Marcy Goodfleisch, From Planet Earth, 887 Fans, 140 Hubs, Joined 22 months ago
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Christy Kirwan Interviews Marcy Goodfleisch
Insights from a Published Author
You have some very impressive writing credentials. In your profile you mention that you've been published in books, magazines, newspapers, and online publications. Which medium is your favorite to write for, and why?
That’s a bit like asking which of your children is your favorite! Every venue in which I’ve written has had major high points (the fun part) as well as learning curves and challenges. If I had to pick a place I’d return to in a heartbeat, it would probably be a daily newspaper. I loved being in the midst of realtime news events, and being on a tight deadline. It hones your writing skills and also sharpens your ability to assess what’s important and distill it into a story. The adrenaline surge in Public Information (or high-profile PR) is similar; you’re often on tight deadlines and in the midst of an event as it happens. Magazine features are fun, and offer opportunities to stretch your writing style in ways news coverage rarely allows. Those are some favorites!
Do you have any advice for other authors hoping to get published?
There’s a Catch 22 when you get started: You need clips, but if you don’t have them, you can’t get assignments. However, there are opportunities to get bylines for unpaid work. Yes, I know the goal is to earn money, but look at it as an investment. Some magazines and newspapers want content, and will accept travel or anecdotal articles for publication. This gives the writer current clips and shows future editors what you can do. For small publications, you could even offer to write a regular column for free. After you get a track record, negotiate for payment, or move on to a more commercial venue. And definitely, consider writing for high-quality sites such as HubPages! Write often, and pay attention to the styles used by credible writers. This helps develop your skills.
As someone with so many hobbies who has held so many different professional positions, I imagine that most of your Hubs are inspired by life. How do you choose which experience to write about next?
If something is interesting to you, chances are, it will be interesting to various readers. Recognizing that simple fact has helped me spot hundreds of potential stories. Did you enjoy (or hate) a recent trip? Turn it into a Hub or other article. Have you found your new favorite food? Write about it! Are you great at gardening, running marathons, or baking bread? There are readers searching for tips on those things. In general, if something sparks your interest, consider that a gentle nudge to write about it.
What made you decide to start writing on HubPages?
I’d been contemplating online writing for a few years, and saw an ad for HubPages. After checking out the site, I signed up immediately and have been here ever since! It’s a wonderful community, and I really like knowing that the great staff is always on top of the technical elements and trends in online publishing. This frees up the writers to do what we love, which is to write, write, write.
You have written 140 Hubs in under 2 years at HubPages. What's your secret for staying on track and accomplishing so much writing?
Nerves of steel? Just kidding. Well, maybe! Early on, I joined a few challenges to write so many hubs within a month. These are good for setting goals, but writers should also be realistic about maintaining high quality as well, rather than focusing on quantity. Some ‘challenges’ are unrealistic if you want to write Hubs that meet the high standards of the site. Hubs are not term papers, and they’re not blogs. Think of them as high-quality, informative pieces on topics people search for on the Internet. Follow the quality tips regarding word count, photos, capsules and other elements (you see these when you’re in the editing mode), and you’ll be ahead of the game. That feature is fairly new for writers; it’s another example of how the site works to create a good writing environment and helps us succeed.
What is your favorite type of Hub to write?
Oh, that’s a tough one! I like topics that help others in some manner. Even if the information you write about doesn’t directly impact your life (suppose you write about a rare disease, for example), it’s interesting to research the topic, include high-quality links, find appropriate photos, and write about it in a way that is supportive to the reader.
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