I'd like feedback on my hub: Learning to Draw ..

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   Jodahposted 8 years ago

   I recently revived an email from HP stating that one of my established hubs: http://hubpages.com/art/Learning-to-Dra … Your-Brain was being considered for a move to FeltMagnet. The email said it was high quality and close to being suitable and just suggested a few generic changes (breaking up text into more than one capsule, full width images, removing any Amazon capsules not directly related etc) nothing specifically related to my hub. I did however remove one Amazon capsule, made a couple of images full width, added a couple of "call outs" and did as they suggested, resubmitted. I must point out I didn't submit the hub in the first place, they HP selected it.
   
   I get an email back saying,  "Unfortunately your article was not selected....Since you already confirmed that your article is free from content and structural issues, it is possible that it was not selected due to the nature of its topic...etc" they also said I am welcome to rework it (again) and resubmit it. I tried to do that and now have to wait 90 days. Rediculous!
   
   It seems apparent that the first curator who considers your hub on the verge of suitability for the niche sites is not the same person who reviews it when you resubmit it. It would be helpful if they had nominated specific issues with the hub that needed improvement.
   
   This is the second time I have had this happen. Any suggestions welcome.

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      Faith Reaperposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Hi John,
      
      Your hub is truly interesting, and one of my favorite hubs you've published in this genre, being I love art.  You are certainly gifted in drawing and all of the right brain attributes.
      
      I only noticed some spelling, a typo and small little things, which are as follows:
      
      *In your first paragraph inside the parentheses, there needs to be a period (inside), as it is a complete sentence.
      *When you are placing quotation marks around a word or the name of a book, etc., you need to use " and not ' ...the only time you use one ' is when you are quoting within a quote.
      *The word predisposal is not hyphenated -third paragraph.
      *In your second paragraph you have the word "that" twice in one sentence, I would drop the "that" after "...God-given talent, that doesn't mean that the rest of us can't ..."  I would drop the second "that" before "the rest of us ..."
      *Under you caption of your Mickey Mouse - instead of drew for a t-shirt, maybe drawn for a t-shirt? Either way will be okay, I think.
      *Under the section Drawing Upside Down, again, be sure to use "  " for all names of books and names of art.
      *Maybe drop one "but" in your sentence in the second paragraph under that same section where you have parenthese.  I would drop the one inside the ( ).
      *Also, just wondering why you capitalized the word Naturally inside those same ( )?
      *Under the first bullet point you have "mrather" ...shouldn't it be "rather"?
      *You have recognizable spelled two different ways in your hub, i.e., "recognisable". Not sure how HP handles the issue of how different parts of the world spells certain words, most likely being it is a company based out of San Francisco, US, probably go with recognizable?
      *Same goes for the spelling of the word "favorite" ...you have "favourite"?
      *The word "newborn" is not hyphenated.
      *Maybe find a video related to using one's right side of the brain to draw?
      
      Well, that's all I can see at the moment, and these are really just suggestions, as I could very well be incorrect in my thinking.
      
      I really love your Marilyn Monroe painting!
      
      This hub deserves to be moved to the niche site.
      
      Blessings

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         Jodahposted 8 years agoin reply to this

         Wow, Faith, thank you for finding all that. It has been up so long I didn't think to proof read it again. I will fix up all those things you mention.

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         faith-hope-loveposted 8 years agoin reply to this

         Hi John, I can only echo what Faith has said. After that, and before, I analyze Readability.  I find your hubs good on this account.  I believe that maybe the reviewers are young and also in a learning mode. With experience these issues may vanish.  I do not let it bother me.  Write for enjoyment and all else follows.

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            Jodahposted 8 years agoin reply to this

            Thanks, faith-hope-love. I have done my best to fix these issues and comply but it looks like the effort was wasted. There is just too much inconsistency here to keep worrying about it.

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               Faith Reaperposted 8 years agoin reply to this

               Oh, bless your heart, John ...Yes, don't worry about it at all because when I first read your hub I couldn't figure out why it wouldn't be moved as it flows so well and you cover the topic thoroughly. So, that is when I thought I would examine it more closely in an effort to possibly help it to get moved to the niche site ...then I did overkill LOL, so sorry, darlin'. Please don't fret one more second over it.  Hugs and blessings

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                  Jodahposted 8 years agoin reply to this

                  Hi Faith,
                  I kind of live by the motto...."what will be will be"..so I am not going to stress over it anymore. If this hub is meant to be on a niche site it will be. It is doing ok on HubPages where it currently sits. If nothing else this forum helped me address some spelling and grammar issues that you kindly pointed out, so it did serve a purpose.

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                     Faith Reaperposted 8 years agoin reply to this

                     That's a good motto, John.  I will confess that I'm a bit upset they did you like that ...saying one thing and then you complying,  then nothing though! That's not right.
                     
                     Oh, when I go back and look at my older hubs, I can't believe all that I find LOL.
                     
                     Blessings

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      Christy Kirwanposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      Hi Jodah,
      
      While the Editors do offer suggestions that may sound general in nature, the Editor selects the specific pieces of advice that he/she feels apply to your Hub. In other words, our Editors have a sort of list of the most common issues with Hubs, but when they ask for improvements, they only include the suggestions they feel directly apply to your particular Hub. If you have not found something you think could be improved by each of the Editor's suggestions, it's possible he/she believes you have simply chosen not to comply with the feedback, since Hubbers are free to not follow the advice of the Editors if they don't care whether Hubs are moved or not.

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         Marisa Wrightposted 8 years agoin reply to this

         But Christy, if Jodah actually resubmitted the Hub, then surely that shows that he IS keen to have it moved?
         
         If he didn't care then he wouldn't resubmit it, surely.

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            Christy Kirwanposted 8 years agoin reply to this

            If the Editors don't feel their suggestions have been followed and/or the issues have been fixed, I believe they assume the author wants the Hub moved without making those changes, so they consider the edited version, decide if they think the work the author has done is sufficient or not, and make a decision from there.

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               Marisa Wrightposted 8 years agoin reply to this

               OK, I see what you mean now, thanks

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               Jodahposted 8 years agoin reply to this

               Christy, whether the editor's suggestions were only generic or not, and I did everything I could think of to meet the guidelines they gave. As I said, I found some spelling inconsistencies and fixed those, deleted an Amazon capsule that wasn't directly related, added call-outs, changed sub-headings, made a couple of photos, the poll, and a text capsule full width to suit mobile views. I have no idea what to do. If it was so close to being accepted before, AND it was the curator who said the hub was excellent and asked me to submit it, NOT ME, at least they should assist me in saying what change IS still needed and allow me to do that and resubmit. Before I received the email I had not have even considered submitting it.
               Why couldn't they just "snip" as they have done on other hubs, if that is the case and highlight the changes?
               Of course, I want it moved.

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                  Christy Kirwanposted 8 years agoin reply to this

                  If you are still unclear about what the editors are asking for, you can always email for clarification or further suggestions. They will get to you when they can and are usually very willing to give specific suggestions and examples in a situation like this. I'm sorry it's been a frustrating experience and I'll pass along your concerns.

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                     makingamarkposted 8 years agoin reply to this

                     Do they make notes so they can remember what the problems are if somebody asks?
                     
                     If they do why not just pass them straight across to the author?

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                     Jodahposted 8 years agoin reply to this

                     Thanks for the reply, Christy,
                     The problem is that the emails I received from the editors are all "no reply". I did try to voice my concerns through a HubPage "help" form and just received back a copy of the exact same email I had received before saying my hub wasn't suitable for FeltMagnet. It would help if you could contact the same editor/curator for clarification.

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                        Christy Kirwanposted 8 years agoin reply to this

                        I emailed the Editing Team and requested that they offer you some additional clarification for this Hub.

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                           Jodahposted 8 years agoin reply to this

                           Thank you, Christie. I do appreciate your help.

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                              Jodahposted 8 years agoin reply to this

                              I'd just like to advise that this hub has now been snipped and moved to FeltMagnet. Thank you Christy for you help and referring it to the editing team for review. Much appreciated.

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                                 Christy Kirwanposted 8 years agoin reply to this

                                 My pleasure, and I'm glad everything was resolved!

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               makingamarkposted 8 years agoin reply to this

               Surely there's a way of being more helpful which would generate better results for both HubPages and the author?
               
               For example a checklist which an author can tick if done and state why not if they don't make a change.  Such a checklist would also mean there is also a document started by the HubPages person which generates an audit trail and provides a basis for quality assurance of their work by HQ. After all it's also essential to check the quality of work by staff and not just hubbers!
               
               In the absence of more  helpful communication then it's my guess people will either give up or move their hubs off the site. For example - and by way of proxy - I'm noticing more and more that people who used to post in the forum no longer do so.
               
               Personally I abhor guessing games of the kind that seems to prevail on HubPages.

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                  Jodahposted 8 years agoin reply to this

                  +10000

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   clivewilliamsposted 8 years ago

   The hub is pretty good, but maybe it is the book advertisement that needs snipping.

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3. 86

   Marisa Wrightposted 8 years ago

   I'd say you need to click the Preview button and make sure you're looking at the Mobile Preview.
   
   The majority of HubPages readers are viewing the site on a mobile device so they want a layout that works for that.  The blue shaded, right-floated box about right brain/left brain becomes full-width unshaded, AND it appears above your first paragraph, so I suspect that wouldn't look right.
   
   The same goes for the poll - if you look at it in mobile view, does it appear in a sensible place?
   
   I think the book ad is fine, however you should place it before your first exercise and in the description section, say something like, "The exercises that follow are based on this wonderful book yadda yadda".  That makes it totally clear that the book is relevant.

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   Jodahposted 8 years ago

   Thanks for that advice, Marisa. I had not checked the mobile view, so that is a good point. I may reposition the book ad too.

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      Marisa Wrightposted 8 years agoin reply to this

      I must admit, I still mourn the change.  I wish people would just keep looking at HubPages on their laptops and desktop computers, so I could keep my nice right-floated photos and highlighted boxes!

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         Jodahposted 8 years agoin reply to this

         I only use a laptop and iPad and have no problems with the format showing on other. I never use the phone for the Internet so don't often think about formatting to support that. I have to make my articles mobile friendly  in future.

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            Marisa Wrightposted 8 years agoin reply to this

            I never look at  Hubs on my mobile either, so I have to keep reminding myself!

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            makingamarkposted 8 years agoin reply to this

            Format is completely different on an iPhone compared to an iPad. However there are proxy sites which enable you to look at what it looks like on a mobile device like a phone.

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               Jodahposted 8 years agoin reply to this

               HubPages themselves give us a choice to look at how it will present on a mobile device in "preview" however, I often forget to look at that. Now that most people are using phones I will have to make sure I do that more often.

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