April Contest Postponed!

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   Marcy Goodfleischposted 11 years ago

   Simone just posted a great and informative sticky thread in the blue fields at the top, but I was afraid people may not notice 'the fine print' in it.  The April contest for producing 'stellar' hubs is postponed, but they're hoping to get it back on track soon.
   
   Thanks for sharing all the neat updates in your post, Simone. This is very helpful for us, and it sounds like things are happening fast and furiously at the main office.

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      Simone Smithposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      Yeah, I'm sorry about that!
      
      I also announced it in this blog post: http://blog.hubpages.com/2013/03/aprils … -postpone/
      
      Things are fast and furious at HubPages HQ (minus the car chases, which leaves me quite disappointed) but we're in the midst of pulling together so many updates, so I feel positive about it all.
      
      Alas, because we're all so busy with these major projects, we don't have bandwidth for a contest next month, but I hope to get it up and running ASAP. It's going to be a really good one!

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         Marcy Goodfleischposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         It makes perfect sense to have the contest at a time when the staff can process all the submissions thoughtfully and thoroughly, rather than trying to do too much at once.  Besides - it gives us more time to prepare for it!

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         nArchuletaposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         I was sorry to hear the contest was postponed, but that gives me a chance to polish some Hubs up a bit. I'm new to Hub Pages, so I'm trying to figure out if researched Hubs are better or Hubs based on my own knowledge. Thanks!

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            Paul Maplesdenposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            You could combine the two; start by writing a subject you are knowledgable in and then use research to expand on it and build up trust.

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            Marcy Goodfleischposted 11 years agoin reply to this

            It sounds like you have some interests you could write about, and solidify them with details, tables, videos, maps or whatever capsules can be used to enhance them.

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      David Myersposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      We WILL get ANOTHER email notifying us WHEN it is scheduled FOR, oui?

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         nArchuletaposted 11 years agoin reply to this

         I hope so, too. I've got 4 Hubs just waiting...

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   watergeekposted 11 years ago

   For me, personally, that's good news. I expect to be moving across town and settling in during the month of April, but I also really want to take part in the contest. So YAY for the updates and the postponement!

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3. 87

   suzzycueposted 11 years ago

   Thanks for the update.

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4. 81

   Mark Ewbieposted 11 years ago

   I have high hopes of being rather more stellar in the coming months - so am grateful that my personal request for a delay has been taken seriously.
   
   For lesser hubbers it may be worth noting how I plan to win the competition, in case I don't enter one another time - thus leaving the field clear.
   
   Many, many years ago I read a book on something.  Can't remember the exact details.  Not important.
   
   For this competition I am going to read another one.  Or part of one.  This will give me inspiration for those dark, lonely, miserable nights of toil that crafting a three hundred word piece entails.
   
   Yours, etc.
   
   Mark.

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      Marcy Goodfleischposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      The stick men are very time-consuming, too - and great art should never be rushed.  We will sell no wine before its time.  Time for what?

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      aa liteposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      I suggest we have our own unofficial contest here!  Let us pick the perfect book for Mark to read. 
      
      My suggestion "The Dark Long Tea-Time of the Soul", read it a long time ago.  I think I enjoyed it, but I could be confusing it with another book I once read.
      
      Anyway I suspect it will be good at preparing Mark for his the painful challenge of adding a poll module to his stellar hubs.

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5. 94

   leahleflerposted 11 years ago

   I am relieved the contest has been postponed - we have several surgeries this spring (for the kids) and I am grateful for more time to prepare for it!

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6. 75

   Paul Maplesdenposted 11 years ago

   Just to jump on this thread, there's no need to wait until the competition to create stellar hubs.
   
   I have created a free, publically available tool on Google Docs that everyone can use to find out Stellar Hub requirements and it will tell you if you meet them or not; the original thread is here:
   
   <link removed>
   
   Enjoy!

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7. 83

   Marcy Goodfleischposted 11 years ago

   I am glad we get a bit more time to rev our engines, too - great news!

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8. 83

   Marcy Goodfleischposted 11 years ago

   Bump - I just realized some folks haven't heard the news.  BTW - it's actually good news - gives everyone time to rev up their future hubs!

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   Beth37posted 11 years ago

   So all these contests they keep having, do you enter them or are you nominated?
   If entry is required how many entries do you usually receive per contest?

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      Mark Ewbieposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      You just enter.  As many time as you like. Obviously they need to be stellar and tick those boxes - plus whatever area they are interested in promoting at the time.  Some people write one, others write one or more a day!

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         Beth37posted 11 years agoin reply to this

         could I borrow one of yours?

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      Marcy Goodfleischposted 11 years agoin reply to this

      HP gets a ton of entries, I think, for each contest.  You can enter as many hubs as you want, and even if you don't get one of the awards, if you produce hubs that have the 'stellar' qualities, you will only 'win' in the long term, because those are shown to get tremendous traffic over the long term.
      
      Usually, they have a thread available where you can post links to your entries.  Simone will post the information once it gets going.  I think it is fantastic to have a contest based on the quality of the hub (use of capsules, thoroughness, good writing, etc.) - usually they're based on topics, so this opens the door for a wide variety of topics to be entered.  I'm sure HP will get it back on the calendar as soon as they have everything in place for it to run smoothly.

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         Beth37posted 11 years agoin reply to this

         So "stellar" refers to how many of those little boxes are ticked?

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10. 83

    Marcy Goodfleischposted 11 years ago

    Woo-boo!  The latest HP newsy email says they're rolling out the tool they've been Beta testing that helps us track how thorough and 'stellar' our hubs are as we write them. Perfect timing!  We can audition the tool in the next month or so while we gear up for the rescheduling of the contest.

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    Marcy Goodfleischposted 11 years ago

    You can always just keep checking the newsletter and the sticky posts on the forum - there's usually plenty of notice before a contest, and it will probably last a month, so no time is lost by checking regularly.
    
    Meanwhile, why not write a few hubs to get in the groove with the various capsules that make stellar hubs so successful?

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       nArchuletaposted 11 years agoin reply to this

       On it! Thanks.

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