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.
Shadow spoke with cloudyhymns about his upcoming presentation for Mereth Aderthad 2025, "The Design of Dragons and the Doom of the Dwarves," where he shares his theory about how Dwarves and dragons are connected in the legendarium, a topic full of implications for fanworks.
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…
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Try something "in rare form," using a format or genre that is rarely utilized in Tolkien fanfiction. Read more ...
Shadow spoke with cloudyhymns about his upcoming presentation for Mereth Aderthad 2025, "The Design of Dragons and the Doom of the Dwarves," where he shares his theory about how Dwarves and dragons are connected in the legendarium, a topic full of implications for fanworks.
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.
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.
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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 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.
Ooh, I like this very much. Maglor learning from the past and resisting in his song, not in flash but strong in knowledge that life goes on. And your descriptions equal <3
I just want to keysmash in adoration for such a fantastic start to what no doubt is going to become a fantastic fic, but Maglor taking his lessons from the Sea and trying the Ainulindalë approach of working Sauron's notes into his own song of survival is what absolutely and completely killed me in the best way possible. I adore this and can't wait for the next chapter!
Thank you so much! I've been thinking a lot lately about the Ainulindale and the echoes of it to be heard in water, and particularly the Sea and how that would shape Maglor as a singer and as a person, and I'm glad that came through and worked here. <33
This is amazing! I like the concept of his voice making their ears bleed and driving one mad, and then how that actually just forms an introduction to what's to come. Maglor's song is marvellous, and cunning, he's definitely learned a few things in the years since all the happenings Sauron sings of. But Sauron is still Sauron, with vast power even when recovering his strength.
I'm riveted and really looking forward to the next chapter!
ETA I forgot to say how much I speak love the way he can hear the Trees and your description of them, being sick yet physically healthy. And the way Sauron's"energy-stench" pervades throughout, and your description of Sauron himself.
And from the first lines of Maglor's song I was delighted! The slow, gentle, inexorable power of water, and the power of its beauty too. Simply marvellous!
Thank you so much! <3 I've been having a lot of thoughts about Maglor and water and the Music of the Ainur, and I'm glad it both came through and worked!
The dream is so beautiful, your description of that beach!!! I love it and want to go there. So Sauron is now using Dreams of Power instead of Song. Clever. How on Arda Maglor doesn't cave... I guess hanging out for so long after everyone else is long gone, he's got some serious willpower. So Sauron's method behind the madness becomes plain, and for sure, Maglor is worth at least 9 nazgûl to him, if not more. And who is the person he's running to? I can't help wondering whether Elrond... I'll soon find out!
Oh dear, you were not joking about the whump factor of this! It keeps going up, painfully.
All the details and the arc are really well handled.
I find myself hoping that Maglor has not lost that connection with the Sea and that insight that he had gained, initially, beyond regaining, with the war of attrition that Sauron is waging on him. But surely not beyond regaining, in Arda...
Maglor is not in a good place right now. You have written his despair and disorientation so well, and the pointless beating scene was chilling and indeed well written whump.
Poor Celebrimbor! And so cruel that Maglor has to relive his nephew’s torment. I like how you had pictured Sauron, not much more than a wraith, but still full of fire, and that burning gaze, and a face without expression.
This is awful! In the best possible way. (Especially asI now know abouta sequel!) But OMG! Just when I was thinking "Ah! A Gandalf!" you go and throw that last line in. *Shudder* ETA that I got my events mixed up, but still, stitching them shut! And then the brief hope of ... a wizard? Only to have left him again...
A cold wind blew—and Maglor woke up, alone in the dark deep beneath the tower of Dol Guldur, and knew that he was utterly forsaken.
Chills went down my spine.
And with that he swept out, leaving Maglor shuddering and shivering in the sudden cold of his absence, and with tears still falling as the echo of Celebrimbor’s last days played over and over through his mind.
This is fantastic! I really love how you give just enough details and Maglor's horror and fear and pain. The branding and the sewing his mouth shut! And the old man!!!
Love the description of the battle! And Maglor's confusion with Elladan and Elrohir. And Galadriel! The comfort that is hard-won and something that he can't quite believe.
Who was he, if not a singer? What was he, without his voice?
Stunning final lines.
Starspray, I love this fic so much! You included so many of my favorite whumpy things and I'm sitting here with a huge grin on my face.
Comments on Unhappy Into Woe
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.