8 Things I Have Learned from (and Appreciate in) HubPages
As the year draws to a close, I look back from the time I started to write in HubPages. I have been writing here for six months already, producing 89 hubs (this being my 90th), gaining more than 40,000 views and generally enjoying myself.
Prior to my HP days, I have been writing online (for other people) for more than six months already. While the part-time earnings are okay, there’s just something different when you write for other people rather than for yourself. Even back then, I was actually looking for a site where I can write my own stuff, read other writers’ articles (hubs) and communicate with my readers or other writers. Needless to say, I have found all those (and more) in HubPages.
With this hub, I just want to share some of the things I have learned while writing and publishing my hubs in HubPages. I’m sure some of you have learned the same things, while others have learned a lot more. Some may still be on the verge of learning these things (and I wish you good luck in HP). Whichever point you are now, I do wish you’ll enjoy reading this hub as I’ve enjoyed writing it and going down my (short) memory lane in my HP experience.
My Food Hubs
- Favorite Christmas Foods in the Philippines
Christmas is the time when we get to eat foods especially made for this season. Whether these are for Christmas parties or for Christmas reunions or for the Noche Buena (celebrated on Christmas Eve), we look... - Why I Love Sashimi!
I love sashimi. A lot of people dont like eating it because it is RAW and because it may result to health problems. But for me, I would gladly eat this stuff every day. In fact, my idea of heaven is to... - Unique Foods From the Philippines
Each nation in this world has something unique to offer to foreigners visiting the country. One of these unique things is food. This hub is all about the unique foods from the Philippines. I won't exactly... - Native Kakanins (Filipino Dessert)
The Philippines is not only known for its beautiful scenery and friendly people, it is also known for its delicious food. Among these foods are what we call the kakanins, native delicacies that are... - Native Kakanins (Filipino Desserts) Part II
The first hub featured Filipino desserts such as puto, kutsinta, bibingka, palitaw, suman, sapin-sapin, pastillas de leche and maja blanca. But as I said, this list is by no means complete. With this in mind,... - 10 Ways to Cook Goat Meat
Okay, I know some of you were saying when you read the title Eeeewwww goat meat! (with matching facial expression). But hey why not? Goat meat is actually soft and delicious (if prepared in the...
Some of My Favorite Hubbers (other than the ones featured in the hub)
- RedElf on HubPages
Born on the West Coast, middle child of three sisters, Elle Fredine grew up traveling "clean across Canada" to quote a slogan familiar to any... - Duchess OBlunt on HubPages
I am happily married for 30 years to the same man (my high school sweetheart!) and have two boys who have grown into pretty awesome young men. I... - Dolores Monet on HubPages
MERRY CHRISTMAS, EVERYBODY ! Hi! My name is Dolores Monet and here I am pictured doing what I do best. I am here because I love to write. I have... - Daniel Carter on HubPages
Among the many things I enjoy doing, I like composing, publishing and producing music most of all. I also like to write and continue researching... - Dale Mazurek on HubPages
I have heard and seen a lot about HubPages but never really paid attention. Well now its time to pay attention. I have a lot of interests in a... - Chuck on HubPages
A husband and proud father of four who works as a college program coordinator and part-time economics instructor. I enjoy traveling with my family... - cindyvine on HubPages
Born in Cape Town, South Africa but lived in many different countries, and experienced many different cultures first hand. Currently living in... - AEvans on HubPages
Life has its ups and downs, it has its good times and bad times it is everything in between that counts. Writing is has always been my...
I have learned…
That I can write whatever I want in HP. Of course, within boundaries (read HP’s FAQs). I have written about my profession, accounting, such as: why is it important to learn the basics of accounting, what the tax season entails for us accountants and what are some of the scandals that shook our (accounting) world.
I have also written about my alternative career choices, the perils of social networking sites to one’s employment, some online writing sites for Filipinos, tips for managing time for freelancers and tips for writing proposals online.
Being a Filipino residing in the Philippines, I have also hubbed about the beauty of my country through my hubs on my hometown, Butuan City, my favorite city, Davao City, my favorite island resort, Amanpulo, the 7 natural wonders of my country and the beautiful island of Camiguin. I’ve published hubs to tell the world about what happened to my country during two of the most devastating typhoons this year, Ondoy and Pepeng, and how Filipinos from around the world came through to help our Filipino brothers and sisters who were severely affected by these two typhoons. As a citizen of my country, I can’t also help but write about our politics and about the state of our economy.
If I can play favorites with my hubs, I’d say these are how to stop procrastination, the things I hate while driving, domestic violence against men, bad study habits of students and my food hubs.
That I can try my hand in writing a lot of things. Except for poems and stories, I have tried my hand on writing a lot of things here in HP. There are my ranting hubs such as making up my mind, my complaints as a boss and what I hate while driving (2 hubs on this one). I’ve also written informative hubs about my country, our traditions and my profession. Hubs targeting Amazon sales? I’ve definitely written those. Maybe in the future I’ll try writing a poem or two and a short story or two (I hope).
That I can write hubs that people will read. I refrain from saying lots of people because this may seem like I’m bragging, but I’m really happy to see that I’m getting some readership here in HP. It shows that I’m writing stuff people actually want to read and even comment on. I love it when I receive comments from my fellow hubbers and even, from outside readers. These comments show me that there are really people out there who take time to follow me, read my hubs and write to me that they appreciate what I wrote.
That I can communicate with other hubbers…around the world. This one is a bonus. I’ve always wanted to communicate with other writers (something that I couldn’t do when I was writing for other people). And being able to communicate with them brought me closer to understanding other people, their thoughts, their words and their feelings.
I’ve met other Filipino hubbers here such as ripplemaker, dayzeebee, bingskee, General Howitzer, Cris A, Maita (prettydarkhorse), mommyfreelancer, the husband and wife hubbers, Papa Sez and Mama Sez, IslandVoice, MM Del Rosario, Lita Malicdem, jill of alltrades, CelinaMac and zylla3philippines. I’ve met hubbers who are in other countries that I have not yet visited such as Uninvited Writer (Canada), Shalini Kagal (India), myownworld and Lady_E (U.K.), Princessa (France), frogdropping (Portugal), Sufidreamer (Greece), earnesthub (Australia), Art (HealthTip) from Belgium and Pearldiver from Bumbletown, New Zealand (if I forgot anybody, and I know I forgot a lot of people, sorry).
That I can read (and appreciate) other hubbers’ hubs. Being in HubPages has certainly broadened my horizon as I have read and learned a lot of things. I have read the wonderful poems of Cris A, poetlorraine and walrus (I mean Ralwus), the haiku of Pearldiver, the very interesting (and sometimes very sensual) poems of Tantrum, the short story (series, that have me glued to my seat) of Dohn, the valuable tips and advices from darkside, relache, Mark Knowles, Lissie, sunforged, ryankett, Ultimate Hubber and frogdropping, the interesting (and sometimes naughty) hubs of Anath, the touching hubs of Kimberly (lyricsingray), the interesting products in Nelle Hoxie’s Amazon and eBay hubs and the all-around, wonderful hubs of KCC Big Country and Hal Licino (ooooppppsss, definitely forgetting a lot of hubbers here, sorry again, guys).
Links to Some of MyFavorite Hubs
- Hubpages Help - A Reading List For New Hubbers
New Hubber? Then come and work your way through this hublist of who and what to read first. It will save you some time when you're lost and set you on the right track, re hubbing. A win win situation. - How I got my hub to be on Google's first page
Before I start, I will say this I am not selling anything. There will not be an offer to buy my ebook at the end of the hub so you can learn my secrets of success, for a fee. Nor will I be selling a... - How to avoid unnecessary debt -just say 'no'!
copyright Gregory Maxwell We come in to this world empty handed, and go out the same way. There are no pockets in shrouds. Yet what we do in the intervening years can make our lives a heaven or a hell. Just...
That I can learn new terms, new concepts, new stuff in HP. Okay, I have to face it. Before joining HP I have absolutely no idea what SEO stands for. I didn’t know how to apply for Google Adsense and Amazon and, in general, monetize my hubs. I have absolutely no idea how to do backlinking (I’m still learning) and how to get a blog up and running (I’m still learning this one, too). I do not know what the sites Xomba, shetoldme, redgage, etc., etc. are for. I have learned how to check if my hubs were copied and what to do if these were copied. And, in general, I do not know that there’s really such a thing as real (even full-time) honest-to-goodness earnings from writing online. Lots of stuff I was ignorant of and I have to thank HP for opening my eyes (and my mind) on these things.
That I can read a lot of interesting (sometimes controversial) topics from the forums. Need I say more? Okay, just because I don’t participate in the religion and politics forums doesn’t mean I don’t read them. Sometimes, I agree, sometimes, I disagree, but most of the time, I just sit back, relax and watch (I mean read) the fireworks going off.
That I can have a great time while writing things on topics I am genuinely interested on. Enough said.
And these are the things I’ve learned from and appreciate in HubPages. Thank you for reading!
Links to My Other Hubs
- Jabbawockeez: 1st Season Americas Best Dance Crew Champions
I was watching our local version of a noontime variety show last Sunday and I just thought, okay not another bunch of dancing, singing and the like. Then suddenly, something caught my interest. 7 men, dressed... - Eight Major Languages in the Philippines
The Philippines national language is called Filipino. However, there are over a hundred languages all around the country plus a lot more in terms of dialects (language variations). This hub features some... - A Tribute to a Great Lady
This hub is a short tribute to a great, gentle, soft-spoken, elegant lady who became our first female president, restored democracy in our country in a bloodless revolution and inspired the people from other... - A First-Timers Guide in Choosing a Tattoo Design
Lots of people have gotten tattoos only to find out later that they regret getting one or they regret the designs they chose. Or they regret where they put the tattoo. For some people, they are hesitant to... - 10 Ways to Earn Passive Income
What is Passive Income? Passive income is basically what you earn even without actively participating in the earning process. Based on a local financial guru in my country, passive income is the income that we... - 10 Reasons for Going into Estate Planning
Nowadays, people are becoming more and more aware of estate planning. True, the rich and famous have known about (and have applied) this concept for a very long time. But even those who are not rich and who... - 10 Practical Advices for Investing in the Stock Market
Investing in the Stock Market is never easy that's why a lot of people do not want to go into this type of investment for fear of getting burned. But experience and a lot of knowledge may help overcome this...