October 2019 Bulletin
Entry posted by abhorsen. in bulletin
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Welcome to HPFT's October 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 @Chemical_Pixie will be stepping down from her role as Auror. However, we're very pleased to welcome @RoRoWeasley to the prefect team, and to welcome @Dojh167, @grumpy cat, @Ineke, and @sibilant to our gamekeeper team!
Thank you, Abby! Congratulations, Kate, Sam, Kris, Ineke, and Shreya!
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 October 13th.
If you applied in August or September, 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.
October has rolled around and thus the Halloween event is due to begin shortly. Keep your eyes open for that! In addition, at the end of the month the Crazies Cafe will also be re-opened.
Our first Head Student of the Month is someone who's been invaluable for her House. She's always kind, generous, and helpful, leaves wonderful reviews, and has done a lot of work for her house during the House Cup opener. Please give it up for...
Our second Head Student of the month is someone who can be found literally everywhere - from welcoming members to helping out in his House, he's easily accessible when it comes to answering questions. So please give it up for...
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 would like to award the Headmasters the Order of Merlin as a group. Their unyielding dedication to the site and its members and all of their hard work is deserving of an Order of Merlin every month, so we'd like to acknowledge that this month.
They are faced with some of the most difficult choices on how to keep the site running and growing; they are responsible for dealing with member turbulence and upset; they are making all those hard calls that many of us don't have to face. They are the ones who deal with the brunt of disrespect from people who are upset, and somehow take those comments and upset and respond publicly with respect for the members.
They are strong. They are unrelenting. They are doing their best, and the payoff has been tremendous. HPFT has grown exponentially and has provided a home away from home for many of us.
Thank you, Holly, Rose, Branwen, and Paula for everything you do.
October's Story of the Month is...
Fake it till you make it by @Rhaenyra!
QuoteHow hard can it be to pretend to be in love?
Violet Armstrong's life has been going well. She only has one problem: her judgemetnal older sister is getting married. In a moment of panic, Violet says she will bring the guy she’s seeing to the wedding. But there is no boyfriend. She hasn’t been on a date in months.
With the help of her best friend, she gets back in contact with an old acquaintance. Jon Summers is tall, handsome, and successful. He looks good on paper, but Violet is reluctant since he spent their school years getting on her nerves. Even so, he’s her best option as a date.
All they have to do is pretend to be dating over the course of Stella’s wedding weekend. Then they can move on. That is, if they stick to the plan…
September's Fic Night story was On Track by @Chemical_Pixie . You can check out @TidalDragon reading it on +our youtube page if you haven't seen it yet! 
This month, we're featuring winners of site and house awards as well as three staff picks!
Congratulations, @Aphoride, @CheekyTorah-Lex, @Chemical_Pixie, @crestwood, @down-in-flames, @dreamshadow, @Lost_Robin, @Mistress, @Noelle Zingarella, @nott theodore, @Pixileanin, and @Rhaenyra.
October 7 - The Almost Kiss Challenge by @dreamshadow
October 31 - The Evil Incorporated Challenge by @something wicked
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
3 - @potterfan310; @WanderWitch
4 - @Ineke
11 - @FireOpal
12 - @GinnyPotter242; @Jayna; @MuggleMaybe
15 - @Emotional elements
16 - @LadyMarauder
19 - @Margaret
20 - @BookDinosaur
27 - @eloxcin
28 - @Ashley
29 - @Kaptain Knuts
30 - @Stardust.Soul; @WindingArrow
Bulletin written and /or compiled by @Ineke and @abhorsen.. Order of Merlin written by @Rumpelstiltskin. All graphics by @abhorsen.. Featured staff picks by @belgian quaffle (the art of confidence) and @grumpy cat (to lead an army & antebellum).