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TO HUB, OR NOT TO HUB ANYMORE
IS THAT A QUESTION ?
My fellow hubbers regardless of the numbers on my profile, which just this week turned to say I had been a Hubpages member for 11 months the fact remains I’m one week short of a year on Hubpages. Tomorrow is the one-year anniversary of my having to euthanize my beloved pet cat Spooky a few months after her 16th birthday. I needed a new “raison d’etre ”, and writing hubs seemed to fit that bill nicely. Lately I’ve begun to question myself on this topic. After all I’m not a professional writer and I’m certainly not a wordsmith because all my writing during my professional career had been weekly reports to management or dry technical papers. So the answer is yes, that is a valid question.
WHAT MAKES A HUBBER ?
Shortly after joining Hubpages I decided only to comment on the hubs of others. I wondered if I was a true hubber by only commenting on the hubs of others. I didn’t feel I was qualified to make money for my writing so I checked with the management of Hubpages about this topic, and much to my delight I found out non-commercial hubs were possible (I also didn’t want to get my tail tied into a knot with my Social Security disability payments). With this new knowledge I jumped into the hub water with both feet and finally published my first hub, “Boomers Unused Resource” on August 30, 2009. Oh the joy I felt!!! I was finally a true hubber with a published hub!!!!!
TIME FOR SELF EVALUATION !!!
As I reflect on my almost one year of writing hubs I have to take a long hard look at my attempt to write hubs. Some seem to be at least OK. I like my recollections of my early life and some of my political rants, and commentary. I love my followers, and readers, and the great support they have given to me!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
On the other hand I still am a neophyte writer, and my typing is hunt and peck and spell check only catches so many errors, and it doesn’t check for context. (Just had to go back to correct an error). Some of my writings have, on reflection seemed like puff pieces not worthy of publishing. I’m back and forth on my decision, and I don’t know what to do. It’s been 10 days since I published a hub and my hubscore is about the same. I may do a hub a week for a while to see if I am satisfied with the result.
KEEP TUNED AND WE’LL SEE HOW IT TURNS OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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You've presented some good ideas here. Food for thought for all hubbers. Nicely done, Tom.
AuthorSusanP,
Thank you for your comment. It's a decision that is almost tearing me apart.
Hi Tom. It would be mistake not to write. Besides us remember your grandchildren and future generations.
Practice make perfect. If you enjoy please write.
Vladimir
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Vladimir,
Thank you for the encouragement. It's friends like you that keep me going.
Tom, you've done well, I mostly read as you can see only 10 hubs in 18 or 19 months I would have to go to see for sure.
I see we now have "karma" as well, what the hell is up with that? I started at 66 and have fallen to 54, what is that about? Do I even care? So I must ask do you?
I enjoy your presence in your writing as well as comments at breakfast daily, so please hang around and let us see what happens next LOL, Peace and Love, 50
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Dusty,
The story you wrote last night was one of the best I've ever read anywhere!!!
Thank you for your support, but even if I quit writing hubs I will still be hanging around to comment and read hubs!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tom,
I wouldn't worry about being a professional writer too much. When I worked as a tech writer a lot of other writer were not trained as writers and it was considered almost a punishment to have to work in publications.
I was more frustrated because I wanted to be a writer but did almost everything but. You probably got a lot of good experience doing what writing you did.
Personally I have to print out my writing to check for errors that I would not catch on screen I know it is terribly retro ad not green.
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dahoglund,
Thank you for your encouragement. It means a lot to me!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tom,
I would miss the humorous anecdotes you share, and the silly stories about aging. I hope that even if you only publish once a week that you still continue to write. As someone above also said, your grandbabies may one day enjoy reading the thoughts you shared with hubworld. Also, you are the only other West Virginians I have connected with here!!!
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Sheri,
My fellow Mountaineer, I knew I could count on you for encouragement. Thank you for your support!!!!!!!!!!
Tom, I don't write on here for money, popularity, or expect to get any recognition...mostly it is just that I have something to say to share with whoever will read...it is a good outlet. And it is a good way for us regular people to share life with others....I took a year off from writing and then came back...but remember to do whatever feels right to you.
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EnLydia Listener,
I, like you, just have been trying to express myself. I thank you for your kind and supportive comment, and I appreciate it so much!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I know where you are coming from. I however, got a couple of hubs that are starting to pull in a little bit of money, so I am afraid to walk away from it now. If I could figure out a few more hubs that would work good, I could double my money. It is not a lot, but It is interesting. If I could do 10X to 100X of what I got now, I probably could pull in decent money, as I start pushing towards my retirement in about 10 years.
My son spend about 2 months and wrote about 100 hubs, and he is pulling in a little bit of money. I tell him he needs to get 1000 plus hubs out there, and he could do a bit better.
Your friendship will be missed.
I cut back and I am not commenting as much as in the past, but I still hit everyone's hubs, every so often.
Keep on hubbing!
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eovery,
I wish you well in your retirement planning, but I'm not leaving. I am considering cutting back a lot on writing hubs but I'll be here. Our freindship can also go on good and as strong as ever!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Hemingway said,"Apply the seat of your pants to the seat of your chair and write!"
Take his advice, even if it's just writing in your word processor. You don't have to make a hub out of everything you write -- although some hubbers do.
Write a lot and then put up your best stuff. Don't feel obligated to write any particular number of hubs/week or per day or per month.
Go with the flow.
Good luck!
Tom,
Of course you should continue to write. Your hubs are wonderful and well written. Writing is an evolution and you have to do it as often as possible to experience the joy.
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FCEtier,
Thank you for your supportive advice.
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Pop,
One of my favorites, and I will always come to breakfast regardless if I write, or not. I'll probably write, but I may cut back.
I say keep up the hubbing! Your hubs are always insightful and I enjoy reading them.
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GojiJuiceGoodness,
Thank you for your kind, and supportive words. I'll probably try to keep it going!!!!
Tom, If you enjoy writing then why would you stop? Many of us are here for the comraderie and fulfillment of seeing our words touch others. Others are here for the money. Either case, it's a great place and you have many folks who care about you and enjoy your work. So, take a break maybe, but stick around and write when you can.
Tom, I can't imagine Hubpages without you. I think you should continue to write. I want to hear your opinions and what you have to say. I have so many hubs to read that it is physically impossible but I try to never miss yours. It's not like you are trying to break any records and if you just write when you feel like it that is enough. I have to end this like Eovery would.
Keep on hubbing!
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PegCole
I think I may cut back on my writing, but I've decided that I won't quit. While I may cut back I won't quit.
Thank you for your compliment, and comment!!
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Pamela,
It is definely not ending. I'll keep writing. I may write more on topics I know better than I have in the past.
Thank you for reading my hubs I appreciate it!!!!!!!!!!
I am actually going through a phase as well, and haven't written in a while. Primarily it started with a forced time out due to eye surgery, then to catch up on work related issues, then an illness in the family. By the time it was all over I had lost the edge and desire to write or even vist hubpages but deep down inside I missed it and am slowly getting it back. I think it may be a phase. Your contributions have always been welcomed and your hub is one of my favorites as I always make sure I visit so don't get discouraged, give it time and you will work it out when you are ready. I look forward to reading and enjoying your work.
I always know I'll enjoy what you've written. Maybe you've been pushing yourself too hard, and it is summertime - everybody needs a break. The great thing about writing on hubpages is we all do it by choice and on our own schedules. Take a break, relax, we'll all be here to read your hubs whenever you write them.
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ehern33,
I really appreciate you comments, and your sentiments. I think I'll try to keep it going!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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sheli b.
You are one my regular readers and commenters and I appreciate your faithfulness. I'll hang in there and keep writing some!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Tom I hope these comments have given you pause to reconsider, I've had to take a break myself with moving and a new job but Hub pages would be a colder place without you and your writings. Keep it up lad..
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Hmrjmr1,
The comments have reinforced my resolve. I'll keep it up. I think I was just a little tired!!!!!!!!
The one thing to keep in mind is that, if you write it they will come. The readers that is. If you write it well they will come back. And even if you don't write it well, if you have something genuine to say and people have a genuine interest in knowing about it, they'll come back simply to know and share and conversate.
For whatever that's worth, I certainly hope that's worth it to you. Relache always like to suggest that this HubPages is not a place for "that kind of stuff." I tend to disagree. HubPages is a versatile and diversified community for ALL people to enjoy and share...
Or not if a particular style of hub is not your thing.
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Jim,
Thank you for your supportive comment, I'll keep trying.
And I'll be back to know, share, and conversate. I'm still very curious about GreatAmerican BTW.
Don't stop altogether. I also went through that phase as well. I don't write as much anymore either for other things have popped into my life that keep me busy.
I don't know what a "real" writer is. I only write from how I speak or know. I kind of write like I was talkng to you and not use those big words and stuff like that.
Please continue.
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Jim,
You are always welcome!!!
Unfortunately I think GreatAmerican must be a duster(8(
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Lady Guinevere,
I'm feeling better about hubbing than I did. I'll keep it up!!!!!!!!!!!
Thank you for your comment.
I gave it up for a while until I realized I missed all of y'all. So here I am and writing some and reading a lot. Don't go Tom, it really is boring out there.
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Tex,
I hear your song brother. I'll be sticking around for awhile!!!!!
Thanks for the comment.
I have enjoyed reading your Hubs, and getting to know you a bit. Don't worry—I hunt and peck, too!
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James,
I have decided to stay. I am only writing on a more limited basis with topics that are comfortable!!!!!!
Thank you for your kind comments.
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