Fanworks shared on our archive or social media must be related to or based on The Silmarillion or its related works, which include all other books by Tolkien that pertain to the events and ideas of The Silmarillion. This is one of the questions most often posed: Does my work count as a Silmarillion fanwork? Or my fanwork uses characters and events from The Lord of the Rings and The Hobbit. How do I know if it's appropriate for your site? Does the SWG accept multi-age fanworks?
When considering if your work is appropriate to post on our site, remember that most of our visitors either enjoy primarily Silmarillion-based fanworks or come to our site because they are in the mood for Silmarillion-based fanworks. It's not that we don't love The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings too! But our audience is here specifically looking for fanworks with a strong connection to The Silmarillion. Therefore, work posted on our site must have a significant basis in or connection to The Silmarillion.
Our moderation team does reserve the right to request the removal of fanworks without a significant basis in The Silmarillion. However, we generally trust our members to use their own discretion in this and tend to view "Silmarillion fanworks" very liberally. To help you as an author, here is a checklist with examples to use when you are considering posting a fanwork to the archive and you are unsure. Your fanwork should meet at least one of these criteria.
- Sources. The fanwork makes use of The Silmarillion and any additional sources that expand or elaborate on it (for example, The History of Middle-earth books).
What would be appropriate for the archive?
In The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, the professor shares his opinion about the creation of Arda and how he envisioned the Ainur.What probably would not be appropriate for the archive?
In The Letters of J.R.R. Tolkien, the professor gives more insight about the character of Frodo.
- Ages. In short, the First Age and earlier, Second Age, any Third Age that is not covered in detail in The Hobbit or Lord of the Rings.
What would be appropriate for the archive?
Thranduil is born in Doriath and leaves this realm with his father Oropher to journey south.What probably would not be appropriate for the archive?
Galion discovers that both the prisoners and the barrels from Thanduil's dungeon have gone missing.
Fanworks spanning multiple ages--including those eras covered in detail in The Hobbit or The Lord of the Rings and eras beyond the Ring War--are permitted as long as a significant portion of the fanwork meets the criteria outlined here.
- Character groups. Any cultures or groups of characters that play or could play a role in the source material mentioned above.
What would be appropriate for the archive?
The Valar decide to invite Samwise Gamgee to Aman.What probably would not be appropriate for the archive?
Samwise enjoys his elevenses during the Ring Quest.
Some character groups appear in The Silmarillion, as well as The Lord of the Rings and/or The Hobbit. Fanworks about these groups must have a significant connection to The Silmarillion in order to be appropriate for our site.
What would be appropriate for the archive?
The Dwarves meet the Elves for the first time in Beleriand.What probably would not be appropriate for the archive?
The Dwarves muse on the usefulness of Hobbits as burglars.
- Places. Any places that play or could play a role in the source material mentioned above.
What would be appropriate for the archive?
Two intrepid Hobbits sail to Himling, an island that was once part of Beleriand, to explore the ruins of Maedhros's fort there.What probably would not be appropriate for the archive?
Two intrepid Hobbits visit Dale.
- Characters. Any character that plays or could play a role in the source material mentioned above.
What would be appropriate for the archive?
Maglor wanders around in Hollin.What probably would not be appropriate for the archive?
Boromir and Pippin wander around in Hollin.
As with character groups, some characters appear in The Silmarillion, as well as The Lord of the Rings and/or The Hobbit. Fanworks about these characters must have a significant connection to The Silmarillion in order to be appropriate for our site.
What would be appropriate for the archive?
Galadriel learns from Melian how to use her mirror.What probably would not be appropriate for the archive?
Galadriel uses her mirror to watch Frodo and Sam navigate their way to Mordor.
If in doubt, please don't hesitate to contact our moderator team with a link to the fanwork elsewhere online, a summary, or copy of your fanwork. We'll be happy to advise you!
