Purely Personal

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   MelissaBarrettposted 12 years ago

   I would like to write a couple of hubs about some of the biggies that have shaped my life... Is there a category where this is acceptable without getting the big old "Purely Personal" flag?

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      Brooke Lorrenposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I think that you could definitely make those kinds of hubs, if you wrote it so others could relate to it.

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      mistyhorizon2003posted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I reckon you should be okay. Purely personal hubs might be talking about stuff you have done that day, a kind of diary if you like, e.g. 'I had toast for breakfast', or 'here are pictures of my new baby' kind of hubs! I have hubs up on my experiences living with a control freak, losing my first Husband to bowel Cancer, about my dog dying, even on the story of losing my virginity etc etc. Each of these carried enough of a message as guidance to others that I feel they would not be considered 'Purely Personal', and as they have been up several years I don't think they can possibly be a problem, plus all of them have generated stacks of comments independently of one another, and also from readers outside of HP.

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2. 71

   Cagsilposted 12 years ago

   Define "biggies"?
   
   I mean I wrote a hub about my father, which dealt about my childhood, which might fall in the category of purely personal? But, it's never been flagged for such.

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   1. 58

      MelissaBarrettposted 12 years agoin reply to this

      I want to write a hub about my son's death and a couple about my experiences living with a "nice guy" abuser.  I've never written about either and it would be 1. A healing thing for me and 2. Might help others in the same situation.  They aren't likely to be money-makers though, so I'm not sure HP would be overjoyed about them cluttering their server space.

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         jcmayer777posted 12 years agoin reply to this

         What if you wrote them from an informational or how to perspective?
         
         How to escape an abusive relationship...and told your story with tips and ways to get out, spot abusers, overcome battered woman syndrome, etc.

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      2. 71

         Cagsilposted 12 years agoin reply to this

         I don't see a problem with those types of hubs. The "nice-guy" abuser type hub can go under abuse and/or relationships. I'm not sure if there's a category under parenting- loss of child?
         
         Or under: http://hubpages.com/topics/education-an … ience/3861
         
         Life experiences can in the above link can be used for a lot of things that might be considered purely personal. I guess it's the format of writing that will determine that. I'm not sure though.

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   kmackey32posted 12 years ago

   I have written about my abuse relationship and my grandaughters death and nothing has been flaged. I do not understand why you think it would be?

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   Lisa HWposted 12 years ago

   What's been generally said about "purely personal" is if the only one who'd get anything out of what is written would be someone who knew the writer.  I'm not in a position to say exactly what would be "acceptable" or not, but I've written some first-person/experience pieces.  They can be done either as creative writing (a story), or they can be done from an angle like, "living with a 'blah blah' spouse" (sharing what you observed, figured out, experienced, with the reader).  It's been said that if something offers the reader only "entertainment value" (for lack of a better term, considering your subjects) is OK.  I've seen many, many, first-person stories about people's serious personal experiences.
   
   I think you may just want to figure out what approach your stories will take (creative writing or sharing with others who may want to know about what someone in a particular situation may deal with, or has dealt with), and present them accordingly (and in the right category).  Sharing what you learned, studied up, figure out, etc. can help make the difference between "just a personal story" and a story that offers readers real insight to the situation.
   
   Your stories are about important subjects as far as I'm concerned (and a lot of other people are concerned).  You're not talking about writing about your day shopping with your best friend.  Even the Google guidelines mention someone's writing about a subject with he's "intimately familiar". 
   
   So, while I can't speak for HubPages, based on what I've seen as far as Hubs go (other people's and a few of my own), I think you ought to just write the stories you have in mind and figure out which category you'll aim them for. Writing from angles like "living with loss" or "living through abuse" or "dealing with the ______________ (fill in the blanks) that comes with living through _____________" might go into something like the mental/emotional health categories.
   
   Honestly, besides all those Hubs I've seen about people's very difficult situations/events, I've seen some that are pure fluff and blog-like, and pretty much purely personal, as far as I can see.  They're up.   I think you ought to write your Hubs.  Worst case, if they end up being called "purely personal" you take them down and post them somewhere else where there won't be a problem.   (Besides, even if anyone flags them as "purely personal" there's a good chance HP staff won't see them as too personal or want them down.)  I think you should write them with the reader in mind, but write them your way.

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   wildernessposted 12 years ago

   Will no one other than your family and friends be interested?
   
   Are you going to simply tell us all what you had for breakfast and what time you left for work and that's all?
   
   These are the kind of things that make a hub too personal.  What you are describing should be just fine.

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   Mighty Momposted 12 years ago

   Shoot. If it weren't for personal experience hubs I'd have about 3 to my name..
   Seriously.
   
   The experiences you want to write about are "intensely" personal but definitely not "purely" personal.
   My (unsolicited) advice is to write for the catharsis and trust your talent.
   I bet you'll be pleasantly surprised at
   a) the traffic you'll attract by sharing your stories
   b) creative opps to monetize your painful experiences.
   
   GO FOR IT!

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