Can you do well on hubpages if you are not a 'writer'?

1. 80

   Janet21posted 15 years ago

   Just wanted to throw this out there.   I am not a 'writer' in the true sense of the word.  If someone asked me how I make money online, I would not respond that I make money as a writer.   I think what I do write is okay, but it is nowhere near as good as I have seen others write.  Some people just have a wonderful gift for words and writing just comes naturally to them.  I don't have that.
   
   I do well making money writing on Squidoo and on my blog, but to me hubpages seems to be more of a true article writing platform.   I guess I am just wondering if I will be able to do well here even though writing is not an inherent talent of mine.  But, I do like sharing ideas.

   replyreport
2. 72

   Shirley Andersonposted 15 years ago

   Janet, what's wrong with your hubs??  They're just a different genre from some of the others, and valuable to those looking for just the type of info you're providing.
   
   If you're hoping to get into other types of writing, there's no reason why you can't.  You'd just need to practise.
   
   Don't doubt yourself, you'll do fine! 

   replyreport
3. 75

   Lissieposted 15 years ago

   LOL - I have decided I am a writer not an author! Like you I think I write OK but I never thought I was a "writer".  Now I get paid for my writing (elsewhere but because of my exposure at hubpages) so I am more comfortable as a writer - but certainly don't call my self an author.  Oddly too its not that hard to produce good information that people want to use and appreciate that you took the time to put it together - and like any skill practice improves it. 
   
   There are real world authors here - and  I will never be one of them - but then I know more about SEO then a lot of  them do - everyone is an expert on something is in fact true on the internet
   
   In fact when asked what I do I find "writer" is quicker and easier than "internet entrepreneur" or "online empire builder" - people understand writer!

   replyreport
4. 77

   Shadesbreathposted 15 years ago

   To be honest, I don't think making money on hubpages has much to do with "writing" at all.  I think it's more about marketers who can construct articles that adhere to some vestige of grammar and then do a lot of other Internet marketing things.  Don't get me wrong, there are some fantastic writers on here: read Pgrundy's work; her crappiest hub is rock solid writing by any standard I can comprehend.  There are others too.  But, if you mean "do well" as in, make money, then you probably need to learn all the backlinking strats and SEO and Keyword stuff (redundant, likely).
   
   I may be all wet here, but I've read the forums a lot since I got here and I haven't seen too much conversation about anyone actually making money other than a few who claim to make $1000 or so a month and a smattering of $500s and such.  Which is awesome.  These people also seem to be in the 400ish or more published hub range.
   
   I've read many of these hubs and, well, they are written poor to excellent, but, not the same thing that I would call "writing" in the literary sense.  So, I guess what I'm getting at is you have to ask yourself what you mean by "writing."
   
   If you mean "writing" as in, putting words down to convey a message (promotional being the most "successful") then yes, you can do well here I think with time and dedication (assuming "well" has to do with money).
   
   If you mean "writing" as in conveying ideas or meaning and gathering a readership... well, you can do that too.  It will just take time and, frankly, likely won't pay.  The upside of Hubpages as I have found (being nauseated by marketing after 22 years in sales) is that I can at least get a few people to read the little rant pieces and absurd thoughts that I construct.  If success means money for you, and you are writing to say something that means something to you, well, maybe a tough road ahead.  But if you want readership for ideas, this place is awesome as long as you aren't looking for a check.

   replyreport
   1. 75

      Lissieposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      
      You are correct there - my earnings from Hubpages  doesnt pay for a good dinner out in my town/month - but it has been a useful step along the way to making money online.  Writing is a useful skill for making money online - but certainly not the only skill required and you certainly dont HAVE to write to make money - Misha is the classic hubber example of that - he quite happily admits to not having written any of his hubs but hes definitely makes a lot more money than I do!

      replyreport
5. 80

   Janet21posted 15 years ago

   Thanks everyone for your thoughts!
   
   @Shadesbreath:  When I wrote "do well" I meant money-wise and fitting into the community.   I don't expect to make a fortune here, but was hoping to make some money each month as I continue to create hubs.   Writing hubs is fun and fairly easy, so if I can make alittle extra money each month in the process, I would be happy with that.  It would just be another revenue stream for me in addition to what I am already earning online.

   replyreport
   1. 80

      Janet21posted 15 years agoin reply to this

      Thanks everyone for your thoughts!
      
      @Shadesbreath:  When I wrote "do well" I meant money-wise and fitting into the community.   I don't expect to make a fortune here, but was hoping to make some money each month as I continue to make more hubs.  Creating hubs is fun and fairly easy, so if I can make alittle extra money each month in the process, I would be happy with that.  It would just be another revenue stream for me in addition to what I am already earning online.

      replyreport
      1. 75

         Lissieposted 15 years agoin reply to this

         
         
         You will fit in just fine Janet! Its avery non-judgemental community - except to the spammers and you certainly aren't one of those.  One of the nice things though is that you can branch out and try new topics with no cost involved, or just write off-topic from your blog because you feel like it!

         replyreport
6. 72

   Shirley Andersonposted 15 years ago

   That's what people pay people like us for....ghostwriting.  Most of my clientelle are internet marketers.
   
   * Just realized this is going to show up after Janet's comment and not make any sense.  I was referring to Lissie's last posting.*

   replyreport
   1. 77

      Shadesbreathposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      If you ever get over-burdened, shoot some of them my way.  I damn sure ain't gonna teach myself how to Internet market. Just trying to read some of those articles that teach how to do it give me sphincter spasms.  I'm good up to the point of research and writing, but once that other stuff kicks in... yuck.  It'd rather eat broken glass than learn about that stuff.

      replyreport
      1. 75

         Lissieposted 15 years agoin reply to this

         
         
         Constatnt content has worked for me - it work better if got some more articles up there! http://hubpages.com/hub/Recycle-Your-Ar … for-Profit

         replyreport
      2. 63

         Mishaposted 15 years agoin reply to this

         Shadesbreath, I may have a small job for you. I need a humorous quiz on defensive driving. Without any SEO stuff. Shoot me an email if you are interested

         replyreport
      3. 0

         Ananta65posted 15 years agoin reply to this

         Same here, Shadesbreath As far as I'm concerned writing here is fun, as soon as it starts looking like work I'm outta here. I don't have time to do all that SEO and backlinking stuff. I rather read someone else's well written hub than spend time on internet marketing

         replyreport
         1. 58

            seamusposted 15 years agoin reply to this

            That's what  makes the world great. We all have different interests and different places where we want to place our energy. =-)

            replyreport
      4. 72

         Shirley Andersonposted 15 years agoin reply to this

         Too bad I didn't know that earlier, I've actually turned down about 100 in the last 2 months because I wasn't willing to write them for almost nothing.  If you are, let me know.

         replyreport
7. 75

   Lissieposted 15 years ago

   True but Misha can't afford me! I am finding that people who have real-world businesses who need internet content pay a lot better than the internet marketers!

   replyreport
   1. 63

      Mishaposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      LOL Cause internet marketers know the price
      
      Actually I never said ALL of my hubs are ghost written. Two of them are my own creation

      replyreport
   2. 72

      Shirley Andersonposted 15 years agoin reply to this

      You're not kidding!!!

      replyreport
8. 80

   Janet21posted 15 years ago

   I have no idea why my response posted twice.

   replyreport
9. 88

   Paragliderposted 15 years ago

   This ghost writing thing is interesting. Maybe I'll say on my profile that I do it, then maybe someone will ask me to
   
   Anyone want an epic poem on the philosophy of the beam tetrode?

   replyreport