New Challenge: Potluck Bingo
Sit down to a delicious selection of prompts served on bingo boards, created by the SWG community.
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.
[Artwork] 2024 Potluck Doodles by silmalope
Assorted prompt fills for the 2024 Potluck bingo boards, to varying degrees of completion! :)
[Writing] Ransom of the Fairy Twins by Rocky41_7
Maglor and Maedhros trade Elrond and Elros to King Gil-galad in exchange for a Silmaril, but they have miscalculated.
[Series] Pennas Pengolodh by AdmirableMonster
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.
[Writing] Havens by AdmirableMonster
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.
[Writing] Collection of Potluck Drabbles by Artano
This is a collection of true drabbles completed for the 'Four Words' drabble bingo card.
[Writing] Hurting Tyelpë by elennalore
Sauron has taken Celebrimbor as a prisoner in Ost-in-Edhil. Whump happens.
[Writing] On a Night of Snow by Elleth
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.
Potluck Bingo
Help yourself to a collection of prompts on bingo boards designed by members and friends of the SWG. Read more ...
Mapping Arda, Part III: The Second Age by Varda delle Stelle, Anérea
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.
Doom and Ascent: The Argument of ‘Beowulf: the Monsters and the Critics’ by Simon J. Cook
Simon reads 'Beowulf: the Monsters and the Critics' to conclude his account of the Anglo-Saxon tower of its allegory.
Why People Don't Comment: Data and History From the Tolkienfic Fandom by Dawn Walls-Thumma
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.
Alliterative Verse for Arda by Rhunedhel
Part of our Themed Collection series for our newsletter, this collection features alliterative poems about Middle-earth.
[Writing] Homage to the Song of Durin by Flora-lass
Legolas is inspired by Gimli's song - and by Gimli himself.
[Artwork] Long-tressed Wingildi by Anérea
"... the long-tressed Wingildi ... spirits of the foam and the surf of ocean."
~ a painted sketch for Scribbles and Drabbles 2024.
[Writing] Partners in Craft by elennalore
Annatar realises that he might like Celebrimbor too much.
Fluffcember 2024
Fluffcember is a Tumblr event with daily fluffy prompts during the month of December.
Hidden Paths 2025
Hidden Paths, an event dedicated to the celebration of smaller Tolkien canons, has released their early prompts for the 2025 event.
Teitho November/December Contest: Healing
The theme for Teitho's November/December contest is healing.
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.
First of all, I love that introductory verse. I got all caught up in that poem when I doing the Tolkien seafarer stuff a couple of years ago.
I love the seaport introductory business--I love seaports in general! And Círdan expected a storm, but getting an old friends in a very hawt human form.
“Ossë, I might have known it was you from your grand entrance. I hope the storm will not catch any other ships coming in unawares.”
“Do not worry. It has largely blown itself out and there are no other ships nearby. I made sure of that before I set sail.”
Like, actually, he made the storm! Great touch.
I love the way you write Círdan and I am very attached to Osse also and his very special relationship with the Teleri.
Very happy also that it has a sweet and fluffy ending. I like the fact that Osse uses more than one human-modeled corporeal form! That is very cute and playful of him. It is also cute how Círdan takes it in stride.
Nice work beginning to end.
I've always loved that poem, and many others from that era. I thought it fit the theme of the story pretty well too, Cirdan coming to terms with his past and finally able to find some peace. The bustling seaport is always a great image so that was fun to write as well. Thanks for your comments about Cirdan. I'm not, like, super into the character but when I read this prompt I knew just what I wanted to do. It seemed so perfect for the pairing. It's also fun to play with the look of the Maia since, in my world anyway, they can choose a form like we'd choose an outfit. I'm a sucker for a happy ending so you knew these two would get one. Cirdan was around a long time and he deserves a day at the beach once in awhile. Heck, we all do. Thanks not only for your sweet comments but for the beta. You're always there for me and I appreciate it.
This is so beautifully written that it soars to a whole new level for me. The descriptions are gorgeous and bring such life to everything in the story: the characters, places and ideas. I've always wondered how the Maiar and Eldar could experience love together and loved the idea of it. You've written about it more eloquently than anything I've before read.
The little added things are delightful: the mention of refugees and the truth of what they bring; the gentle humour in things like Cirdan's almost loss of control when he accepts Osse's offer and in Osse's changing appearances which almost frighten him.
This story was a truly awesome read; I was so blown away by it!
Thanks so much for your kind comments, Jenni. I always enjoy writing unconventional pairings so it's satisfying to know this relationship reads well and that you enjoyed it. Thanks also for mentioning the little touches about the refugees and the rest. I wanted the setting to seem plausible but still feel like a fantasy. I'm thrilled with this review and so glad you like the story.
I stumbled on your fic while looking for Círdan inspiration and I'm, well, let's just say my idea of him has been utterly refreshed by this!
What a wonderful experience for both of them. And both of them so curious, and sweetly excited yet with an underlying nervousness (despite Ossë's flamboyant displays!).
The worldbuilding info as well as the little details that built their personalities made the climax all the more enjoyable for me.
The image of Ossë pouring tea and eating cakes, savouring every moment in his fana carries a unique sensuality all of its own.
And the thoughts shared on love and friendship, joy and longing are just so relatable.
Oh, there's just so much to enjoy about this fic! Thank you.
Thank you so much, Anérea. It’s always a compliment to know a story has given the reader a a take on a character they really enjoy. It’s always interesting and fun to write about the relationships between Tolkien’s characters and I enjoy the Maia for their otherworldly abilities and attitudes.
I’m happy you enjoyed the world building, details and descriptions. I’ve always romanticized the sea a bit myself so writing about it is always a joy.
This story is kind of a follow up to my story Hearts Like the Sea where Cirdan and Thingol meet and fall in love. That’s why Cirdan is pining for him here.
I really appreciate your comments and appreciate you sharing them. It’s a real treat.
Oooh! Thanks for mentioning Hearts Like The Sea—I was wondering whether the mentions in here hinted at events detailed elsewhere. I'll look it up and bookmark it.
Getting into the mind of a maia is endlessly fascinating for me, if ultimately not entirely possible for us humans. And I really like the way you reversed this, when Ossë says he has no way of knowing whether what he feels is what the Elves feel.
I'm also a total waterbaby and sea lover, so your description of their union Ossëstyle really did it for me!
You’re welcome and I hope you enjoy that one as well.
The Maia are interesting to write about. I don’t think they can ever fully understand what others feel, being spiritual beings with a completely different perspective but I like to think that’s why they find the Elves so fascinating.
“I'm also a total waterbaby and sea lover, so your description of their union Ossëstyle really did it for me!”
What a lovely comment. Thanks so much.
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