A quick “chicken or the egg” question

1. 59

   Seanachaiposted 13 years ago

   I am new to Hubpages.
   I have already created my account, chosen a
   username - pseudonym, and created a profile.
   
   My question is what should my next small, specific step be?
   
   For example, and here comes the chicken or the egg part, should I first:
   
   a.    Learn how to use text and photo capsules before writing my first hub?
   
   Or…
   
   b.    Write my first hub and then learn how to use capsules?
   
   
   
   Or…
   c. Can you not write hubs without using capsules? 
   
   Like I said, I am new.........really new.
   
   Perhaps instead the best question would be what is the best way, or where is the best place, for me to learn how to use capsules?
   
   Thank you for your help and patience.
   
   Sincerely,
   Seanachai

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   1. 60

      saleheensblogposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      get started from here: http://hubpages.com/forum/topic/63013#post1389381

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2. 0

   DoorMattnomoreposted 13 years ago

   start a hub and fool around with the capsules. It wont be published till you hit the "publish now" button. You can move stuff around and see how it looks until you are happy with it. Also, you can look around hubpages, read other hubs and get some ideas. I guess I'm saying ... go with the chicken.    good luck and have fun!!

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3. 63

   cookibuqposted 13 years ago

   This might not be the most ideal answer because technically we should learn/plan well before doing something instead of learning/planning along the way and bumping into obstacles...
   
   But learning how to use capsules and whatnot were pretty easy to get. You'd probably figure it out on your own without reading much about it. I wouldn't recommend you do the same for other things though, e.g. how to get traffic. If I could start all over again, I'd go learn, do... and then get experience ! Welcome to Hubpages and have a nice stay

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4. 43

   Mikeydoesposted 13 years ago

   Just hit Start a new hub and start, capsules are a breeze, nothing really to learn. You can take as many capsules as you want out and place them where you want. If you don't use them, they don't show up anyway.
   
   I would recommend reading up on people's hubs if you are just starting off. Learn as much as you can and apply it to your hubs.
   
   Learn about using the right keywords.
   
   Good luck and welcome to hubpages!

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5. 0

   Pachuca213posted 13 years ago

   I write my hub on my computer and save it first. Then I log in and click on the "Start a new hub" link. Then I paste it into the "text" capsule. Then I decide the photo according to the feel of the hub. You should write you hub before even thinking about writing it in the capsule..reason being is I did that once and wrote a beautiful poem and then after saving and editing the system erased it because of the website having issues and I could never remember exactly how I wrote it again. Save it on your computer first!!!

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6. 82

   timorousposted 13 years ago

   Agreed.  If you're just trying out the capsules to see what happens before you get to writing the 'real' hub..go ahead.
   
   If you've got a hub idea, you should do all the writing on your computer first, with MS Word or similar.  Save that, then copy and paste the text sections into the text capsules, and dress it up from there.
   
   You never know when the hub editor (or your internet connection) might go wonky and lose what you were working on.

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7. 59

   Seanachaiposted 13 years ago

   Thank you Tim, Pachua, Mikey, Cooki, and Door for responding.
   I probably just have a couple more details before I just simply jump in to working with the capsules. However, I also agree with Pachua that I should write my drafts in Word and then copy/paste my best draft into a capsule.
   
   Meanwhile, in honor of Door, score one for the chicken!
   This time around, it comes first.
   
   Door, I would also like to congratulate and compliment you on a very well-written piece you did about you and your husband's visit to the ER. I worked 22 years for a local emergency department/trauma center as an emergency department technician (basically an EMT that works inside the ER instead of outside in an ambulance). The old emotions and frustrations I had with the job welled up inside me again. There's a whole cacophony of thoughts and emotions as the memories come back to me. I hope you and your husband are doing well and that the family members that were with you that night judge you less, and think about you more, to better understand and have compassion towards you for what you were facing and going through that night.
   
   All my best,
   Seanachai

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8. 60

   roberttraczgroup1posted 13 years ago

   i am also new here  for about a week now..the first time i made a hub.. i really don't know what to do .,but i found out somehow that it is easy.=0 you just have to explore through the capsules.,.you can paste your piece on the text capsule and add photos on the photo capsule of course and you can even change the size of the image.,.you can also modify the hub's layout.,.don't worry..it won't get published until you hit that publish button..besides.you can always preview what you have done first before sending out to the public=)Happy HUbbing Seanachai=)

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9. 60

   sgphilgohposted 13 years ago

   Leaning how to write and publish on Hubpages is pretty much like leaning how to use a new computer software you're unfamiliar with.There are many capsules and features available, more than you ever need at any one time. I notice that even some Hubbers who write regularly do not use many different type of capsules.
   
   So, can I suggest that you start with what you're most comfortable with first. Most likely it's text capsule. Other capsules will come along as and when you need them. A lot of it is "hands on". Try to go for incremental improvement over a period of time.
   
   I hope this helps. Happy Hubbling!

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