In the Spotlight | 21 March 2021
Entry posted by Darling_take_off_the_mask in In the Spotlight
810 views
Hello and welcome to the March edition of In the Spotlight! In this edition, you'll find interviews with the staffers and members of the month as well as some Community Coordinator news and a new section where we feature some of the things that make our corner of the internet so great! We hope you enjoy it and as always encourage you to share your thoughts in the comments.
Staffer of the month is chosen by vote among all staff and CC's together, and this month several of us CC's are honored to have been chosen among the recipients of a group award: Forum Moderator @grumpy cat; Social Media Coordinator/CC @magemadi; and CCs @RonsGirlFriday, @shadowycorner, and @Renacerá!
I N T E R V I E W S
| G R U M P Y C A T |
What are you currently reading (fic or otherwise)?
i set myself a goal of continuing to read stories i've started during the reviewing event (and to review as i go along) - things have been a little hectic irl so it's (very) slow going, so i'm reading (trying to read?) rozar by @blackballet, liam wren and the dragon wand by @KJ Cartmell and iris albicans by @Lost_Robin along with excitedly waiting more chapters of fics i've binged during the event 
What are you currently writing?
hmmm i'm going between writing favourite worst nightmare - an original fiction story collection that's like...lingering darkness expanded (i guess?) and your name sounds better when it's whispered low - a narcissa/gideon story / prequel to you should see me in a crown.
What are you currently watching?
schitt's creek 
it's so wholesome and i'm sad i'm nearing the end
Where do you hang out on the forums a lot right now?
writer's journals i guess - i did a wj question swap with lots of people and that was hella fucking fun, also i just really like reading about other people's writing processes
| M A G E M A D I |
What are you currently reading (fic or otherwise)?
I'm currently reading two books -- Hood Feminism: Notes From the Women That a Movement Forgot by Mikki Kendall for an anti-racist book club with some fellow FFTers and Vicious by V. E. Schwab! Two very different books 
What are you currently writing?
Is it bad if I say nothing besides a publication? 
Fic-wise, fairies universe stuff probably soonish though 
What are you currently watching?
Since endless hours of youtube shouldn't count, I'll say that I have plans to start WandaVision very soon!
Where do you hang out on the forums a lot right now?
The Ravenclaw Common Room!
| R O N S G I R L F R I D A Y |
What are you currently reading (fic or otherwise)?
You've sort of caught me in between books with this question! But I'm about to start Cemetery Boys by Aiden Thomas and Strawberries and Thunderstorms by our very own @CheekyTorah-Lex!
What are you currently writing?
I'm polishing up an OF short story called "The Lovely Assistant" to submit for a couple of challenges by the end of the month. And aside from that, it's finish Irrational or die trying so I can finally focus on some new long-term WIP's guilt-free.
What are you currently watching?
Servant, a psychological horror TV series produced and directed by M. Night Shyamalan, one of my favorite filmmakers. It is deeply weird and creepy (with some delightfully dark and snarky humor provided by Rupert Grint in a very un-Ron-like role).
Where do you hang out on the forums a lot right now?
Been spending a lot of time in the Ravenclaw CR as we gear up for Nargles, and also I've been loving the guerrilla gift tag thread!
| S H A D O W Y C O R N E R |
What are you currently reading (fic or otherwise)?
Winter of the Witch by Katherine Arden, a stunning fairytale-ish retelling of Russian folklore. There are nature demons and strong ladies and horses that turn into brids and I love it. Also, for a book club in my (hopefully) new job, we are reading Between Good and Evil, a book about the many ethical dilemmas our societies face these days. Oh and lots of fic!
What are you currently writing?
The last two weeks I have really been working towards finishing Memory Dust, it more or less needs just one chapter, which is huge for me. Besides that, my crazy adventure Molly/Arthur piece I started months ago as a tiny little gift for Courtney ( @prideofprewett ) is now taking hold in my brain 
What are you currently watching?
Cowboy Bebop and some documentaries, Can´t Get You Out of My Head most recently
Where do you hang out on the forums a lot right now?
Writer´s Journals and the guerilla gift tag
| R E N A C E R Á |
What are you currently reading (fic or otherwise)?
I haven't been reading as much as I would like lately, unfortunately. But in the last month or so, I have read some really great Death Note and Haikyuu! fics over on ao3.
What are you currently writing?
I have a complete re-write of chapters 17 and 18 of Collateral in the works. It's a big undertaking!
What are you currently watching?
I just finished the animated Star Wars: The Clone Wars series, as recommended by a friend. It was really good! I've also been bingeing old series of Would I Lie to You? on YouTube.
Where do you hang out on the forums a lot right now?
I've been MIA for a couple of weeks, but I tend to spend a lot of time in the 'Puff CR club!
This month our lovely members of the month are @Oregonian and @prideofprewett!
I N T E R V I E W S
| O R E G O N I A N |
What are you currently reading, fic or otherwise?
I actually read little fiction other than the fics I read on this site. (Yes, I know that goes against the rule that fiction writers should read lots of fiction, but...that's just me.) I mostly read non-fiction. Right now I'm reading books about the Middle Ages and finishing Barack Obama's latest book, A Promised Land. Also need to get back into Team of Rivals, about Abraham Lincoln, which my niece gave to me.
What are you currently writing?
I'm working on my long-postponed WIP, The Crofter and the Snake, about my OC Howard Sutton, who is a sheep crofter from Skye, during the 1997-1998 year. I have a folder full of STUFF -- four completed opening chapters, an exciting chapter that occurs farther along, a good chunk near the end, countless sheets of paper full of ideas, alternatives, how-abouts. Opening that folder is like dumping a 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle onto the table. I have the pieces, just need to see how they fit together (and which pieces are missing!) Writing Tiramisu gave me the bug for writing long-form stories.
What am I currently watching?
I've been watching lots of videos of archaeology digs of medieval and Roman Britain. They run 45-60 minutes each. It's fascinating to see how the archaeologists can detect what's below the surface of the ground even before they start to dig, and exciting to see what they find. I've seen so many of these videos, all over Britain, that it's hard to remember that I haven't actually been to those sites.
Where do you hang out on the forums a lot right now?
I go first to All Activity to catch the latest news. Then I check pending activities, looking for results (Golden Ink Awards, Review Event, challenge results, it's the Slytherin in me). I like to check out the Writers' Nest, to read the threads there and maybe post something. And I always finish up at the Slytherin Bodega to check in with my fellow Snakes. Seeing the activity on the forums always makes me happy!
| P R I D E O F P R E W E T T |
What are you currently reading (fic or otherwise)?
I am reading The Winter of the Witch by Katherine Arden and Home (from the Binti trilogy) by Nnedi Okorafor.
What are you currently writing?
I'm switching back and forth between my latest Molly/Arthur fic called Had It Been Another Day and my OF piece, Three Acts of Grace.
What are you currently watching?
I'm currently going between New Girl, A Crime to Remember, and Dear White People.
Where do you hang out on the forums a lot right now?
Probably the Writer's Nest. I feel like I'm always stalking people for updates on their stories and the like
Story of the Month was not held due to the Inkys, but be on the lookout next month when we interview April's winner.
We don't have a ton of "official" business for you this month, but please be sure to vote for April's Story of the Month here, and check out your common rooms for information about upcoming House fic awards!
Also, staff have been updating the chatting section of the forums, and in doing so they've add a new subforum, Real Talk, where members can have serious dialogue about real life issues and events, which also includes diversity and representation in writing. We hope you'll check it out!
Now for some fun stuff! This is a new section we're implementing in ITS to shine a spotlight on things of interest on the archives or the forums. Stuff that's new or different, threads that are popular or threads that need some more love, members doing cool things — a mixed bag aimed at promoting community and interaction on the site.
Guerrilla Gift Tag is going on until March 28, and it is so much fun! Gift something to the person before you and receive a surprise from the next person to post.
By the way, if you like tag and exchanging reviews, when Guerrilla Gift Tag shuts down check out the review tag thread — the last time someone was tagged in that thread was October 18 by @livingfree.
The writer's journals section has been on lately, thanks to Guerrilla Gift Tag and several members offering question swaps — but you don't have to swap to have fun; stop by and ask your fellow FFTers some questions about their writing or literally anything, or even just leave some words of encouragement and excited flailing.
Speaking of writer's journals, @blackballet just started one! Time to give it some love.
And @dreamshadow started up a new review request thread this month.
@Crimson Quill is looking for contributors to a blog post about awesome female characters in fic. Are there any fanfics with leading ladies who have made an impression on you? If so, reach out to Abbi by March 24!
Well that does it for this month's edition of In the Spotlight! Be on the lookout for our Potpourri blog to return in the next few days!
_______________________
credits:
couriers: madi, melanie
news: melanie
site highlights: melanie
graphics: taylor
compilation: tasha
Edited by magemadi
-
6
-
1
-
2
-
1
