How do you go about writing your hubs?

1. 64

   hubby7posted 13 years ago

   Oftentimes, I will start thinking about what I want to write about while running on the tread mill. After an hour of running, I pretty much know what I am going to write about. I composed it in my head. So when I return home, I either type it up in outline form to finish at a later date or I type it at one sitting, say a couple of hours, and post it on my hubpage.

   replyreport
   1. 84

      LiamBeanposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      A lot of mine are technical. I'll see a news item and then research the basics of the item as part of the explanation of the news.
      
      For example, today's hub has to do with weight-gain and bacteria. The news report announced that researchers in Washington state had come up with an experiment to verify the claim that one type of bacteria was a factor in weight gain. To make the article well-rounded I did research on the types of bacteria and their effect on human digestion.
      
      I then found the information on animal studies that backed up the research claims.
      
      By making the article inclusive with history and background I've come up with a "news" item that goes well beyond the initial report.
      
      I also made sure that I used adWords keywords that will get the article a favored position in search engines and also generate ads that are keyed to the content of the article. Of course the keywords were those with a high dollar value and low competition factor.

      replyreport
2. 56

   prettydarkhorseposted 13 years ago

   hi, there are a lot of ideas I want to share and write about, but I get my notes and prioritize topics according to my knowledge on it, then I have to read other materials about it too. I target at least one article a day, four to six hours but not continious writing,,,,I do other things also..

   replyreport
   1. 64

      hubby7posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Hi pretty prettydarkhorse. Thanks for sharing your modus operandi. Unlike you, I try to write one article every week; however, I have fallen short of my goals because of other priorites going on in my life. I do hope to be up and writing hubs again very soon. You, I notice, have been extremely prolific in that you have already written 71 hubs in only 5 weeks! Amazing. Simply amazing!

      replyreport
   2. 0

      Denno66posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      yeah what the heck in is your coffee?

      replyreport
      1. 57

         wrenfrost56posted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Can I have some please.

         replyreport
         1. 56

            prettydarkhorseposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            you can have some, brewed, I brew it every morning lol!

            replyreport
      2. 56

         prettydarkhorseposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         I am always like that, I planned for two articles a day, and must have to follow my plan, OC me...

         replyreport
3. 0

   Justine76posted 13 years ago

   I lay awake at night thinking and thinking, about my day, the future, what I need to do, what I want ot do, stories, fairy tales the past...eventually I fall asleep and then wake up a few hours later and write it all down.

   replyreport
   1. 64

      hubby7posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      You are undoubtedly using the creative process of the mind: Activity and passivity. Exerting, releasing, and reaping. What I am trying to say is that you work hard thinking about it all. Next, you release it to your subscious mind. Then your subconsious mind works on it while you are unconscious of it, and your ship (ideas) comes in in the morning.

      replyreport
      1. 0

         Justine76posted 13 years agoin reply to this

         that sounds reasonable.

         replyreport
      2. 94

         viryaboposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         I just love the way you put this.

         replyreport
         1. 64

            hubby7posted 13 years agoin reply to this

            Thank you for the commendation!

            replyreport
   2. 78

      advisor4qbposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Usually at that stage of my day, I am visualizing what I would like to have happen as well as planning what I want and need to do. 
      
      When I write a hub, it is usually spontaneous.  In some instances, it is a fun thing, like cooking, or it is an epiphany that hits me.
      
      I find that my best hubs are the ones that flow through me and not from me.  Anyone with a spiritual bent understands that concept.
      
      If I have to do research, it is no longer fun for me.

      replyreport
      1. 64

         hubby7posted 13 years agoin reply to this

         I believe I understand, in part, what you are saying. You let the game come to you and not you to the game. By so doing, you are relaxed. You are in the zone, and you play your best game or, in your case, do your best writing. Check out my hub on being in the zone!

         replyreport
4. 60

   maudine_05posted 13 years ago

   Im a newbie so I just write my own experiences, kinda experimental and taking things slow as I noticed the more I push myself of getting an idea flow in my mind the difficult it gets...

   replyreport
   1. 64

      hubby7posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I think it is okay to push yourself. But once you have pushed yourself hard enough, you have to stop pushing yourself and allow your mind time to relax. Only then when all the tension has been released can your ideas begin to flow. That's my take on it. By the way, let me welcome you to hubpages and let me become one of your first fans! I'm sure that you will like it here.

      replyreport
5. 60

   Jane@CMposted 13 years ago

   Depends on the article.  Usually I have it written in my head before I type it up.  I keep a notebook with my ideas next to my laptop.

   replyreport
   1. 64

      hubby7posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I do the same thing except that I do it while running on a treadmill. Once I return home, if I have the time, I write it up.

      replyreport
6. 92

   rmcrayneposted 13 years ago

   A lot of what I've written is from my 20+ years as an occupational therapist.  As an OT, I feel like my primary "treatment" that I offer patients is education.  So there are lots of things I've taught patients and families over the years that I have repeated many times.  When I get ready to write it, a lot of it flows pretty easily.  I have lots of related and unrelated ideas.  I keep a Word doc for "hub ideas".  When something pops in my head, I open the document and add it.  Some ideas I do a lot of research on.  I'll usually print a bunch of stuff up, read it all a couple times, make notes on the sides, then start shaping up how I'm going to organize it.

   replyreport
   1. 64

      hubby7posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I do a lot of the same things. I write both from experience and from the many books that I read about a subject over the years. And like you, I write in order to educate, and if I can add, to help people empower themselves through my self-empowerment hubs, which I call them.

      replyreport
      1. 92

         rmcrayneposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Yes, the word 'empower' often comes to mind for me as well.

         replyreport
7. 61

   Black Lillyposted 13 years ago

   For me it's just the urge to write my thoughts down. When I start a hub, I honestly have no idea how it will end. Then, about halfway, everything falls into place.

   replyreport
   1. 64

      hubby7posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Unlike you, I'm a planner. I know what I want to write about before I put fingers to keyboard. Hey, do whatever works for you. Do whatever makes your heart palpitate!

      replyreport
8. 61

   globaltechsourceposted 13 years ago

   Writing is easy when you write about the activities you like. But when you are foreign to the topic you have to do research to really know what you are trying to talk about.
   
   Ask yourself why would someone want to read this article and what benefit would they get from this? Entertainment, knowledge , more business opportunity or increase their income. Find the value or worth of the topic and the audience you are addressing. Writing a hubpage is like being an author of the thousands of books in the library. The books stay in the shelf until someone opens it and reads it. Your hubpage is just one of millions of website pages until someone finds it worth reading or spending their time with.

   replyreport
   1. 64

      hubby7posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I absolutely agree. Well put!

      replyreport
9. 61

   dave272727posted 13 years ago

   First I write down what I want to say sort of like an outline and then flesh it out.  I recently got into writing fiction, and its been a challenge.

   replyreport
   1. 64

      hubby7posted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I do pretty much the same thing.

      replyreport
10. 60

    abcd1111posted 13 years ago

    Everybody's process fascinates me. I keep a page with misc. ideas and/or topics. Sometimes a story will flow fairly easy. Other times it's like pulling teeth. 
    
    I find it's best if I give it some time to simmer, come back to it and rework it.  It's difficult to say when a piece is done. Rewriting is a pain, but it is an absolute necessity for me.
    
    I have to learn patience because it's better to give it some time and come back to it. Hitting the publish button is always tempting because I just want to get it out there, but new ideas always pop up if I let the piece sit.
    
    I do get intimidated by some peoples' prolific publishing, but I have come to terms with my own pace. Writing is a double-edged sword for sure.

    replyreport
11. 64

    hubby7posted 13 years ago

    Let me thank you for all your posts. I believe that we can all learn from each other. Keep posting.

    replyreport
12. 79

    NaomiRposted 13 years ago

    I plan the ideas in my head then sit down and just write them straight out without doing an outline. But I'm constantly going back and editing, tweaking titles and key words, adding links and videos, etc. Even my best hubs are works in progress. But I want to be the highest quality possible.

    replyreport
    1. 64

       hubby7posted 13 years agoin reply to this

       Hi Naomi. I write pretty much like you. I plan what I am going write in my head too. Then I sit down and write it free style without any editing. After I have done back, I, then, go back and edit plus add videos and other enhancements.

       replyreport
13. 60

    speaseposted 13 years ago

    I have a notebook that I write down the main idea for the article.  when I'm ready to write it, I use the Adword tool to pick a title.  When I have the title, I sit down for about 15 minutes and jot down everything I can think of about the subject.  Then I type out parts on each point and move it around into the right order.  Then I leave it until the next day.  Then go back and fine tune it for publishing.

    replyreport
    1. 64

       hubby7posted 13 years agoin reply to this

       Sitting on your writing and editing it the next day is always a great idea. What you fail to see today, you just might see tomorrow. Good point!

       replyreport
14. 86

    rebekahELLEposted 13 years ago

    I have a notepad right next to my computer that I use to write note topics/ random info I may find while online.  so far I've only written about what I know well or have experienced.
    
    once the topic is decided, I go into my files and get the info I need. open up a bland document and start writing. I get ideas at random times. I've decided on a couple topics after spending time in the forums noticing what people are asking about or discussing.
    
    my main 'problem' is deciding what I want to write because I have so many topics that I want to write about. somehow it seems something or someone will inspire me and that's the topic.

    replyreport
    1. 64

       hubby7posted 13 years agoin reply to this

       When I was taking classes online several years ago, I, too, would have a notepad next to my computer. Later, I decided to go paperless and create a template for research and scratch paper. Now instead of having a notepad by my computer, I open up a Word template to store my research and my notes, and I keep it open until I am done.

       replyreport
15. 59

    yoshi97posted 13 years ago

    I come up with an idea and research the keyword (unless it's a 'just for fun' hub). If the keyword looks like it could pay well I do the research and try to combine a lot of knowledge with my own. After all, one can never know anything on a topic.
    
    Once I get all of that stuff assembled in my head I picture myself talking to someone about the topic and write down both sides of the conversation - and then omit the other person's part and rewrite - making the hub seem like a conversation with the reader.
    
    For hubs of a serious nature I keep a serious tone, but for those that are light-natured I'll write anything within the rules - and have!
    
    The important thing is to make the reader comfortable with what you are sharing and confident that you are knowledgeable enough to present the material. To that end, you must maintain confidence throughout as you write your hub. To that end, that's why I write all of my hubs as if I were talking to my best friend, as that omits all of the awkwardness with words.
    
    Once I'm done with the writing I go to Youtube and look for some videos that will back up what I said. After all, why should anyone just trust me?
    
    As I see it , people post videos on Youtube to get others to watch them and I use their videos to help get across my point, so it's a win-win. Just be certain your video keeps the tone of the material you're presenting.
    
    I have a lot more, all of which I have stowed away in my profile under my hubbing 101 group, but that's the gist of it.

    replyreport
    1. 64

       hubby7posted 13 years agoin reply to this

       Interesting process of writing down both sides of the conversation. I enjoyed reading about it. Like you, I mostly write as if I am talking to someone and explaining an idea. At other times, I'll let the writing write itself. In other words, I will write with abandon, writing down whatever words--and sometimes--ideas present themselves.

       replyreport
16. 64

    hubby7posted 13 years ago

    Hey everyone, I am immensely enjoying what all of you are writing about the process or method you use to compose your hubs. This is downright exciting. Don't you agree? Post more!

    replyreport
17. 88

    Will Apseposted 13 years ago

    I look for a keyword that will make money.

    replyreport
    1. 64

       hubby7posted 13 years agoin reply to this

       I don't write for Hubpages to  make money; hence I do not look for keywords. I write primarily to help people empower themselves through my pages. Different strokes for different folk.

       replyreport
18. 74

    thisisoliposted 13 years ago

    I just pick up a topic and write about it, hubpages is fantastic for re-arranging article layouts!

    replyreport