ominous, from the very first sentence! I really enjoyed reading it. I love Maeglin and Celebrimbor together. And I love your use of the prompts!
Thank you! This can go many ways (although I have a thing for repenant bad guys ;).) I love to have Maeglin and Celebrimbor together, they can be so good for each other.
For starters, I just love the idea of Maeglin and Celebrimbor together in Ost-in-Edhel. And then... well, one of the joys of AUs is there's no knowing how closely they'll follow canon, so there's so much suspense here. What will Celebrimbor say to Annatar? All Annatar's plans could go to ruin with Maeglin here, hut will be end up being influenced by them and actually building the better world he claims to desire? Very intriguing!
I don't really know myself where this is heading (but I admit I have a thing for repentant bad guys). I think Annatar can still change his mind, (and he's been a bit lone for a while, I think) but he also knows now that Maeglin knows and will be extra careful, if he should decide to go through with world domination.
Comments on The Trial of a Dream
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.
chrissystriped has requested the following types of constructive criticism on this fanwork: Spelling, Grammar, and Mechanics. All constructive criticism must follow our diplomacy guidelines.