This is harder than I thought...

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  1. profile image0
    3 Finger Readerposted 13 years ago

    I have to admit, folks, that I'm feeling a bit discouraged right now.

    I've been struggling with my writing to some degree--I don't have writer's block, I don't lack for ideas for hubs, and I don't lack for inspiration or anything, but this is a lot harder than I thought it would be.

    I don't have the internet at home right now, so most of the time I head out to public places, like the library or a coffee shop just to use the free wi-fi and try to get things done---but it's tough.

    I find it hard to concentrate in public places because of the noise and activity, and I feel all sorts of internal pressure when it come to my writing.  I want it to be perfect, I want it to merit and retain a high hub score (though I've realized that they fluctuate up and down a great deal and there's nothing I can do about that, and I'll drive myself crazy constantly watching the scores change and the traffic increase and decrease).  I'm constantly bombarded by my inner critic, and it's driving me crazy.

    I'm unemployed right now, and it sucks.  I've been looking for work for while and there's nothing out there, it seems.  I intend to go back to school come summer semester, but in the meantime I thought I would try to write and really make a go of it.

    See, I wanted this for a long time--to be a writer and a writer only. My ultimate goal is to write fiction and get it published, and, if I'm lucky enough, to make my living solely through writing.

    But this is a lot harder, as I said, then I thought it would be.

    I'm feeling really down.  Is anybody really making any money for hubpages?

    1. xxfourthelement profile image61
      xxfourthelementposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      Although I'm fairly new to HubPages, I definitely feel for you.  (I'm a senior in college double-majoring in creative writing and journalism.)

      While I can't really give you much advice about HubPages, I do know that people ARE making money - except it's more of a supplement than a main source of income.

      I do have a few suggestions for you, however, if you really want to write full-time.

      1. Buy a copy of Writer's Market.  This is the freelancer's BIBLE.  You will learn so much just from reading it.  You can either buy a copy (which I recommend if you're serious), but you can also get it at many public libraries, since it's pretty much standard.

      2. Network.  Hopefully, you know what this means when talking about writing.  If not, feel free to ask, and I can clarify.

      3. Don't give up.  Eventually, if you keep looking, you'll find what you're looking for.  The more you try, the more likely you are to achieve what you want.  What do you write?  Different types of writing have different markets available.

      4. Don't be afraid to try something new.  If you write poetry and have never done an open mic, check out coffee shops in your area and read one or two poems.  If you haven't ever tried submitting a short story somewhere, try it out.

      I hope this helps.  If you need any more moral support, feel free to drop a line.  smile

    2. tmbridgeland profile image80
      tmbridgelandposted 13 years agoin reply to this

      I made $2.16 so far...in a month. Most of my original hubs get one or two hits every day or two. So if I want a thousand hits a day, I'll need about 1500 hubs for each click...or else figure out a better way to do this. Since I don't like social networking, it's gonna be hard.

  2. Cagsil profile image71
    Cagsilposted 13 years ago

    Keep at it. Don't give up.

    Yes, you can make money from writing, but it is difficult to do, because you have to decide "how" you want to make money from writing and that's always the hardest part.

    There are so many different ways to do it. Select a method, learn as much as you can about it and then put what you learn into action.

    Your own faith in your ability to learn is going to be your sole source of power.

    I hope that helps. smile

  3. Lisa HW profile image63
    Lisa HWposted 13 years ago

    People do make money, but it can take awhile.  I would have trouble trying to write on a public computer too.  I'm OK in public if I have my own little laptop because I'm not worrying about people wanting to use a public computer, and it's not a matter of having to sit somewhere (like the library) and be writing with someone a foot and a half away from one arm or another.  I just couldn't do it.  With a laptop you can kind of find a corner somewhere, don't have to worry about getting stuff off the public computer before leaving, etc.

    I wonder if you'd be better off trying to get the stuff in writing (either by hand or a computer), and just having to type it at somewhere like the library.  OR, what about something like researching and collecting notes at one session, maybe getting something like a handwritten outline down from notes (maybe e.mailed to yourself or else on a flash drive or disk) at home, and just polishing up what you put together at home once you're at the public computer?

    In any case, two months isn't long at all.  Don't get discouraged.  Writing aims aside, since it's a challenge to come up with Hubs for now, maybe aim for product Hubs.  They require less inspiration and can be done in a more systematic, methodical, way.  There has to be a way you can break down the steps to writing something like product Hubs that will work for you in your public-computer situation.

  4. Randy Godwin profile image59
    Randy Godwinposted 13 years ago

    Social networking is not required to make money here.  I do none and still earn a few hundred a month here.  You must pick your subjects carefully and research them thoroughly for the right results.  Using the correct keywords will help immensely!

 
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