To Hub Or Not to Hub

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   Marie-AnneLeClercposted 13 years ago

   I first signed up 5 weeks ago and roughly published my first hub one week ago followed by 3 others. Some are brief and all do vary.
   
   Now having browsed around & reading various hubs & noting scores I feel stumped. Initially this was a place of interest to 'express' myself. I now find it a 'competitive' hothouse,& are left with the feeling of -"Not good enough."
   
   Having many professionals & scholars to compete with. I am self-educated, creative writing was a plus in my early school years.
   
   However this is not what I had envisioned. There is an overlap in the level of skill in many people.
   
   Perhaps hubpages should only be for the "Elite."

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      IzzyMposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      No Hubpages is for everybody. The more you write the better you will become.
      I had a look at the your hubs, and yeah they are too short in the main. Try to aim for at least 700 words and cover a topic you know well.
      You 'Grammar' hub is far too short, and has three spelling errors which is not a good thing if you write about grammar.
      Why do you have so many blocks of text bolded throughout your hubs? Any particular reason?
      Oh and welcome to Hubpages

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      CaravanHolidaysposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I've read your hubs and although I'm no expert there's nothing wrong with them at all - quite interesting in fact.  Don't put yourself down - most hubbers start from the same place, which is 'nowhere'.  You mention scholars - although it is good to read from someone who knows what they are talking about it can also be boring - don't worry about not being an expert, but try to make your hubs more engaging than the experts' and your hubs will be better than theirs.

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   Marie-AnneLeClercposted 13 years ago

   Hi all, thanks for your feed back I do appreciate it.

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      qwarkposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Hi Marie:
      
      Thanks for becoming a follower (friend.) :
      
      I usually read a hub written by a new friend but you have none to read.. :
      
      Soooooo...I'll just say thanks and have a great life.
      
      Qwark

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         Marie-AnneLeClercposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Reading your profile - 'misfit' you call your self?  - You just snubbed me twice now- Your no 'misfit' - You are a conceited  & 'bigoted' imop...
         Spiritual?? Noway - "spirituality DoesNot Judge the way that you do,....
         Quark examine your Ego...

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            MelissaBarrettposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            Probably not the best way to make friends and influence people.
            
            Honestly, everyone on the forums has their own personality and some take more getting used to than others.  If you have a thin skin, writing isn't for you.  Not just writing on hubpages, writing anywhere. 
            
            And there really isn't elitism here, just a group of extremely creative and *sometimes* socially awkward writers. 
            
            Calm down, and thicken your skin a little (quark is actually one of our milder members, just saying).  If you take everything personally you will just needlessly get your feelings hurt.

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               qwarkposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               Mellisa:
               
               Thank you!
               
               The only response to Marie was a "thank you" response for her becoming a follower (friend.)
               
               I always read a hub by a new follower, but she had only 2 and neither interested me.
               
               I don't know what to say... except "well gollllly!"
               
               Qwark

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                  Mark Ewbieposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                  Maybe there was no immediate follow back.

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                     qwarkposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                     Hi Mark:
                     ...beats me!
                     I never 'snub" any responder unless their responses are to me, ridiculous. Even then I may respond and let them know my intention to "snub" them.
                     I have a list of hubbers whom I think never offer anything credible or worthy of considering...so I just don't pay any attention to them at all.
                     So, I don't know where Marie is coming from...???
                     Qwark :

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                        MelissaBarrettposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                        *shrugs* In my younger years, the "have a nice life" comment would have probably made me cry.  That was before editors, children, husbands and all the other things that toughen us up. Back then I had time for a low self esteem.  Now I have that ***k it attitude that comes with realizing how big the big things are and how small the little things are in comparison.

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                           qwarkposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                           Melissa:
                           
                           ...a ***k it attitude is just about my attitude too...:
                           
                           Qwark

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            qwarkposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            Hi Marie:
            
            What did I do? : I have never gotten a response like this.???
            
            My "thank you" for becoming a follower (friend) was the first time I'd ever responded to you.
            
            Pls tell me how I "...snubbed you..." I try never to "snub" anyone. It's not my "style." Will you pls post why you think I "snubbed" you.
            
            You only had 2 "hubs" for me to read and neither, subjectively, was of interest to me. Was that considered to be a "snub?"
            
            I think you may have confused me with someone else.
            
            Pls reply.  Thanks.  :
            
            Qwark

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               Marie-AnneLeClercposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               I just got this message a whole night has passed here on this side of the world anyway...
               
               I do feel that you rejected me, simple as that.  Though I think we should just move on from here... In reply to Melisam- "writing' is Me, Has Been ALL My Life. Sensitive - Yes. Creative - "VERY".  Have a Nice Day all and I leave you with the "F---K It" Attitude...

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                  qwarkposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                  Marie:
                  
                  Well, well!  With your small minded "f**k" it attitude, I'll remove you from my "friend." list.
                  
                  You could have explained why you thought you had been "snubbed" but decided not to and take out your childish anger on Melissa!
                  
                  Yes , we will "just move along.
                  
                  tsk, tsk...:
                  
                  Qwark

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                     MelissaBarrettposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                     Wait! What?
                     
                     LMAO, that so wasn't anger... The two year old that wants my coffee and can't understand why I wont let her have it... THAT'S anger.
                     I actually thought her post was awesome.  Of course you were probably being facetious, in which case... **** it and **** *** ***
                     
                     Ha!
                     
                     Anyway, yes I am a scholar and an expert.  My latest 500 word masterpiece on the Wuzzles alone should prove that!

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                        qwarkposted 13 years agoin reply to this

                        Ok Mellisa: ... mox nix!
                        
                        Qwark

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   TMMasonposted 13 years ago

   Don't let it get you down, Marie. Your hubs are fine. Welcome to hubbys.

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   psycheskinnerposted 13 years ago

   If you just want to express yourself, just express yourself.  What other people do here doesn't need to affect you....

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   IzzyMposted 13 years ago

   OK so he is only speaking his mind, but why on Earth did Quark have to say, and I quote,"I usually read a hub written by a new friend but you have none to read.. :"?
   
   He later clarifies that there were 2 hubs, neither of which held his interest, which is fair enough...after all, this is the extreme makeover forum, but then wonders why Marie-Anne felt hurt enough to attack him?
   
   A little bit of sensitivity, people, please. We have a new hubber here who may well feel a burning desire to leave before they have reached their full potential.
   
   And that would be a shame for all of us if that happened.

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      qwarkposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Hahaha....well, if I remember, when I went to her profile page, I didn't see any hubs..and I've got 20/15 vision.
      Regardless, that was the first time I'd heard of her and the first time I ever responded to her...:
      I think my past record of over 5000 posts in the forums and only 2-3...3 day bans, speaks volumes about my respect for other forum members.
      There was no intent to "snub" Marie, only an honest effort to thank her for becoming a new "friend" and to read a hub of interest...there were none.
      What can I say?
      Qwark

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      MelissaBarrettposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      You have a very valid point Izzy.  Honestly though, her initial post was a little offensive and I believe that Qwarks was about on par with attitude.  It would be a shame if the OP left, I agree.  However, over-sensitivity is not exactly a survival trait on the forums, any forums really.  And if that statement would cause her to leave, realistically, she is not going to be able to deal with these forums.  There are plenty of people that write but don't post though.

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         qwarkposted 13 years agoin reply to this

         Hi Melissa: :
         
         If I intend to "snub" someone, they will know it in no uncertain terms.
         
         I am not bashful, nor am I going to use "politically correct"
         expressions. :
         
         I've alway been blunt, honest and direct in my responses.
         
         If my responses are presumed to be offensive or snobish, that is the readers decision.
         
         If I'm responding bluntly, honestly and sincerely and the reader is offended...tough! I'm not responsible for their reaction.
         
         I'm just being blunt and honest...:
         
         Qwark

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            IzzyMposted 13 years agoin reply to this

            It is obvious to anyone reading this thread that you did not mean to be offensive.
            
            It's maybe a pity you didn't say in your initial response WHY you felt Marie-Anne had no hubs to read.
            
            If I was new and had two hubs and someone said to me I had no hubs to read, I would be offended, but not if they clarified that by saying that the subject matter of my hubs held no interest for them.
            
            Everyone is different.
            
            I think in this forum you need to cast personal interests aside and just look at the layout and general readability of hubs, not the subject they are written on, so much.

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               qwarkposted 13 years agoin reply to this

               Hi Izzy:
               
               I appreciate your last response, but if someone decides to "follow" me (become a new friend) because they have read some of my "stuff," I ALWAYS honor their decision by thanking them and responding to one of their hubs, IF I find one that seems to interest me.
               When I went to Marie's profile, I responded to what I saw. I saw no hubs to read.
               If, somehow, some way missed them...my bad!
               I have never yet in my 2 yrs participating on hubpages, ever "snubbed" a new friend...NEVER!
               If Marie felt that I did, I'd like her to respond and exdplain her feeling to me and point out the "snubs."
               I haven't seen anything in print from her...yet.
               You and I are chatting when it should be her and me..????
               Anyway, until I know why, it's puzzling. :
               Qwark

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   thisisoliposted 13 years ago

   Don't worry about teh scores, they do not really matter.

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   Cardisaposted 13 years ago

   Hi Marie,
   
   This is my two cents.
   
   When I joined I started with cooking lessons...who wants to learn to cook on HP? NOBODY!!!!
   
   I had to learn why HP exists, what is the main objective of HP, how HP works. That said I started reading hubs by Chuck, Patty English and some others. WOW!! I realized I had to pump up my writing so instead of 'COOKING LESSONS' I do recipes, that works.
   
   I write what I know as IzzyM pointed out and I assure you I am getting better.
   
   Here five months with a Hubberscore of 93 and total views over 8000
   
   Might not be much, but hang in there and you will certainly make it!
   
   Welcome to HP!!

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   psycheskinnerposted 13 years ago

   Point made and received: do we really need a pile on?

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   IzzyMposted 13 years ago

   OMG us writers are so darn sensitive!!

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    skye2dayposted 13 years ago

    Keep writing it gets better!! The only one that can make you feel, 'not good enough' is you. SO start believing in yourself.  You were sent to hp for a reason. I think every writer has thought, 'not good enough' you are ok . God makes no junk.  Do not take yourself to serious have fun with writing, write from your heart. Plan on growing in many ways. God Bless.

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    Lisa HWposted 13 years ago

    The OP should, maybe, do some Hub hopping for awhile.  Once she got a load of some of the stuff found when hopping, I doubt she'd worry about those "professionals" and "scholars" she's under the impression write on here.. 

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       Motown2Chitownposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       You speak truth, Lisa!

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    skye2dayposted 13 years ago

    Izzy you are too funny. I like your style.

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    Motown2Chitownposted 13 years ago

    FFS, everyone, calm down!
    
    There.  Now, welcome Marie.  Don't take anything personally is the best advice that I have to offer.  I did when I first popped in because A) I'm a fairly sensitive person and B) I didn't understand some of the personalities.  Now that I've had a chance to get to know some of the folks here, I have a better understanding of how each operates.  Shoot, one of the hubbers I met early on who hurt my feelings terribly is one of my favorites with whom to banter now.
    
    So, I'd say, write your heart out, and step back a little before you get upset.  In the end, if anyone irks you ignore them. 
    
    Qwark, I keep meaning to ask...why a W instead of a U?

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       qwarkposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       Motown:
       
       Quark was taken.
       
       I was going to use it because it described me and my relative value in the "grand-scheme-of-things."
       
       A quark is too small to be seen, the universe is fulla them,it is of value but too tiny to be noticed and appreciated...on and on...etc.,etc...
       
       So I tried Qwark and it worked.

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          Motown2Chitownposted 13 years agoin reply to this

          Aha - I've been wondering on and off, and every time I ran into you meant to ask, but kept forgetting.    Thanks for the explanation.  It's pretty easy to feel really, really small in the grand scheme of things, huh?

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             qwarkposted 13 years agoin reply to this

             Motown:
             
             Yep!
             
             Easy to "KNOW!" :
             
             qWARK

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    Kristeenposted 13 years ago

    I am far from a professional writer. I am self taught. I love to write. When I started on here a little over a year ago, my scores weren't the greatest either, but I was encouraged mainly because so many people see what I write. I have a blog also, but it receivesno where near the traffic.If you want your writing to be seen keep hubbing. For me personally it has been a true blessing. I love to tell people about Jesus and here I know people who have never known Him are reading about the wonderful things He has done for all people. Keep hubbing!

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    celebritieposted 13 years ago

    As a fellow writer once told me it is best to build your own box and play in it.
    
    Because not everyone will want to play with the same toys you do.
    
    As long as you can keep yourself entertained, those who appreciate what your doing will soon want to join you.

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       Marie-AnneLeClercposted 13 years agoin reply to this

       Hubba Hubba!!!    :0

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