The Value of Active Interaction Within the HubPages Community

Can a Hub stand alone? Is simple text sufficient to draw readers and hold their attention? While I do not suggest a comic book approach to writing here on HubPages, I am convinced that the value of a Hub can be enriched to a great degree by the commentary that hopefully follows. Some Hubbers are extraordinarily eloquent, yet even their writing can be enhanced by discourse. In fact, a writing community such as HubPages invites communication that can lead to a broader understanding of the writing itself:

"Discourse community

• has a broadly agreed set of common public goals
  
• has mechanisms of intercommunication among its members
  
• uses its participatory mechanisms primarily to provide information and feedback
  
• utilizes and hence possesses one or more genres in the communicative utterance of its aims
  
• has acquired some specific lexis (specialized terminology, acronyms)
  
• has a treshold level of members with a suitable degree of relevant

content and discoursal expertise." (Swales, 1990).

Various definitions of community stress proximity of region, or in the case of writing sites such as HubPages, it is the common, unifying aspect of individuals that is apparent.

Location aside, communities may be seen as an "interacting population of various kinds of individuals." [Dictionary.com]

Interaction is the primary component to any group of like-minded community members, and this interaction can lead to a fuller understanding of one's views.

"Unlike debate, dialogue emphasizes listening to deepen understanding. Dialogue invites discovery It develops common values and allows participants to express their own interests. It expects that participants will grow in understanding and may decide to act together with common goals. In dialogue, participants can question and reevaluate their assumptions." [The White House.com]

I was asked a question recently by a fellow Hubber, R.J. Lefebvre, that inspired me to write this hub:

"Your topics are sincere, entertaining and well versed. However my entries lack notice by most,...

apparently because of my style, chosen topics, or just too dry to notice. Can you or someone else suggest changes I should make to be better received? Perhaps my mode of writing does not fit because of my choice for topic s?"

While a veteran of HubPages, Ronnie is in the process of discovering the potential of online writing, and in particular, the community of HubPages. http://hubpages.com/profile/R.+J.+Lefebvre

While Ronnie's assessment of my 'success' here on HubPages may or may not be accurate, it has taken many months of experimentation to establish my presence as a writer.

Quality content is a necessary component when publishing here on HubPages, and it is vital to the overall character of one's writing. In addition, though, the various capsules provided are available to assist in making the reading experience all the more attractive and compelling. Photographs, polls, videos, and maps are just a few of the reader-friendly elements available to writers. Text, in and of itself, is often insufficient when left unadorned by these options.

The commentary following Hubs often serves to enhance the Hub itself, thus complementing the writer's intentions. On occasion, these comments may dispute the author's arguments, giving the piece an added dimension and contributing to overall understanding. I have found that reader participation augments and increases the value of theses put forth by authors.

The publication of writing necessarily invites discussion, whether expressed or not, and online publishing is no exception. In fact, the extended nature of present-day technology brings writers together like never before. Followers can be an integral part of the experience on HubPages, as is one's responsibility as a follower.

"Surround yourself with people who are thoughtful, interesting, generous, funny, creative… and guess what? After a while your world starts to look that way too. You start giving yourself permission to play out those parts of your own character with more gusto, colour, and confidence.

And you learn how to adapt, cut, shift and control your reading (listening, talking, learning, watching, feeling) experience to one that suits you. This isn’t about following and connecting with people out of a sense of obligation to a community. Maybe it’s more like creating (day in, day out) the kind of community that supports, encourages and challenges you." [Confident Writing]

The rich community of writers is a modern miracle, if you will, and it behooves us to engage with others as much as possible.