Welcome to HPFT's November bulletin!

If you're new, welcome to HPFT! It's awesome to have you with us. HPFanficTalk is a forum/archive - the forum is Harry Potter-themed (including a year-long house cup), but we talk about other fandoms, too, and the archive is multi-fandom/OF.   We have a strong culture of support for other writers and feedback here, including a story help section, challenges, and reviewing events, so if you're a writer, you've come to the right place.

A quick rundown to help you get started here on the forums: please post in the 'Welcome to HPFT' topic +here to say that you've read over the rules and understand them. You can specify your house in that post or in our sorting ceremony +here - once you do, we'll sort you into the right group so you can see a common room that only people in your house are allowed to see. You're welcome to post in your common room and/or in our introductions forum +here to introduce yourself if you'd like, and you may also find our +FAQs helpful.

Enjoy your stay! 

We're sorry to announce that @TidalDragon will be stepping down from the staff team. Kevin has been an invaluable member of the team over the past three and a half years, including in getting both the forums and the archive up and running in the first place. His hard work has been so appreciated. We're also sorry to announce that @Chelts-rhj will be stepping down from the prefect team.

Thank you, Kevin and Chelts!

Do you want to help out behind the scenes? If so, you're in luck! Applications for all staff, prefect, and house newsletter editor positions are open for the next week. There's no post count/join date limit, and you can apply for as many positions as you like - it's all on one application. A detailed rundown on how HPFT staffing works can be found +here, and you can find the application +here. If you're interested, please apply by Midnight EST on November 10th.

If you applied in September or October, you don't need to apply again unless you'd like to apply for additional positions or change your answers - we will still consider you this month. 

The Department of Mysteries event is drawing to a close, and the Crazies Cafe has been opened yet again for NaNoWriMo, so feel free to check that out!

Our first Head Student has found her way back to the site not too long ago, but has since then made her presence known by participating in events, requesting reviews, posting new chapters on the site, and being overall a positive influence in her house by how she's posting and interacting with everyone. So please give it up for...

@Bunbury!

Our second Head Student this month has only returned recently as well, but what a return she made! Not only has she been going out of her way to spread friendliness and cheer all around the site, she's also taken to asking members questions and just being very interested in all that has been going on! So please give it up for...

@magpie!

Congratulations to you both - this is so well-deserved! Please PM  @abhorsen. with your choice of story you'd like to have featured next month!

This month we’re honoring @TidalDragon with the Order of Merlin! Kevin’s been a phenomenal staffer for many years, showing so much dedication to the site. He exemplifies so many great qualities that have made him a bright spirit of Gryffindor House for so long. As a site gamekeeper, Kevin has put on many events for our enjoyment and he’s run some wonderful Fic Nights through the YouTube channel! Kevin is an awesome presence around HPFT and incredible person- be sure to thank him for all his hard work!

November's Story of the Month is...

Flower in Its Decay by @crestwood!

Quote

It didn’t take long for two things to become clear; The French department brings people together, and it positions them at odds. This was no ordinary class. 

This month, we're featuring winners of site and house awards as well as four staff picks!

 

Congratulations, @apondinabluebox, @crestwood, @Marauder Lady, @Pixileanin, @pookha, @potionspartner, @Queer in Knitted Things, @Renacerá, @Rumpelstiltskin, @sibilant, @teh tarik, and @TidalDragon!

November 24 - The Wizard Tales From Many Lands Challenge by @Noelle Zingarella

November 30 - The Scandalous Challenge by @grumpy cat

December 9 - The Wisdom Highlights Challenge by @CheekyTorah-Lex

December 13 - the tswift song challenge by @down-in-flames

December 25 - The Anything-But-Wolfstar Gay Marauders Challenge by @Felpata_Lupin

1 - @baletgir; @SpoonyLupin

5 - @hecate; @nyx

7 - @Sarz

8 - @something wicked

10 - @Milford833; @Phoenix_Flames

11 - @Finefrenzy__

18 - @scooterbug8515

19 - @just.a.willow.tree

20 - @toomanycurls

21 - @val

22 - @hopelesslyaddicted; @ShazaLupin

24 - @Lost Muse; @victoria_anne

27 - @putitonpaper

28 - @down-in-flames

Bulletin written and /or compiled by @Ineke and @abhorsen.. Order of Merlin written by @belgian quaffle. All graphics by @abhorsen.. Featured staff picks by @grumpy cat (the brightest pearl), @MadiMalfoy (Lucky Strike, My Girl), @Rumpelstiltskin (His Name Was Smeed), and @toomanycurls (Hallelujah).