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.
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…
This is an analysis on whether the Sindar ate the Petty-dwarves during the years they hunted them, completed for the 'Literary Analysis' prompt on the "Tolkien Meta" bingo card.
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
Start to Finish
Choose one of the famous first lines from the list below and use it to start your story. If you are creating a fanwork other than writing, you may use one of the first lines 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.
I found this story very strong and original. A lot of fanfic is (in a warm and pleasant way) echoes back shared interpretations and preferences about favorite canon characters and events. I know I love to write that sort of familiar (to me) fanfic and read it too! I also really enjoy cross-fertilization. But this one came out of some other place for me! (I wanna say it shows that you don't sit around reading a bunch of the current Silm meta! Not that there is anything wrong with that--I'm a glutton for it myself.)
Wow! I like this story a lot. I would never have written it. I do know a few people who recently have chosen to explore the War of Wrath and others who have written fic relating to followers of Oromë--usually not in the same stories. And I like the idea of dream therapy and a guy underestimating how much he has to contribute and being corrected and re-directed.
Thanks so much, Oshun. You're my biggest fan and the inspector who keeps me writing.
I admit to having a soft spot for several of the Valar, Orome being one and Irmo being another. I actually meant this story to be about Eärendil fighting the dragon but it got away from me. I find the idea of these beings, which have been around since the dawn of time, going to physical war hard to wrap my head around. I'm drawn to the notion of how these traumatic events affect the average person/immortal being. it's a fascinating idea, but too much to explore in a short piece. Good enough for a fairytale of sorts though.
You're right, I don't keep up with or follow trends I just write what a prompt suggests. This one got away frim me. I was going to write about Eärendil fighting the dragon and it turned into this. A leopard can't change its spots.
The name Ruiechil is straight from Darth Fingon. I don't even attempt to make these up on my own. lol
I'm glad you liked this and I'm grateful for your help with it.
Thanks, Himring! The quote made me think of dragons for some reason and that made me think of The War of Wrath. I'm glad you like the little tramatuzed Maia. He has his work cut out for him with all the future wars but he really found his true calling. :-)
I don't think I've ever seen a story centered on a Maia who fought (and "died") in the War of Wrath, so this was wholly unexpected and intriguing. I'm glad Ruiechil has found healing and a new purpose after the loss of his home. Loved the vivid description of the dream, too.
Thanks for your comments, Lyra. They're much appreciated. I thought the perspective of a foot soldier in the War of Wrath would be interesting to explore. War changes people so I'm sure it would change some Maia too. Thanks also for your comments about the descriptions. I love writing them.
I enjoyed this very much. So descriptive! In a gloriously dark and gloomy way. I've always desired to write something deliciously horrific and beautiful at the same time, but never have managed it. You have done so with such an original story. There is something about writing from an OC's POV that allows the imagination to create such wonderful descriptions and ideas.
I really liked the line about Eru allowing discord into the music. I've often wondered why he didn't do something about it and avoid all the suffering and misery that so many of Tolkien's characters suffered.
Thank you for writing such an inspiring and moving piece.
What a nice compliment, jenni. Thanks so much! The first line I chose made me think of The War of Wrath right away and the thought of the dragons making even the Valar fall back in fear and amazement is a stunning idea. I'm glad you enjoyed it.
I don't think the Valar ever understood the discord either, but they have a rather narrow perspective whereas Eru sees the big picture, and his ways are his own.
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.