We want to make it easy for you to write Hub of the Day-quality Hubs that really take off!
Review-Writing Tips and the Quality Assessment Process
This week, we have more tips on making your reviews better than ever and are adding a human touch to our internal selection of Featured Hubs.
This week, we have more tips on making your reviews better than ever and are adding a human touch to our internal selection of Featured Hubs.
As the
Rigorous Review Contest progresses, we are sharing tips on writing online reviews that, in addition to being more likely to win prizes, have a better shot at seeing sustained success well after the contest has ended. You can find a summary of the review-improvement pointers we have already shared in the Pro Tips below.
Speaking of improvements to Hubs, we would also like to keep you updated on developments regarding our emphasis on quality. Starting this week, we are implementing the Quality Assessment Process (QAP), which factors human ratings (in addition to algorithmic analysis) into HubPages' decision on which Hubs to Feature. More on the QAP can be found
on our Blog and
in the FAQ.
How fun is this? Make your own Clay-doh. What is Clay-doh, well it is home-made play-doh. This is an easy home-made recipe that makes an awesome non-toxic playtime. Clean up is a breeze with a little soapy water.
This is a fun activity for kids to...
From 1769 to 1858 the world had roughly a century in which steam engines, boilers,condensers, and uniform cylinders were improved to the point that 1769's first "artillery tractor" had turned into self-propelled public transportation. By 1858 Etienne Lenoir gave us a first internal combustion engine, and gasoline engines took over soon after and persist until today. The story of that first century of self-propelled vehicles is recounted here.
You have made it! Your book has been birthed after many months of hard labor and you have book signings lined up. Where and how does an author sign his books?
Legislators proposing increases in Federal Minimum Wage rates and voting to pass the Affordable Care Act (Obamacare) did not mean one result to be a decrease in Unemployment Benefits, but...
Parenting is hard. Yes - I said it. No need in waxing poetic about how awesome motherhood is, and how it is all gum drops and lollipops, because it isn't. Children will never realize how much a parent sacrifices for a child until they become parents...
Why do we get chapped lips when the weather is cold? How do you heal chapped or sore lips? Products that will help heal your lips and leave them healthier.
Have you ever experienced 'fondue'? If not, the Melting Pot Restaurant is a great place to hold a special celebration. The food is tasty and the dining experience is unique and fun.
Santa brought the Fun Ride Super Z zip line kit for our back yard. Find out if it was easy to install, fun and safe for our kids and most of all, did I ride it yet!
Do you nag or do you feel it's ok to persistenly try to persuade your parnter into getting something done? Either way, you're nagging your guy. I'm guilty like most women and share my thoughts on how to stop being a pain in the #ss.
Tuberculosis is one of the most lethal and oldest infectious diseases known to man. It seems to have been one of those terrible illnesses that are confined to history books. However, it would be a mistake to think so. We might be in the scientifically advanced 21st century, but this deadly disease from the past is making a frightening comeback!
With a bit of planning, you can bake tons of Christmas cookies all in one day. By sharing the work with a friend, you can create your own Christmas cookie factory. Here are some tips on how to make lots of cookies all at once.
Looking for a great way to freshen up a small space? Need an easy teacher gift? Try making these simple homemade gel air fresheners. They are inexpensive and take less than 10 minutes from start to finish.
The homemade gel air freshener...
You know you are ready to start freelancing and you are determined to be successful at it, so now it is time to get serious about it. With proper planning, you will be able to say good-bye to the constraints of a wage earning job and be free to earn money freelancing.
What tragedies struck down five once common species of bird in the USA within living memory? This article will tell you the winding and heart wrenching tale of the hard lessons we have all learned taking nature for granted.
What does it mean to be a hedge witch? Probably not what you once thought. An introduction to the basics of riding the hedge, more popularly known as hedge crossing.
This is why Pete Rose should be inducted into the Major League Baseball Hall of Fame. He is, and will always be one of the greatest men to ever play the game of baseball. Tell me what you think about Pete Rose being inducted into the Hall of Fame.
If you are visiting New York City and want to know where to eat, you must check out Benny's Burritos. Benny's provides the top notch Mexican food in the city.
Want to write some great reviews for our
November contest? Consider...
Reading
our tips on writing a great product review (which include only reviewing products you have used, covering downsides as well as perks, and including lots of facts and figures)
To make sure you don't miss some helpful advice that could win you anything from $25 to $200 in cash prizes (not to mention a decent chunk of change in ad earnings over time), be sure to
follow our Blog this month. Many more tips are on the way!
For more great advice, stop by the HubPages Learning Center
http://hubpages.com/learningcenter/contents
Big thanks to everyone who voted for their favorite nominees. Now that the polls have closed, you can view the winners below. In addition to being featured in this week's newsletter, these promising Hubbers shall be awarded with the coveted Rising Star Accolade, so we appreciate your support!
This is a quick and easy guide to installing vinyl gutters from someone who has done it firsthand. It will cover the basics and also point out tips so that you will know what to expect throughout the process.
Be sure to install your gutters at...
You can join the do-it-yourselfers taking on faux and decorative painting. No longer do you need to feel limited to a single color on the wall, inside or outside! In this article, I take you through 8 easy steps to making a fabulous dynamic effect...
If you are moving during the holidays, you will probably miss familiar surroundings, family, friends, and community celebrations. Here you can find suggestions to make your move easier.
Many people today seem to be looking for a spiritual path. Perhaps they never had one and feel a void, or maybe the tradition they were raised in was not right for them. As a result there are many seekers out there. Some of these seekers have discovered Paganism and have questions. This is for those seekers.
We all know the feeling, you wake up early Sunday morning, hop out of bed and it is time for church. You yell down the hall to the kids to get up, pour some coffee and get the family moving out the door to the weekly expectation of sit, sing, stand,...
No matter your budget or lifestyle, make your closet a personal boutique by learning to weed out the styles and trends that are unflattering. Here are the principles for choosing flawless pieces that will keep you looking polished every day.
Perhaps you have found yourself in the dental care aisle of the store staring at the electric power toothbrush models that are on display. You begin to daydream about how it would feel to use the Mercedes Benz of toothbrushes. You pick up the...
Suzie HQ, From Dublin, Ireland, 221 Fans, 41 Hubs, Joined 6 months ago
Vespawoolf interviews Suzie HQ
Get to know a globetrotting Hubber who transforms adversity into character-building challenges
You've been a Hubber for six months now, Suzanne. How did you find HubPages? Why did you join?
In some respects the six months have flown by and I can’t believe it has been that long! HubPages was actually recommended to me by a friend who had been toying with the idea of forging a new career in writing. I had been unemployed in Dublin for just over a year after working as a store manager for an Outdoor Clothing business. Unfortunately, that store was closed like so many other businesses here- tough times.
After attending numerous unsuccessful interviews, I began to think of a new direction. Writing had been an interest of mine since childhood, but I had never written much more than humorous poetry for special occasions with the family. I have many interests, so I decided to give writing a go.
You mention in your profile that travel is one of the best educations one can receive. How has travel shaped you as a person?
Good question, Vespa!
When I was 12 years old, I went on my first overseas holiday with my family to Spain, which I still remember fondly and vividly. We took a donkey safari into the mountains and ate strawberries and cream at the roadside cafes, while the glorious scents and perfumes of the stunning flowers and plants filled our nostrils. Since then I have had a dream of travelling the world or at least seeing as much as possible. That dream was unfortunately put on hold until my early 20s due to a freak medical condition.
Travelling affords you the opportunity to experience how others live daily life and while a lot of things like customs and even language differ, at some point it dawns on you that all over this planet people are searching for similar things: living as happy a life as possible, seeing their children grow and prosper, and ultimately respecting others and feeling good about themselves. By that, I mean I found simple pleasures when abroad that left an impression on me.
For example, in the '90s I took over 14 trips to Turkey and spent time with Turkish friends, so I was lucky enough to experience an authentic Turkish lifestyle. Family, food, and living off the land were the way of life. Few 'necessities' (as we consider them) were evident. Heating was confined to an open fire in one room, and the bathroom was a hole in the floor which served as a toilet for all. With no lock on the door, whistling or humming became a must. It was an unforgettable and humbling life experience.
While some would gasp, others- myself included- realised this was real life with no shortage of family values and love. I would strongly recommend such a holiday to all as a source of inspiration, a personal life challenge, and a test of one's character.
That’s what I love about travel. If you are open to trying new foods, learning some of the language, meeting real people and embracing all that is different, you never know what will happen!
You've written many funny hubs such as "So You Want to Be Irish", and your writing reflects an upbeat outlook on life. Do you owe your sense of humor to your Irish upbringing?
A sense of humour is, in my mind, a must in life. Yes, many Irish have “the gift of the gab” and a canny sense of humour. That seems to be a requirement of being Irish! As a race, we seem to have a great ability to laugh at ourselves, which is a good quality.
My dad has a tremendous sense of humour and we all (my two brothers and I) have definitely inherited that from him. Laughter was always heard in our house while we were growing up, and we continue to share our warped thoughts and laugh when we get together. Laughter is the best medicine, after all!
You've mentioned your childhood diagnosis of epilepsy and how it taught you to push boundaries. What are some of your proudest accomplishments?
Yes, I was diagnosed 33 years ago at age 14 with Grand Mal Epilepsy, which is better known today as Generalised Tonic Clonic Seizures. A high temperature caused by pneumonia and Glandular Fever simultaneously put me in a coma for a week, after which I was given the Epilepsy diagnosis.
My first major accomplishment was travelling to New Zealand at age 21 for a whole year. That was an incredible experience. It meant I had to watch for seizure warning signs and triggers myself and be totally responsible for my medication. Two other notable achievements of mine are more recent.
One was in 2010 when I passed my driving test. I did not think I would ever know the freedom or independence of driving, nor did I think I would ever own a car. For many years in Ireland the law stated that you needed to be seizure-free for three years to drive, but I never was. I had taken lessons periodically over the years, but could never get a licence. Then the law changed to seizure-free for one year by which time I had been, thankfully, over three years free of seizures. That's Irish, I know, and still makes me laugh to this day. This time my partner Mike made the difference as he has given me a great sense of inner confidence in my own abilities and the courage to persist in getting a driver’s license, which I did!
The second proudest achievement came when I was incredibly honoured to represent Ireland in the sport of Cricket for the World Cup squad. I had grown up with cricket, all my family played, and I was the only girl and the only one to play at International level.
Many people were surprised that I would play sport with Epilepsy, but I have played many sports. I love sports and will always advocate anyone with Epilepsy to get involved with a sport they enjoy. Push those boundaries, follow your dreams and passions and never say never.
Wow, that is very motivational, Suzanne. You were recently accepted in the Apprenticeship program. Are there any surprises or impressions about the program you'd like to share with us?
When I applied for the Apprenticeship Program I had only been on HubPages three months and really didn’t think I had a prayer of getting accepted, especially when I saw the level of talent on HubPages. I was over the moon when I was accepted and I started in October.
Our team mentor is Simone Smith, which really excited me as I have been a fan of her writing since I started. She has been a great support for all of us in the group, full of encouragement and guidance. The biggest change for me personally is the amount of writing. In my first month in the program, I completed 15 Hubs. Up until then I had done approximately 18 Hubs in four months.
I have been actively supporting others on the team, which I feel is important as we can be a support network for each other, share ideas, and offer advice and critiques if desired. The AP, in my view, is “you get back what you put in”. Involvement is encouraged and I would advise anyone thinking of applying to do so, with that mindset. I, for one, want to be like a sponge and absorb as much as possible from the lessons we do monthly and put it into practice.
Thank you for your insight! Your Hubs cover a wide variety of unique subjects. Where do you get inspiration?
My Inspiration actually comes from a variety of places. My passions are Travel, Beauty, Flowers, Crafts, Cooking and Container Gardening. I have always loved travel; Beauty was my career and continues to be a real love of mine.
I have my mum to thank for my love of Flowers and Container Gardening. She loved gardens and flowers in particular. She photographed and painted them in the most amazing ways, as she was an artist. Crafts come mainly from my mum’s influence, and then I took night classes in crafts such as Jewellery, Pottery, Silk Painting and Interior Design. These have all been a great source of Inspiration. I hand-paint terracotta products, make greeting cards and design jewellery, all of which I sell at market stalls.
I love cooking, learning new recipes (especially your desserts Vespa, which you know I love) and in watching programmes on all types of cuisine. At present, I'm glued to the television nightly, as MasterChef Australia is running. My favourite chef is Jamie Oliver and I love his laid back, rustic style of cooking which is good, honest cooking with lots of attitude!
In our local village I recently saw an old stone cottage with no windows or roof, very old and derelict, yet there were two hanging baskets full of beautiful flowers at either side of the main door. It got my imagination going so I took some photos and thought, there’s a Hub
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