The Writers' Workshop: One Writer's Thank You! 100,000 Views

I began this journey exactly two years ago when I walked out of an unacceptable employment situation and declared myself to be a writer.

For the first year I set about establishing my little writing business, feeling my way through the dark, stumbling around in confusion, certain of a direction but clueless with regards to implementation of my plan. I quickly discovered that SEO content writing was an easy buck, so I latched onto that and found a steady income. All well and good, because a writer needs to eat and pay bills, and SEO provided for those needs.

However, it wasn’t until ten months ago that my passion for writing was fed the nourishment it so desperately needed. At that time, I joined a site called HubPages, a community of writers who support each other in a most positive way. It was there that I found freedom; it was there that I found my voice; and it was there that I found encouragement.

Ten months ago! Tomorrow, when I post my article, it will be my 298^th! During that ten month span I have had over 100,000 views, and to me, most importantly, I have received over 23,000 comments from those who read my work.

I am floored by those numbers. I do not tell them to you so that you will be impressed by my writing prowess, but rather so that I can voice how grateful I am, for writing to me is a personal, and interpersonal, exercise.

23,000 comments! I’m sorry if I’m repeating myself, but that number blows me away. I expected, at best, to make a few contacts in the writing community when I joined HubPages. I never guessed that I would gain friends in South Africa, Kenya, Wales, Latvia, and so many other nations. I never guessed that I would be in daily contact with people from all 50 states, and that I would form friendships that will last a lifetime.

Bev, the love of my life, is constantly amazed by the depth and length of the comments I receive. It is rare indeed when I hear a simple “great job” on one of my articles. Instead, the norm is a lengthy comment that shows depth of thought and genuine compassion and understanding. In other words, through my words I have formed a connection with people, and they respond in kind, and isn’t that an incredible thing to behold! Complete strangers who don’t know me, never met me, and most likely never will meet me, form a bond with me because of my words. I am truly humbled and grateful for this experience.

Do you want the same? Let me, then, give you the secret to receiving the types of gifts that this writer has received. Are you ready?

Show your readers that you care! That’s it….show them that their view of your material, and their comment, means something more to you than just a score on your personal tally sheet.

23,000 views and I have responded to all 23,000, and I have responded with the same amount of effort as they have given me. Yes it is time-consuming, but oh well!!!! If a reader takes the time to read my work, and then takes the time to leave a meaningful comment, then should I not do the same for them?

This is not a long article; it was not intended to be, and I don’t care if it meets the expected 1500 words that HubPages is so fond of. This article is a simple thank you to all of you who have taken the time to view my work over 100,000 times and to leave over 23,000 comments.

This is a simple thank you to those who have made the effort to befriend me, and who have shown genuine concern for me as a human being.

This is a simple thank you to those who gave me confidence and support early on when I desperately needed it.

I love HubPages! Yes, there are some things I don’t like about it, but overall I love this site.

I love the Hubbers! May you all prosper, as I have, and may we continue to find support and friendship from each other.

I love being a writer! My name is Bill Holland, and I am a writer and proud member of HubPages!

Thank you all!

2012 William D. Holland (aka billybuc)