So... This is actually from the HPFT confessions page in the Quidditch Pitch. But a lot is coming out, so this is a pretty big and blog-able moment, I think?

[Wow. I saw this and oh man. I have been saving these up. This topic hasn't been posted in for a while but I think it totally should be! It's a place for everyone to be honest about their experiences in the way that's most comfortable to them, and only sharing as much as they want to share. 

1. Sometimes I feel like the odd one out here and I think I’ve always felt like that. I know I’m definitely one of the HPFT babies, as in one of the younger ones, and was 100% among the younger when I started. I still always feel so self-conscious about only being just out of high school, you know? Like people are judging my writing so much more, or laughing about my stories because I’m just a cringe who doesn’t know how much she sucks. I definitely used to hide my age before and be very vague about it because I wanted the freedom to explore things that people would normally consider more adult in my stories without being judged or like, where are her parents?? (Fyi in case anyone was wondering, I was raised as an only child because my sister is much older, so I spent all of my time reading or around adults. My parents are super supportive of everything I do and always encouraged me to be mature. I promise they’re not off god knows where haha!) I figure this is 100% an irrational fear, but it’s always been there with its nails in me, even when I win an award like Claw of the Month or someone leaves me a really nice review. I just feel as if I’m not taken seriously… Which is the most ridiculous thing since you people are all so lovely and you would vocalize it if you wanted me to go away lol because you're honest decent people. 

2. I literally just recently found out that Hayden (@BlackPixie) is two months older than me. And I guess just the fact they have it prominently placed on their page makes me finally able to say it.

Hi, I’m seventeen. I’m seventeen and yeah, sometimes I write smutty stories or substance abuse stories or stories with improper language and cruelty and I have the right to. If you think I don’t understand the experiences and haven’t partaken in some of these things myself, or want to fight against them, or even just don’t have knowledge that these things happen in life sometimes, then man do you need to actually read about high schoolers (and talk to some of the boys that are/were in my life haha.) - in retrospect I should also mention that I also haven’t actually experienced everything in real life, and I definitely wrote about stuff I didn’t know much about before all of my life experiences started happening… I’ll just leave you to guess what comes in where. I'm still a pretty innocent smol child in some areas of life, rest assured.  

3. I just put 2003 on my page. Loud and proud boi!

4. I genuinely want to hear people’s criticisms. I feel like it’s such a big thing, but I want people to read my stories, not only for recognition (cause that’s great and reviews, even small ones brighten my day like crazy), but to get better.

5. Writing on HPFF at age 12 literally taught me some things that my English teachers never bothered to (not that I didn’t learn lots from my later ones too.) It’s because of writing fan fiction that I know I have to start a new line after dialogue tags. I knew that you couldn’t have “hi,” “hi.” in the same space. But I didn’t know that this [“Hi,” James said. “Where were you?” Albus asked.”] was problematic. Someone commented on In My Skin, one of my first stories, letting me know. For a long time, I also really struggled with then/than and I’ve had lots of stories with meandering plot lines and useless details that no one wants (man, probably still do EDIT: Definitely still do.) But HPFT has helped me become a good writer. Someone who could get 90s in high school English classes.

6.You guys literally got me through middle school. I only had a small group of close friends at my school, only one of whom I hung out with outside of class and lunch, but he was always busy. So, I spent the weekends alone. (Don’t worry, high school wasn’t perfect but it was 1000% better and now I am siblings for life with 10+ weirdo Germans, a Thai girl, and some other amazing Canadian friends like @brightestwitch.)

7. It is my dream to one day have a famed fic. Y’know, the one that gets thousands, even tens of thousands of reads and lots of reviews. Something like the amazing Fred Weasley Memorial Scholarship, the fic that started it all for me. And boy have I tried (cough cough, The Great Tale of Me, Lyra Malfoy. Which, tbh, good idea in theory. In practice? Not so much. I still cringe.) But it’s okay; I’m patient and I’ll get there soon.

8. Like @magemadi I also tend to overrate stories. 

9. I freaking love all of you awesome nerds. Never be ashamed to be who you are because I look up to you all so much.

10. Wow. That was a lot of HPFT confessing.]