Technologies are generally described for fabricating a self-writing waveguide. Two photo-reactive liquid monomers, each infused with a photo-initiator, may be mixed and dissolved in a carrier solvent to form a mixture. Nanoparticles may be added to the mixture to form a gel. A focused light beam may be provided to cure one of the monomers, initiating polymerization to form a core of the self-writing waveguide. An optional exposure to an optical source, a heat source, or an electron beam source may cure the other monomer, initiating polymerization to form a cladding of the self-writing waveguide. The self-writing waveguide may be formed in a substantially tubular structure or a planar film structure.