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2011-05-18

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HubPages is the Perfect Place to Sharpen Your Writing Skills

So make sure you're using all of the tools we offer!

One of my favorite things about HubPages is that it provides helpful tools and guides that enable people to become great online writers.

From useful guides and community feedback to augmented publishing tools, HubPages offers both the resources and reinforcements needed to push you in the right direction.

In the Pro Tips section of this newsletter, we offer a primer on using the newly revamped HubPages Learning Center.  And in this week's Hubber-to-Hubber interview, Denise Handlon shares how her involvement with HubPages has influenced her writing, and how programs like HubNuggets and HubChallenge have encouraged her to develop her skills.   

These are only some of the many features on HubPages that help you hone your skills as a writer. So keep an eye out for the fun little details: guides, FAQs, Accolades, question mark icons, Hubbing tips, social media updates, and blog posts- they're all designed to give you a leg up.  

Happy Hubbing!

Simone Smith
Community & Marketing Manager

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Pro Tips

The HubPages Learning Center

The HubPages Learning Center has a new home!

With the help of one of our awesome engineers Mark Painter, we have moved the HubPages Learning Center to a new location on the site.  While it used to be supported by WordPress, it is now entirely hosted through Hubs.  

We utilized the move to do a lot of spring cleaning.  Robin Edmondson went through each and every guide to make sure it is up to date and as helpful as it can be.  

We are constantly adding more guides, videos, and helpful tips to the HubPages Learning Center in an effort to make it a one-stop-shop of all your HubPages and online writing-related needs.  The Learning Center offers guides to geting started, choosing topics, earning money, using the HubTool, taking advantage of special programs, and more.   

We hope you enjoy the updated resource, and be sure to check back frequently!

The HubPages Learning Center
http://hubpages.com/learningcenter/contents

Hubber to Hubber
denise handlon

Denise Handlon, From North Carolina, 589 Fans, 100 Hubs, Joined 12 months ago

Stephanie Henkel Interviews Denise Handlon

An ardent author shares how her writing developed on HubPages

1. Tell us a little about yourself.

I was born and raised in Michigan.  My mother was a librarian so I learned to read early.  I received the best of both from my parents: my mother’s love for books, reading and writing; and my father’s Irish storytelling.  

I have a nursing degree, a B.A. in psychology, and my profile page lists some of my key interests.  I always wanted to ‘see the world’ so, after my two daughters were married I moved to Alaska, then California, and now North Carolina.  I have four wonderful grandchildren and I am currently raising my teenage nephew.  

Aside from writing, my spiritual work and family have my attention.  I believe that each experience creates opportunities for us to learn about ourselves and connect with each other.  I love humor and sharing a good laugh; and I enjoy using humor in writing when appropriate.  I also love synchronicity and how it shows up in our lives.

2. What inspired you to join HubPages?

Actually, that is one of those synchronistic events.  While in California, I had joined a women’s writing group, but didn’t know anyone when I moved to North Carolina, so I took a few online writing classes at the local community college.  A senior student inquired about my writing and encouraged me to join an online writing site, but I was hesitant-unsure about what I was getting involved with.  After nine months of writing for ‘no audience’ I decided to follow his advice and joined Hubpages last May in order to get some feedback for my writing.  

Shortly after I joined I won the Hubnugget award for my piece: Soul Work: JOY and wrote to him to thank him for his prodding me to join HP and to share my news.  He was baffled and denied ever suggesting that writing site and vehemently claims he had suggested a different site.  The synchronicity was being led to the ‘wrong’ site-which was exactly ‘right’ for me.  

3. Is there a particular topic that inspires you to write your best Hubs?

No, there doesn’t seem to be a particular topic, but what I am aware of, and probably many of the Hubbers know this feeling, is when it is right on, when the muse is sitting on one’s shoulder whispering in one’s ear, it works-it is ‘the best’ at that time.  There are other times when I know that it isn’t inspirational or creative, but more of a task.  I still move forward with it, but it is arduous.  

When I joined I thought I would focus on one subject, such as my spiritual work or mental health, but that is not what happened and I am fine with how it has unfolded.  There is so much to write about that holds my interest, and some of it is my poetry, that it’s hard for me to pinpoint one area.

4. You’ve participated in the 30 Day Hub challenge. Do you have any secrets of success or tips for those who want to write 30 Hubs in 30 days?

Yes, actually I successfully completed the Hubchallenge in January of this year.  It was one of the goals I set for myself and my ‘tips’ are mentioned in my hub: The Hubchallenge: 5 Tips for Success.  One of the most important suggestions I can offer is: clear your agenda.  It is called a challenge for a reason.  It may not be difficult coming up with 30 topics or finding 400 plus words to write about in your hub…the challenge is writing despite the everyday distractions, which is real life.  Hubbers have jobs, families, emergencies, etc.  One may not cause a setback, but multiple obstacles and soon you find yourself behind.  This happened to me in April.  I joined thinking it was an uneventful month and ended up eight Hubs short.  

Second important tip-enjoy it!  Don’t beat yourself up if you don’t make it, but realize how many more Hubs you have finished.

5. You’ve been with HubPages for a year now. How has HubPages influenced your writing?  Have you seen a change in your writing since joining?

First, most certainly there is a huge difference in writing for oneself, (or family), and writing in a conscientious manner for a wider audience.  That’s probably the biggest change I’ve noticed.  Second, word count and editing-saying more with less is difficult for me.  I don’t want to lose my audience with unnecessary detail, but I love words-I’m still working on this.  Lastly, one of the attractions I had to Hubpages was being able to write about anything.  That being said, my very first Hub was written and posted on Mother’s Day, so I used that holiday as the topic.  I wrote a ‘lovely’ piece about my mother and what she instilled in me as a parent, and it received many positive comments.

As Hubpages evolved this past year, and higher demands were made for quality Hubs; less personal pieces; and adding substance to memoirs, I have had to change some of my writing to keep within the new guidelines.  

In fact, Mother’s Day Madness was tapped by the HubPages Team and removed from publication until I made it less personal and more ‘helpful’.  I sat on that one for a long time refusing to change it, but wanting to have it taken off the shelf.  I finally ‘got it’ and came up with a compromise that did not change the original content, but met the team’s satisfaction by adding some parenting tips at the end of the Hub. 

I research areas that I am interested in, but do not have firsthand experience with.  I try to be positive with my writing and supportive with my comments.  I feel my writing has grown, my technical and computer skills have improved, and my awareness for the audience matured.

6. What advice would you give to a new Hubber?

Find your own style of writing, but don’t let it define you-set goals and push yourself to go beyond your familiar comfort zone.  Participate: in reading other people’s works; in leaving comments; in the forums; in the contests.  Participation is going to expose your writing to other Hubbers.  Become familiar with the SEOs, keywords, tags, etc. which will enhance your material being read.  Don’t focus on Hubscores, those will go up and down.  Write quality Hubs of at least 400-500 words; use ‘spell-check’ and proper grammar. Enjoy!  If writing is your passion, then don’t be intimidated by all of the information that one seems to have to remember here or what someone else may be writing about.  We are here for all sorts of reasons and can learn something from everyone.

7. Is there anything you would like to add?

I love to challenge myself.  I look for new angles to take on an ordinary or overused topic and try to take a different spin.  I also love to encourage and support others-whatever their goal for writing may be.  You’ll see me hanging around the sandpit forum or the Hubchallenge forum-especially if you embark on the 30 hubs in 30 days challenge.   

 


Hub Nuggets

This Week's HubNuggets

The HubNuggets program was established to recognize awesome Hubs written by promising new Hubbers. Each week, the Elite HubNuggets team selects a set of 18 candidates from three different categories to be presented to the community for reading and voting.

This week, the HubNuggets Hub came out on a Friday the 13th, just as RedElf and the HubNuggets gang were headed to Crystal Lake, a seemingly serene camp terrorized by Jason.

Did everyone make it out alive? You'll have to read the Hub to find out, but at least this week's winners from the HubPages Tutorials and Community, Gender and Relationships, and Politics and Social Issues categories made it through! Have a look at the nominees who garnered the most votes below.

Simone

      HubPages Tutorials and Community
41% ThePracticalMommy

Editing Techniques to Use Before Publishing Your Hub—With Love, an English Teacher

Want to receive positive recognition for your hubs? Learn my tips for editing your articles before submission. **Winner of a HubNugget Award!

27% writeronline

What Is A Hub Hopper? And Why Are They Trying to Kill Your Work?

To me, when Google becomes the unchallenged arbiter of quality content as well as the 'determiner' of an article's fate, as measured by SEO metrics, we may as well give individual expression away.

16% dearabbysmom

HubPages Lessons Learned in 8 Weeks

I sill have much to learn, but 8 weeks of HubPages writing has taught me a few things First allow me to state that I have found HubPages not only an excellent method of releasing some writing steam, but also a...

      Gender and Relationships
75% THAT Mary Ann

Professional Women: Hear them Roar-- Numbers TOO BIG to Ignore!

US Supremes, 2010 - Photo by Jack Gruber, USA Today My husband—a judge—emailed me the Miami Herald article about the Associate Press report quoting census findings that, for the first time, women have...

8% your cybersister

Why I Keep My Husband a Secret

The fact that I have a husband is not what I keep a secret. It is totally acceptable, even preferred by most, for me to have one. Having a husband helps me fit in, secures me (us) invitations to couples'...

8% MHPaul

Click, Click, Love: Finding Your Future Soulmate on the Internet

The world-wide-web is a wonderful place that allows billions upon billions of people to do billions upon billions of random tasks. Communicate quickly and effectively? Check. Find directions to the nearest...

      Politics and Social Issues
33% CWanamaker

What is Stormwater Runoff, and Why Should We Care About It?

Stormwater runoff is the portion of precipitation that does not initially get absorbed into the ground after a storm event.  Excess rainfall accumulates on the earth’s surface during the storm and begins to...

24% BentleyMom

How to Help Alabama Tornado Victims

How you can help those affected by the tornados in Alamaba and other states.

19% Mactypetim

Standing up against voyeurism and public violence

In these days of technology, soundbytes, and fast food, it has become obvious to me that we live in the "Me" generation. Now, there are many ways I could develop my argument using this statement, but I am...

   

 

  HubPages Fun Fact: China is the birth land of ketchup! http://hubpages.com/hub/Know-your-ketchup
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