The Quality Assessment Process

1. 67

   Andrew C Rossposted 10 years ago

   I see this message when my Hub is rejected: "Heads up! It looks like your Hub is not cleared for publication because it did not pass the Quality Assessment Process. No need to fret; every new Hubber goes through Boot Camp, and all you need to do is improve the Hub so that it meets our quality standards ..."
   
   This is much too vague to be of much use. How does a writer know what to do to correct this situation? How far off was the story from being accepted? The feed back while cheery and nice is not constructive. It does not spotlight the problem areas or even the general type of problem. I have better feedback from actual editors.
   How is one to know when to do a complete re-write or merely fix a typo that escaped them?
   
   I would suggest a check list starting with appropriateness of the content, the simple grammar and spelling issues, then move on to other issues that a successful hub needs to have. A percentage of acceptability would be very helpful. That way the writer can see that the story is about 95% acceptable and 5% needs work.
   
   It does not have to be tailored to the individual hub, although that would be great, it can be a generic FAQ style listing with check boxes.
   
   I don't have a problem with editing my work, it is knowing where to put the effort that is frustrating.

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   1. 40

      Writer Foxposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Here is the chart used to assess creative writing:
      http://hubpages.com/help/hub_hop_table#creative
      
      Here is the chart for informational Hubs:
      http://hubpages.com/help/hub_hop_table#informational

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   2. 84

      Robinposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Hi Andrew.  I'm sorry you are frustrated.  Boot Camp is designed to help Hubbers write Hubs from the very beginning that are likely to succeed.  Our intention is not to frustrate you!    Unfortunately, we don't have the resources to give individual feedback on every Hub.  We do have a Learning Center that should help though.  I recommend reading the LC entries about Elements of a Stellar Hub, How to Improve the Quality of your Hub, and our HubPages Style Guide.  On your Hubs we have tried to help writers by including Style Tips as well as a "Need Some Goals" section.   If you fill in all of the check boxes and don't have any Style Tips, your Hubs have a good chance of passing our Quality Assessment Process.  Best of luck to you!  Let me know if I there is anything else that I can do to help. 

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2. 67

   Andrew C Rossposted 10 years ago

   This is not good enough. While nice to see, it does not provide adequate feedback on the quality of the specific piece of writing.
   
   You cannot discern if the problem is a typo or if the entire writing is wholly inadequate. There are too many variables of differing magnitude to try to process in order to have a publishable piece. There is no constructive criticism. Even a scholarly dissertation is subject to peer review that is shared with the writer.
   
   Here all you get is a vague notice that the writing was not cleared for publication and a set of rules that may or may not apply to what you wrote.
   
   You don't get a sense of which direction you need to go to satisfy the requirements. You have to figure it out yourself. By being so close to the writing you are often blind to some of the flaws, I am prone to be blind to typos, so it is very useful to have a disinterested party read it and comment on it. I have had people accomplished writers themselves read my writing in order to test the pieces and the responses have been positive and the reactions to the rejections has been disbelief.
   
   I really want to put out good quality work, but this assessment process is frustrating and discouraging.

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   1. 59

      MelissaBarrettposted 10 years agoin reply to this

      Here are examples of hubs and what ratings they received:
      
      http://hubpages.com/faq/#mturk-hit-examples
      
      He gave you the chart above that lays out what is required for each rating.
      
      You can also list your hub here:
      
      http://hubpages.com/forum/category/2885, to get feedback from the other hubbers on what the issues might be.

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      1. 82

         Kain 360posted 10 years agoin reply to this

         Good to see examples!

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   2. 0

      epsonok0posted 10 years agoin reply to this

      I have 9 hubs. 8 of which are featured. The way I do it is to look on the top right when in edit mode. There is a series of check lists. If this list does not appear you chose a special format. The basic format is 2700 (+-) words, 3 good photograps (no water marks or edit lines and fully cited) and of course at least two widgets. I use poll and table or poll and quiz to get the most bang for my buck. If after you do spell check and the whole thing has those three areas of concern and it still is not featured. Do a title tune your self, (proper capitalization and category) and if it is still not featured then im not sure what there problem is. After 5 featured you will no longer have this headache. If after boot camp you are not featured it simply will not show up in any searches. It allows you more freedom of movement. I hope this helps you. I am going to have a look at your hubs too. Maybe make some gentle suggestions.

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      1. 0

         epsonok0posted 10 years agoin reply to this

         I see the problem after reviewing your hub. Seperate it into about 3 sub sections. This requires some cut and paste. Then add a poll about what kind of dog peoples fav is or something like that. Then add a table about the benefits of the dog you talked about. That should get it featured.

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      2. 95

         PegCole17posted 10 years agoin reply to this

         Not entirely true. I had over 100 featured hubs at one time when one of my hubs got the circle of death - the lacking quality empty circle. Since it was an original short story about an issue that was close to my heart, I was extremely distressed by the lacks "quality" rating. All the little blocks on the check list were checked but the hub only had 700 words.

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         1. 0

            epsonok0posted 10 years agoin reply to this

            So basically like I said. You have to have 2000 words 3 pics and 2 widgets.

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            1. 59

               MelissaBarrettposted 10 years agoin reply to this

               You do realize that raters aren't told to look for word counts... right?
               
               In fact, you have access to every bit of information that raters use to rate by. If you find a portion that requires a certain word count to get a certain score, please let me know.
               
               It's harder to have absolutely no substance, even accidentally, in a 1150 word hub... but oh my does it happen. It's harder to have an unorganized hub with different capsules and subheadings... it also happens. Personally, I believe it SHOULD be excessively difficult to have a hub that isn't up to par grammatically with a built in spell check and a thousand different online grammar checks that take seconds to use and are free.... Yet, once again.
               
               The checkbox thingy is there to maximize the chances of a hub being acceptable. It doesn't help with correct grammar (apparently)... It doesn't keep people from picking irrelevant photos or- better yet- stolen blotchy watermarked inappropriate irrelevant photos. And it doesn't make 2000 words of nothing become suddenly meaningful.
               
               Everyone is caught up on the word count... except the people actually rating the hubs. We couldn't care less. I can promise you we aren't counting.
               
               It's hard to have substance with 100 word hub. It's easier to have substance with a 1150 word hub.
               
               Yet neither extreme is a guarantee.
               
               I personally would go with what is easiest. If it's easier to insure substance with 1150 words, or 2000 or whatever, I'd use that guideline. However if you want to test to see if you can really produce a truly USEFUL, HELPFUL hub with a fully developed message, complementary tone, noteworthy diction or visual techniques, and abundant detail in 100 words... have at it.

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               1. 95

                  PegCole17posted 10 years agoin reply to this

                  I like your explanation of the process, Melissa. Beauty is certainly in the eyes of the beholder as is the "quality" of creative writing.

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                  1. 59

                     MelissaBarrettposted 10 years agoin reply to this

                     Ah, creative writing works on a totally different system.
                     
                     I could go for HOURS and HOURS on creative writing.

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            2. 95

               PegCole17posted 10 years agoin reply to this

               It really is a guessing game and not all that productive to speculate. I was merely venting frustration on a hub which did not meet the expectations of the raters for whatever reason.
               Incidentally, I have several featured hubs with fewer than 1000 words. Pssst. Don't tell anyone.
               

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            3. 77

               psycheskinnerposted 10 years agoin reply to this

               No, you don't have to have any of those things.

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               1. 95

                  PegCole17posted 10 years agoin reply to this

                  

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3. 0

   Beth37posted 10 years ago

   It looks as though your first pic is credited to a .com?

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4. 0

   epsonok0posted 10 years ago

   Im out of this thread. I have allready got into arguments in other threads and of course people ensured my account was blocked. Good luck and all with your problems.

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5. 61

   Gavinoposted 10 years ago

   Yes I can see that this is not as easy as they make sound when trying to get a hub published. I do notice though that each time I tweak or add something to the the score increases. I have been a member here for 4 years and finally beginning to understand. I do hope though that I can get my first hub published.

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