When Hub Weeds stifle my Hubpatch
72
The Challenge
It was about a week ago when Ryan came bounding onto the forums like an excited puppy who had just found his master's slipper under the bed. "Ahoy Hubber mateys! I'm doing this challenge, who'll join me!" Attracted by his drooling salivating jaw, we followed him into the forum, lapping it up as specks of drool dripped on us every time he shook his big puppy dog head when another excited thought entered his brain. Hordes of Hubbers followed him into the forums as if he were the Pied Piper playing a magical tune. One has to wonder, if like the Pied Piper, he isn't leading us to our hubbing deaths.
The challenge was set, 100 hubs in 30 days, or for those who have a life and a job, 30 hubs in 30 days. Hundreds answered the call and took up the challenge. Little enticers were cunningly placed in the forums, comments that activitated our greed and promised hubbers of added clicks and the possibilty to earn more money. Greed gets people every time. Instead of earning your usal 53 cents, if you take up the challenge, you'll get more clicks and perhaps earn a whopping $1! "Wow! Simply amazing, I have to do it!" was the response of many. Others thought the challenge might stretch them and came up with the 'airy-fairy' bullshit, that the challenge will stretch them as a writer. Hogpuppies I say to that! This challenge ain't stretching anybody as a writer and it's definitely not making your writing improve. If aything, it's making you regress.
So, why did people take up this challenge? There are three reasons why people do anything. Gold, Glory and God. Some people actually think that this challenge is going to make them rich, so that they'll be able to give up their day jobs and work full time churning out pieces of crap that are filled to the brim with keywords, so that the actual writing makes very little sense and isn't even readable half of the time. Others do it for Glory. "OMIGOD I managed to write 100 pieces of crap in 30 days! Aren't I just so wonderful and smart!" Others do it because it's a great vehicle to bring others to the Lord and share their Good News with all and sundry who take the time to read their hubs.
But in this case, there is a fourth reason, which is why I said I'd do it. It's called Mob Mentality. It's why we have riots and people doing stupid things they'd never usually do, like breaking shop windows, pouring petrol on people and setting them on fire. Mob Mentality is what made many of us jump on the bandwagon without any thought of the consequences. They're all doing it, so it must be a good idea, so I'll do it. So, I said I'd do the 30 day challenge.
For every action there's a consequence
Like I tell my own children and the kids in my class, for every action, there is a consequence. Sometimes, we get so caught up in the action, we don't always think about the consequences. Then, when the consequences come up behind us and bite us in the bum we are astounded and amazed and often aghast. I have a sneaky suspicion, that the powers that be did not take the time to think about the potential consequences when they thought this challenge might be fun. I think initially, they were caught up in the whole Greed and Glory thing.
There were hubbers who saw past the hype and voiced their concerns. They were dismissed like we dismiss homeless people on street corners with signs begging for money wired around their necks. We were all so caught up in the moment, that we never listened. For those who came onto the challenge forum, and were a little hesitant, we all coerced them to join with our little encouraging messages, "Way to go! You can do it! So glad you've joined!" Whatever our intial reasons for joining, we got swept up in the Mob Mentality, and those who had prior commitments, or saw the flaws and didn't sign up, were left behind like outcasts, dismissed like lepers left on an isolated island, to fend for themselves in the Mob Mentality hub feeding frenzy.
Hub Weeds are choking the life out of my patch
While some people are trying to maintain the quality of their hubs they had before, many are churning out mindless crap, spamming hubtivity with nonsensensical badly-written hubs that are filled with keywords and not much else. After a week, the challenge is taking it's toll on those who take pride in their work. There is something about pressure that dries up creative juices, like a piece of kitchen towel soaks up the spilt tea. I fear that the talented and gifted hubbers in this challenge might achieve burn-out as they overwork their brain cells to continue to create under such pressure. Some are already considering changing from 100 hubs to 30 as they will not sacrifice quality for quantity.
But in the meantime, many of us have turned off the email notification option as our mailboxes have been overflowing with email notifications every time one of our fans writes a new hub. Now, we have no way of seeing when hubbers who write what we like to read, write new stuff. This affects the Hubbers who did not take up the challenge as well. I can only imagine how irritated they must be with all this. In fact, as a result, some have left the Hubpages Community. The Hub Weeds grown out of this challenge have stifled the life out of their little patch in the Hub Community.
I used to enjoy reading and commenting on hubs of my fans and finding new fans on the hubtivity. This creates harmony in the Hubpages Community. This is how we tend our little Hubpatch and maintain it so that it grows. However, all this challenge has done, has filled the Hubpatch with weeds, some of them rather toxic, so that the good plants are finding it difficult to continue growing. Some plants have become so stifled by the weeds, that they have withered and died. I fear for my little patch. I write for enjoyment on Hubpages, not money. However, this challenge appears to be a joy-killer.
This hub is dedicated to CC and others who have had the joy-killing weeds stifle their patch.
CommentsLoading...
Hey AE, I did notice you hadn't been around much and wondered if you were also getting your hubpatch stifled so I couldn't see you! What commentary? On the forum? I need to do more work on The Book, you know which one and this bloody challenge has come at a bad time.
I made up my mind tonight....I am only commenting on good hubs...like this one. I've been called names....scoffed at and belittled by arrogant, self righteous hubbers. There are lots of great writers on here....like CC.
Thanks for writing this hub. :)
fantastic, love it!
I am not exactly sure what category I fit into. My writing is so-so-, sometimes only of interest to me, but it is a place to write what makes you tick and hear from others. I hardly ever get that many comments, but it is what it is and I am happy to be here anyway. By the say did you know that was a marijuana plant in your first pic.?
dori
Love it great job,! keep the hub coming
Hey Tom, I love your work and I feel honoured that you're commenting on my hub. I do seriously think, like many spontaneous good ideas people get, this hub challenge thing wasn't thought through carefully enough. I hate some of the sarky comments I see the arrogant little pricks you mention, are giving out to the good guys like you.
LOL....little pricks....lots of weeds have little pricks....thank you....smiles! :)
LG, thanks for stopping by
Fortunerep, lol yes I do know what weed is in the first pic. Some might argue that some weed is useful!
Hey Darko, thanks for the visit and the comment!
Hey Cindy
This was a very daring hub in the sense that I'm sure you know there are those who do not share your sentiments. I for one did not join the challenge due to the fact that I succumb to pressure and I can't for the life of me churn out hubs at will. But that said, I know others can and they do in fact wallow in it, ie pressure. And for whatever reason they opted to join, I do not hold it against them. They can and chose to join, I can or cannot and decided against joining. This is a writing community after all and everybody's free to write what they want at their own pace. There's no limit set - you can write 10 hubs a day or 1 hub every 6 months. You are your own boss. What you don't have a handle on is who and how many will read
I have turned off my email notifications long before the challenge as I see no need for them. I voluntary seek out the hubbers I'm a fan of - I guess that's the benefit of deliberate fanning.
Tom, some little pricks are bigger than others lol
I get tired brain from freelance deadlines, I didn't want to get that from HP, too. HP is for fun writing.
Best of luck with the challenge, Cindy! As far as I can tell, your HubPatch still looks very good.
Cris, I guess some might think differently to me, that is the nature of life and if they are in it to win it, then good for them. However, when reading the forums and some of the comments being made you notice a growing number of hubbers feeling the pressure and becoming a little disenchanted. As you said, we are all writers here and have a right to write our views. I also turned off the email notification a while ago, but am finding it really hard to follow my favourites now through the hubtivity like I used to. Also, some stuff they are writing is not up to their usual standard. By the way, I wrote a new music hub with you in mind as I know you like listening to music!
Cindylou, that is exactly why I didn't do it.. I have only so much in me and hopefully only so much will be enuf for the stuff I want to write. I thought about doing the fertilization cycle of trees, just to get more in, but I decided against it, for the time being.. you can do it if you want. Love your courage to speak the truth.. who is making snarky comments? I would love to read them for myself!
Shirley, thanks for the favourable comment about my patch lol
Candie, I guess I'm just a little sad that this challenge thing has caused some hubbers to pack up their pens and leave. Also, there is so much crap clogging up the hubtivity, it's driving me scatty!
C- in a perfect world it would work, and people would rise to the occasion and there would be quality.. some have managed to do good work, but some of it is less than IMHO.. I try to read all that I get notified about and leave some comment. People are trying to push their own limits. Some people just shouldn't, not under pressure.
Amen Cindy! I'm an early adopter as they call it in marketing. Sounded like fun so I jumped on the bandwagon with some reservations about quality and what I wasn't willing to compromise on my own hubs.
Wrote four good hubs on the first day, then found myself thinking every day since then, that I love writing hubs and the joy of doing that many every day quite frankly sucks the joy right out of it.
The marketing side of me, finds it an interesting challenge, but thus far I've not seen anything, but lower readership and comments, an overstuffed email box, and a lot of hubs I'd rather not read.
In the end, I predict everything will right itself as we all get burnt out. It has proved to me though, on the positive side that I can write a quality hub about every day or so, instead of the usual three I previously did a week. I think we can and should stretch ourselves more, but it's equally as important to read what others write and not get caught up in so much of our own writing hubs that we lose the best part of hubpages -- the community.
Some of the quality is shyte, I agree. Oh well, if I do my 30 I do it, but am not going to kill myself trying or sacrificing quality. Also, really need to get going with this book I'm writing. Problem is, like so many others I just jump on the bandwagon without giving it much thought, yeah, sounds like a good idea. And then you think, jeez, heaps on at work at the moment, trying to write this book, ahhhhhhhhhhh, think I need to listen to Bowie and Queen's Under Pressure.
Exactly, Jerilee, I guess that's what I was trying to say and you put it far more succinctly. We are a community, we should be spending the same amount of time reading and commenting as we do writing. That is exactly it and what is peeving me at the moment, as there is stuff now that I have no desire to read and comment on.
Cindy - Great hub! I have to say that I took the challenge for my own personal reasons. I am not on HP to make money but for a personal release. I went in to the challenge trying for 100 but I am not going to force myself to do something I don't want to do. I thought it would be fun to accept the challenge but I think that because others have a different agenda it is making the challenge somewhat strange for me. So I try to do my own thing and still enjoy reading the hubbers that I have always enjoy reading and hope that they in turn still enjoy reading mine. I think this is a real eye opener to be honest with you so thanks for writing about it.
Thanks Tripletmom! I just felt that it would be good to get it out in the open and air my views. I was going to put it on the forum but then thought, it's enough of an issue to deserve its own hub.
I'm not writting, so I shall keep commenting. At some point my comments will loose some quality, with the quantity, but for now I will keep commenting with quality and quantity..all on your site.
Hi, I'm back and I see it's too soon for you to reply, so I shall leave again and return.
Hi again. this should boost my picture score immensly, not why I'm doing it.
Thanks for the honest hub, Cindy. Writing for the sake of putting up a hub a day (or ... gasp! 3 or 4 a day) takes the fun out of it, and even though I'm going for the 30 hubs, I'm finding I have to put in hours I don't have to make my hubs say something.
Hey Candie! Man, you are doing wonders for my hub visit stats lol
Hi Nana, I agree with you, you seriously can't put out a worthwhile hub with original content etc in a few minutes. It does take a few hours and I seriously worry about Everday Miracles as I think she is a perfectionist and this challenge thing is going to kill her and burn her out completely.
I know you mentioned in your hub that HP evidently didn't think this one out too well, but I read somewhere (lord knows where on here) by someone who's been here over year, commenting about how it was when they did this last year. So, from that, I take it that this is well thought out and it's part of their overall marketing strategies. Afterall, HP is a business, and likes money just like we do.
I took up the challenge to challenge myself to do more. I have been proud of the hubs I've created. If it brings me more money, all the better. I like what it has stirred up in me. I think differently. While thinking about topics, I suddenly realized I had another book in me (I've been working on one already).
I really haven't been able to read as many hubs as I'd like, but I do still try. I really haven't seen the weeds you mentioned. But, perhaps because I have already de-selected them by not reading them in the first place.
KCC, think last year they had a hub writing challenge but nothing quite like this one with the huge volumes of hubs this one is producing. I think it's the reading each other's hubs and the commenting that is being most affected, and the guys not in the challenge who do their one hub a week or every few days who are getting a little ignored that is what is wrong.
Cindy- as always, well written and great points. You put into words how so many of us are feeling about the challenge. I, too chose to do 30/60 in 30 and have tried so hard to stay true to my style. I do not want to publish crap for the sake of publishing. I planned to do that many this month neway so joined the challenge. I, like you, write here for pleasure. I've never intended to make money at it. (Which is probably good since I haven't made any! LOL) But I am glad you wrote this and I am glad you mentioned CC. At first I didn't think the challenge would have any negative effects, but now it seems it has in ways. I am losing contact with hubbers I love and can't get around the community as much either. Anyway, I guess I should stop rambling-- Great job-- I'm glad you voiced it :)
Thanks for the supportive comments, Janetta. Hope the powers that be here think about this the next time they come up with a crazy scheme! lol, but for them it is all about the money!
I imagine it costs HubPages owner a lot to keep this place running, therefore he has to produce some money, in order for us to have such a nice place where we can publish for free. I feel like this challenge may be positive for people who tend to procrastinate: it might speed them up a bit.
Regarding the hubtivity going crowded, you could subscribe to the feeds of the hubbers you like and read their new articles in a freed reader.
Hmmm, very thought provoking and pyramid building at its best I must say. One might say that CC would be honored. Pharaoh is getting richer, while the community is temporarily stifled. All will work out in the end cindyvine.
Savings Lady, yeah I could if I could be bothered to learn how to do something new yet again.
Flying Walrus, the minute I saw the name I knew, then I read the comment and I knew for sure. I luvsya.
How do you know that all the "weeds" are from people in the challenge? Do you know all of the people who are in it? There has always been a lot of crap written on HubPages...mostly by hit and run spammers and plagiarists that clog up the new hub pages. Give us some examples.
And CC did not leave because of the challenge...
I took up the challenge because I am a writer and I want to see if I can put out that much quantity when I have to. But, the second I see my quality decline I will quit. I'm already slowing down :)
Hi Cindy! I think this challenge is indeed taking its toll on people. Since I haven't published 30 hubs in the last year, I knew better than to commit to 30 in 30 days, but I would be lying if I said I wasn't tempted.
I have noticed that I'm not getting as many comments as I'm used to, and HubNugget voting is about half of what I expected. Something good may yet come of it, though. I think this may work like the hubmob. More hubs are showing up on google searches and, I think, bringing more SE traffic to the site. Even though I'm not participating in the challenge, I've noticed a pretty sizeable spike in my adsense revenue this week, so I'm guessing the people who come here via a challenge hub are sticking around and reading other stuff. I don't hub for the money (and it's a damned good thing, or I'd starve to death), but a little extra isn't hurting my feelings either.
I certainly understand your feelings. There were disgruntled hubbers during last year's Hub Love contest, too. I was new here, and nearly left because I got the idea that the contest was what HP was all about.
@KCC Big Country -this wasn't initially a hubpages idea- it was Courtney Tuttle's here on his blog: http://thekeywordacademy.com/new-make-money-experi Ryan picked it up and ran with it - you can seem him in the comments.
@Cindy I still believe that looking at the latest hubs published with the hubchallenge tag that they are on average a lot better than the usual average of hubs.
I don't really see the issue here: there have always been strong controls at hubpages (not least the flag button on every hub) which keeps the spam out - thats why hubpages do make money for people. Having other authors here read your hubs is nice - but its hardly a requirement - and makes very little difference to the money a hubber will make - readers are rarely click on ads or buy products.
Yes I do keyword research before I write hubs, now - writing for free can be fun but I am over it - this is my full-time job I need to make money to live - this is not my hobby its part of my job.
In that I don't see myself as a writer - maybe a hack journalist! But its perfectly possible to write something which is entertaining and grammatically correct in 15 minutes and makes a 400word hub - and this is a numbers game.
Many people who joined the challenge via the annoucement in the forum did so because they were hyped up by Ryan. They probably won't make the numbers they signed up to. But I joined before I saw that thread because I saw the thread on Court's site. The reason I joined was a similar reason than most of the "internet marketers" would have joined - I know that if I have a 100 hubs up I have a much better chance of making more money than if I have 10 - its a numbers game. That said most IMers I know who I am following with my new ID are basically publishing hubs which follow the capstone criteria and are just fine.
Keyword stuffing went out a very long time ago - it doesnt' work - that's why a good IMer won't do it. Write something useful which is focussed on the right keywords and you will make money, write rubbish which is incomprehensible, on a site like HP, you probably won't - in fact I generally write to a higher quality here than I do on my own sites :-)
Now that B.T. has mentioned it, I am noticing too an increase in my page views and adsense revenue. And since I don't write for the money basically, that should imply a growth in readership or at least an increased interest on my hubs - and that is fine by me as we are all here to share what we have to say, aren't we? :D
Hi Cindy what you say is so true. I would love to hear from other Hubbers who have partaken in this challenge to hear how the toll is affecting them. There is no way I can keep up with all my comments to hubbers, I really can't.I don't know whether it is because of the challenge but my comments seem to be dead lately. Am wondering if everyone is worn out writing comments.
Uninvited writer, there has been stuff posted on the forums by hubbers taking part in the challenge that feel that their quality is deteriorating, one even commented that out of the 40 hubs they'd written, they only liked about 15 of them. I'm not naming names and giving examples. I don't want to embarass people. You just have to look at some of the hub titles in hubtivity to know people are starting to produce crap. This is not a real title, but just an example. blue bear hub 1, blue bear with green ribbon hub 2, buying blue bears hub 3. I beg to differ, I've had a couple of emails from CC since he's left.
Lissie, I hear what you are saying and you are a little different as you have made a business out of it. Not all the hubbers doing the challenge have studied all the ins and outs as you have. They started off because of the hype but as they are writers first, it is killing the fun they were having before. I am not an internet marketer. I am a writer and I thought that this was a site for like-minded writers. I have no idea what a capstone criteria hub is or any of that kind of lingo.
BT, maybe some good will come out of it, but for those of us who are here for the interaction not the adsense clicks, the lack of comments is not so nice. Scrolling 4-5 pages of hubtivity to try and find something by a favourite hubber is a pain.
Cris, I started getting an increase in page views about 2 weeks before the challenge which has remained consistent. As I don't have adsense, I'm not really excited about ad clicks as it means nothing to me.
BP, some people are still trying to comment but their comments are not the same as before. Others aren't commenting at all and then there are others who are still commenting like they did before the challenge. I do think that those not taking part in this challenge are being affected. Maybe they're reaping the benefits by getting more adsense clicks from the extra outside traffic that's been reported, but if they are not here for the adsense, but are here because of the writing community, then they are going to suffer.
Yep, I agree. When this was announced, I thought (and posted) that there is no possible way to produced 100 QUALITY hubs in 30 days. Just by doing the math, you realize that this requires more than 3 a day, and if you assume 500 words a hub (which is a paltry sum, and a weak-ass hub more than likely), you're over 1500 words a day, which is a minimum requirement for a serious writer, and one that any "real" writer will tell you can require incredible amounts of discipline to produce, the results of which are not guaranteed, and, ultimately speak to the addage "a writer's best friend is his garbage can."
Furthermore (pardon me if I rant along with you), if you read the HubPages HELP page, in item number 15, you'll find the following:
"The bottom line is if you write original, useful content, your HubScores will reflect the quality and work you've put into them."
Yeah, they're ingoring their own advice. If you keep reading the Help page, you'll find this in #16:
"Note that simply publishing a lot of Hubs won’t boost your Status. This is to prevent spammers from simply dumping loads of content on HubPages."
So, it's annoying. On top of that, and I mentioned this in the forums post - where I saw you wrote this, so thought I'd come here to vent and not poo-poo too much on the rah-rah spirit of the spam-marathoners party - there are so many poorly written hubs going up right now. Word omissions, spelling errors, typos, grammatical grotesqueries, non-sequiturs, edits that don't remove all of the old words before typing in new stuff, .... just bad, quality, poorly proof-read stuff... stuff being written by writers who are normally so good, so polished and who put up work of quality and substance. So much of this stuff looks like not only was it written quickly, it was never re-read, even once, much less carefully revised and crafted with pride.
I think the additional readers BT is getting is people like ME, who, because there's so much garbage going up right now, people are going to GOOD writers and going back in time. (Yes, BT, I went back and read through stuff of yours I'd missed.) And I found a few new (old) writers I didn't know about. So, there's an upside, I suppose, but, meh.
I'm not putting anything up till this is over (which sucks, I'm just back from a few months hiatus from HP and was actually happy to be back and ready to write short, fun stuff for a while). So, I'll just keep working on my current one, and hopefully all the exhausted hub challenged people will be burnt out on writing and just want a nice, humorous read when it's past. That's my hope, and I'm clinging to it. (Sorry for the long ass rant, but I feel better. Thanks for putting up a place for me to bitch.) /salute Cindyvine
This is a well thought out Hub, and I'm in total agreeance...I have yet to hit a "one hub a day" thing, and I try never to. If I don't make 30 hubs because of quality, than I've done my best.
I joined to encourage, and yes, as you may have cynically pointed out...to stretch out, learn to ghostwrite.
lxxy
Cindy, I'm glad to read your perspective on this thing as well as the comments and differing opinions. I thought the whole scheme seemed crazy and never gave it a moments thought. Then I mulled over the concept that maybe I'm just lazy. There is no way I could produce that much content without loosing my mind.
I strongly agree....
Okay, ran across a few crappy hubs in the challenge. And, I hadn't seen any title like you mentioned Cindy. However...don't assume that everyone is writing crap. Some of the people who are writing crappy hubs during the challenge always have written crappy hubs, you can't blame the challenge.
And...like I keep saying but everyone keeps ignoring. There has always been crap on Hubpages but it does not lessen the content of those who are quality writers. When I first started I was discouraged because of all the spam and didn't see how people could find my stuff in a sea of slime, but when I realized that it has nothing to do with me I relaxed a bit...but I still flag it every chance I get.
If you think some challenge hubs are bad, flag them as such.
Shadesbreath, thanks for the diatribe backing me up. People want examples of what I'm talking about and I'm not prepared to list hubbers names and examples of their work here. But, I'm glad you have seen it as well and it's not just me noticing it. I think you are right about the extra traffic being hubbers not in the challenge reading stuff they've missed. I've had quite a few hubbers I'd never previously heard of leaving comments.
Ixxy, not sure I'll do the 30 or even if I want to. I refuse to churn out stuff for the sake of it. If I think of a good hub in this period I'll do it and add it to the challenge.
Dolores, think we all fell for the hype and after a week, the hype has worn off and reality has hit. No, you were clever, not lazy!
Fortunerep, thanks for stopping by
Uninvited, have to be honest now, I'm not reading the challenge hubs. Unless they have an appealing title, I don't go there. If I happen upon one by one of my favourite hubbers, then I might read it. Hubs on how to increase your online business all say the same thing, just using different words. It's like they read it and then write it again, maybe add in a few different sites. There's only so much of that crap you can read. I prefer to be entertained and reading about Torrent and Torrent Tips and Torrent Tips for Dummies etc is not entertaining stuff for me. But, to each his own. Granted, some people might find that very entertaining.
Cindy, this hub made me want to cry. First of all, I'm trying to find a way of dropping out without "quitting." I didn't initially intend to get involved in this challenge. My comment on twitter was along the lines of "count me out" and Ryan misunderstood me and, as he has done throughout the challenge since the beginning, revved me up.
My traffic has stayed the same, though I am getting higher quality *readers* (or at least comments). I've noticed Uninvited Writer commenting more, and Lissie commenting for the first time. LondonGirl is an addition. I am, more than *ever* here at Hubpages, feeling supported, and more than anything (and more important than anything), I'm beginning to feel like a valued writer.
I won't do 100 hubs in 30 days. Note my terminology. I absolute COULD. I COULD do 150 if I really wanted to. But I am noticing that I'm letting things go that need attending to, including housekeeping. I am still caring for a post-op kitten. I have a toddler and a husband. More than anything, and perhaps most significantly of all, I'm remembering why I haven't written a book yet: I don't like to write.
I am not going to lie: I came here for the money, Cindy. Since the changes to Adsense my revenue is dropping like a stone (and getting increasingly worse). While my traffic has stayed the same, my hubpages traffic has increased. What does that tell you? Yes! A drop in SE traffic! A couple of my new hubs are doing quite well, because I am learning the keyword research, and figuring out how to make the most of my keywords. I sure as heck hope I haven't turned out any nonsense. I have a few hubs that I've written during the challenge that I honestly don't like all that much. But you know what? That's just how I write. Out of ten articles, I'm likely to have two or three that need work. An that's how I feel about the work that I've done since the challenge started.
I think I have two that are less than 800 words. I'm averaging about 1200 words a hub. I took the last two days off because, frankly, I feel like crap. Yes, I did burn out.
But this challenge has definitely challenged me as a writer. Not to do *more,* but to do *better.* With all of the (similar to your) complaints going around right now, I get the "I'll show them!" attitude. At first I researched keywords and said "screw them!" if they weren't strong enough and wrote anyway. Then I discovered that I could do better -- I could manage to write good hubs about things with strong keywords. All of my breastfeeding articles are an example (and I have at least one more planned -- probably going to be the strongest of the lot).
This challenge has sparked an idea for a capstone (I need to e-mail the staff about that!). If you haven't read about Lizzie Borden, have a look. I believe that hub made it past 2000 words and my Lincoln hub is getting there. Neither have high-paying keywords, but enough hubs with lower paying keywords are satisfying for me, too. I am enjoying this, and I'm learning from it. But I won't be doing 100. I still think I can make 30 because I write fast and research well.
I think, too, Cindy, that I took something different away from your hub than others. I see here something along the lines of cultivating. You are working to cultivate your "garden of hubs" if you will. A few of them might direct people to purchase your book (great job just finishing two of them, by the way!). You're looking to give your readers something big, outstanding and beautiful, and some of the poorer quality "stuff" is stifling you. The challenge itself, I can understand, might stifle your creative ability, especially when you have the type of creative ability that you do (I guess I would say "more" creative than I am, in a sense).
I can't speak for everyone, Cindy. I don't consider myself popular around here, in spite of fan numbers and the outrageous page views I've had. I'm not the most "socially acceptable" person here on Hubpages. The honest truth of the matter is that I don't give a damn, either. I've come to terms with it.
But I like you. Your hubs, like frogdropping's or Janetta's (in different ways) make me smile and sometimes even laugh out loud. You caught enough of my attention that I intend to buy your book when I'm done reading everything else I have to read (and am not getting a chance to with this challenge). PLEASE do not allow this challenge to cause you to sell yourself short. You're better than that!
OMG that was long! I wanted to add that I'm not writing about... Well, the same old same old. I don't want to give away any of my major plans at the moment, but I've been doing some heavily researched historical, real-life and "true story" stuff. I love it, personally lol
Might not be your cup of tea ('specially since you aren't American and most of it focuses on my home country), but at least I hope it's not "blah blah blah," you know?
Em, thanks for the inspirational comment. Hey, you could have put it into a hub and included it in the challenge! lol Just kidding. I do like reading American stuff so will definitely try and find your Lizzie borden hub in the quagmire of hubs out there. Yesterday, I started reading a book, something I haven't done since I joined hubpages. I've decided that I need to get some balance. Allow some time for HP, some time for my writing and some time for my reading. Thanks again for the very thoughtful response. Luvya
I speak my mind, Cindy! LOL If nothing else of me is true, that is!
Just check my profile for the Lizzie Borden hub. I don't know whether or not you would have heard of the story in South Africa but it is the first media trial in American History in the nineteenth century -- still unsolved!
BC, somebody sent me the pics in the post with a magnifying glass! Lol just jokin. Good of you to sail in!
Great post. I agree that focusing on quantity, not quality, is what matters. It would be better if they had a contest for the most hubs of a certain score in a month than one based on a random number.
Great idea, Lenny! Have you thought about suggesting that?
It might be a way to better motivate the stronger hubbers around here into pumping out some of their best work!
Hey Cindy -- I made it all the way to three hubs published so far. And they weren't very good, either. You're right. This has got to have been a learning experience for some, and an exercise in futility for others.
For you writers out there, you are missing the point. I am like Lissie...I make a living online and understand (or at least think I do) as to hubpage's business model.
The best written stuff doesn't guarantee pageviews. Hubpages wants pageviews. They want the organic listings that EZA and other directories get so that they can get more traffic and make more money via adsense. In order to do this they, just like any other website, need lots and lots of content.
I am not poo-pooing writers who like to express themselves, but you hubbers have to realize that where they make the lion share of their money isn't from people running around and commenting on great hubs...it isn't necessarily the social aspect of the hubpage community....how they make money is by getting organic traffic from people who are looking for a solution to their problems.
Unfortunately, the adsense model seems to be if you give too much quality you risk giving too much information and answering the searcher's question....which means, they don't click on ads....which means no one makes money. That's it. That is the real deal.
The reason why HP even promoted the 100 hub challenge is because they know that if just 500 hubbers dropped 100 hubs, they would have 50,000 new, fresh pages for google to index....hopefully some will be good enough for them to rank (which they will).
Now, I am not a fan of the teaser/spam hubs that have virtually no value to either the reader or HP.....I think that you should be proud of your work.
I know that many people have made hubpages a community but there are even more people who use hubpages (and hubpages uses them as well for content) to make money.
I have no hate for the hubpage community. It is a great social community. I just know that if given the choice, hubpages would probably take organic rankings over community any day of the week because that is where the money is at. And marketers know and understand how to grab organic rankings.
As to quality of work, I think that that is pretty subjective, don't you think? If you are looking for an answer online and wind up on a hub page that answers at least part of you problem, don'tcha think that the person who had their problem at least in part solved or answered would consider the hub to be good?
Just my thoughts on this subject anyway.
EM, the Lizzie Borden was a great hub and now I'll be doing a little more research on that myself.
Lennie, I like your idea!
Teresa, I guess it's what you're here for in the end. The number of hubs being published I think has gone down. Maybe who started off caught up in the hype have given up. Think mostly the online internet marketer people continuing, others have rather dropped to 30.
Dr Alex, you are right, Hubpages is a business and this is obviously a marketing strategy to drive more business their way. However, for them to be a successful business, they also need the genuine writers to be writing quality hubs. The Hubpages community and the social aspect and good writing is what entices people to stay and become a part of the community. The internet marketers bring in the income. Basically, Hubpages needs both to survive in the competitive internet world. I really think this challenge is catering for the one aspect of Hubpages and causing potential harm to the other. If Hubpages was only a site of writing about online marketing type topics, I'd never have joined. But in saying all this, the hype is over and many have settled back to realistic hubbing which is good. Things will return to normal once again.
cindyvine, you said it beautifully!! you said all that I've been feeling...I've felt left out, but I just didn't think this was going to be the great profitable or fun climb so many thought, and it surely has taken the joy out our hub community. Our pages views have decreased...and the adsense has stayed about the same or gone down for most. I didn't participate and did feel like an outcast. sigh. You said it all cindy and I wish hub staff had thought about this more carefully. It's like a clogged garbage disposal...without meaning to insult anyone because I know some of the writers are working their "tales" off.
Marisue, I wrote this after getting frustrated and then reading others' comments in the forums and seeing that I was not alone in my concerns!
I had heard tale of this challenge, but I haven't aquainted myself to the forums... I like hubpages regardless. I write to write... to vent mostly about the things that go wrong in my life and thoughts I have... even the really random ones. I like when people stop by to visit my hubs but I'm not going to set a goal for the day, month, whatever.... I think that would make me just write to have something there and that would be stupid, I would sound stupid. I hope you other hubbers stay true to who you are through your writing.
I am sorry to hear about your patch, Cin D Vine, but I'm sure it will be all right :0)
Cindy, I'm not into hubpages enough yet to rise to any hub challenge :-) But it is an interesting topic.
From a writer's perspective, I participated in a similar challenge, the 'write a novel in a month' NaNoWriMo. I was very skeptical that it was possible to write anything decent in a month (50,000 words minimum) by concentrating on volume rather than editing as I went. To my surprise, under the pressure and by just pounding out words, I ended up with a pretty good YA novel that I'm editing for potential publication.
I am not sure, though, how well that sort of challenge works for hubpages because quality seems to be the main thing, and whatever is written is published right away. I heard that Squidoo's popularity went down quite a bit because of spammy posts, and I hope that Hubpages is able to withstand that sort of thing. If what Lissie and Dr. Alex are saying, that they're not allowed to publish keyword stuffed posts and they can't really get away with poor quality hubs, then it shoud level out.
From my experience, mixing internet marketing and writing is a bit like mixing water and oil. The goals of both groups are so different that it's hard to come to an understanding of why one is doing what they're doing. The writers tend to malign the IM'ers for 'making money' and the IM'ers tend to poke fun at the writers for not being concerned with making money and for encouraging quality over quantity.
I've seen a few 'wars' between the two on various social sites or blog communities. What upsets me is when the IM'ers wreck things for a particular community, as that doesn't help anyone--IM'ers included. Ah, if we could all live in peace and moderation :-P
Feeweewv, I think you have just the right attitude! I've stopped by some of your hubs and they are great!
Not telling, lol, just a little liquid and my patch will be fine again
Susan, I concur. Thanks for your thoughts on this controversial issue and the time you put into composing your comment!
flipping heck - you have a nice set of comments here! The bottom line is that good IMers don't produce crap keyword stuffed hubs, they don' t even publish the much disliked "hot Indian Aunties" photo hubs they write stuff which is useful - are you considering ready made curtians check out http://hubpages.com/hub/Can-Ready-Made-Curtains-Sa
If you want a quality second hand sewing machine you may want to check this one out http://hubpages.com/hub/Bernina-Record-830
Have you thought about saving money by biking to work http://hubpages.com/hub/Bike-Commuting
Now I know for a fact all these people are primarily writing for money - but I think all 3 examples are clearly helpful to people who want an answer to a question.
If people don't want to write that way that's fine but I am totally with DrAlex on this one adding these types of hubs is nothing but good for hubpages. Most IMers don't spend much time on the forums or comment on other people's hubs but they are probably paying for all of HP's overheads so that non-commercial hubs can still be welcomed to the community.
As I said before Lissie, I think for a site like Hubpages there needs to be a balance. I have no problem with people writing those kinds of hubs. Personally, I wouldn't click on it as the title doesn't interest me and I don't have time to read content for the sake of reading content when I have no interest in it. Our houses here come fully furnished with curtains, have no interest in sewing by machine, tried it once and sewed the pants legs of the shorts shut, and the school bus picks us up every morning and drops us off after work so am not interested in commuting by bike either., But, I understand what you are saying. And we are grateful to the IMers for paying the overheads so we can write for entertainment and have a fab community.
hey Cindy honest one is enough for me, I got lots of yours..you know... only cos they were in the open....all through your pages...I happy wit one, me like to keep em in suspense thats why I never change my errr..thing that rhymes with Mavatar LMAO. Can u decipher this secret code....roger over and out. Lool.
Cindy you took the words from my brain. I was going to write a hub called "unintended consequences" but you and the comments have said it all. I also notice that a lot of my older hubs are being read and commented on too and my recent hubs are not getting the number of views or comments that my new hubs normally get. But this is not an issue, I write for fun and enjoying playing in the comments. Classics in this regsrd have been the Crap inc hub and of course the Captain's great hub story and comments.
I sending some attachments lool be in there in 5min lool
BP, you sending over your hair extensions?
Sixty, yeah, amazing how many people have come out in support now. Janetta has written a similar hub about the same issue.
Hahah Cindy you got me on that one, I couldn't find what I was looking for, my eyeballs are opened with 2 matchsticks lolll. LAst night I never went to sleep had a lot of things to do I will get there soon I am having a midnight snack :)
Who is Not Telling damn another case I got to work on. See Cindy my detective work never ceases.
ok BP am almost ready!
Phew, read all of this one Cindy, took me half an hour, seems like a debate, but shows an underlying current of defensiveness, not to worry, I chose not to do the challenge as I could foresee problems at home.
Lets see, half an hour to read, another 75 to catch up, thats 37 hours..this will take a week hooray. Open inbox, Oh no..400 more,
Yikes, glad I didn't go for it.
Hello ladies....R. Blue will soon return....has been moving, and now has an enormous backlog of work but will try and catch up soon. OK Sin...went back and read this one....was my sentiments exactly....and since I don't write for the money.....well screw em.
Cindy there is a ghost on your page. LMAO. R BLue well hey there.Hey Cindy am nearly going to stagger to my awaiting bed if I don't see you I will catch up in morn. Gnite. :)
Hawkesdream, you are a wise lady
R.Blue, welcome to the wop wops
BP, done and dusted. See if you can find it!
Cindyvine: Thanks for writing this. I am one who is not publishing anything I want read until this is over (allowing that anything I write is considered worth reading in the first place.) I'll publish something if it's strictly for money-making purposes (which I do very little of) and I don't care if anyone from Hubpages reads it. But I write and publish most of my stuff here for the feedback and the camaraderie. My last hub was virtually ignored (by my standards), including by the people who had clamored for me to write it in the first place. That's fine, but If I'm not getting what I want or need then I am being "choked out" as you say. So, I'll produce articles for the other places I write for until the avalanche of crap is over and it's safe to dig people out. I barely even visited HubPages the last two days, and am only here right now to read this hub, as it was recommended to me outside of HubPages.
C.R., hopefully yours will get a revival when mine comes out with the link. I watched that little gem of yours get trampled over by the hubspew and knew I needed to wait. You were like that penguin that jumps off the iceberg and gets freaking destroyed by a shark, and I was that penguin who was about to jump in, and, witnessing the carnage, was like, "Dude, I'm not really in the mood for a swim."
CR and Shadesbreath, imagine if people are feeling like this after one week, what they'll be feeling like after 4 weeks. Maybe we should set up a post for non-challenge hubs!
Shades: I thought you were right behind me, man!
Cindy: I got so caught up this morning that I neglected to say how well written this was, and how it perfectly captured the prevailing mood - mine anyway - and many others, I'm sure. Thanks for writing it.
I did get wind that The Captain was going to write about the "100 Acts of Piracy in 30 Days Challenge," but we shall see.
Fuck the bullshit!
I thought about not publishing a hub all together for 30 days, now I'm considering just leaving.
CR, I quite like the Captain's idea for a hub!
Toady, Please don't go....don't go awaaaaaayyy, I want you to stay! Isn't that a song?
My hubs too, sixtyorso have not been read like normal, and there's so many hubs now from authors I normally read that I can't keep up...my god, this was a really bad idea -- I'll be glad when hub settles down, but I think many hubs will get lost in the shuffle.
I agree Marisue, it's just not as much fun anymore. Maybe Hubpages needs to decide on whom they are catering for, a writing social network community or IMers.
cindy--NO!! None of you can go. I'm putting my foot down. GT, you, Christoph, BP, my fingers will fall off before I can everyone typed here. Just suffice it to say that too much will be lost if any of you leave. Too much is lost with CC already gone. So pllllllleeeeeaaaassseee stick it out for a few more days. It'll settle down.
Hey LM, I ain't going nowhere!
Looks like I went MIA just in time....I agree with all that thinks the drive through fast food hub business is pumping out crapola.
Yeah, welcome back, Blue!
Thanks Sin!!
Oh....you got that packing done yet?????????
Yep, shipment left just over a week ago
Nobody should leave. Just work on some really fun hubs and then when this is over, there will be a nice chunk of quality reading to be done. And if HubPages were to have to pick between writers and income, I suspect they would give a lot of us who write to entertain or to express or to... something other than just generate income... give us a nice pat on the back and a "thanks for playing" T-shirt.
And Cindy, ur idea is a good one, but I have to wonder if there's too many people who normally read, cranking out hubs too.
It's a great model for HubPages... all production, no consumption. Now they just have to wait and see if what they're making will sell. I'm sure some will. No loss to hubpages if 99% of the stuff gets no traffic a month from now. They have no time invested at all. :)
Agree completely Shades! I'm thinking, it's only right that HP let us publish a hub at the end of the challenge with all our hubs on published during the last 30 days, so that people can easily find what they missed by favourite hubbers. Because even if they go to your profile, with the volume that's gone out not all your hubs will show there if you took part in the challenge. Blondepoet and I did a review on each other's books but people aren't even going to the hubs to read. Think they are too busy cranking out hubs like you said.
Tally Ho! I am two days behind on reading this cause my inbox is full! much farther behind on others :( I published my first attempt at a $$$ hub, but would have tried that anyway. The weeds are growing high. (if you need a gardener, I am half tempted to help you pick that top weed in your patch, the stress of all of this must be getting to me) :D
PM, you can joing us in pulling weeds! lol
I just wrote a hub on it and I'm going to spam it on here shamelessly. Why not, eh?
Cool Shades, spam away baby!
Both you and Shadesbreath is on to something. We should keep writing and in the end there will be some quality hubs. I am fairly new to HP and joined for the comaraderie and to simply promote optimism. I have no underlying or self-serving intentions. It's all good!
Wow, there are some really great comments going here -- it's great to see that everyone really cares about the community and the quality of the Hubs that are being published day-to-day.
However, if you choose to join the challenge and you write complete crap, even though it might show up in someone's Hubtivity it's going to end up doing just as bad as any other piece of crap Hub that was written before the Hub Challenge and that will be written much long after this Hub Challenge.
The main reason that I jumped on this opportunity was to see if anyone really wanted to push themselves to see if they could dedicate 30 days to creating some quality Hubs that once published, would most likely generate them additional revenue and would hopefully also help them become more familiar with our tools and writing online in general.
I'm sorry that some of you feel like this has hurt the community, but it's actually got me writing more than ever and I've had a blast doing it even though I'm still way behind my 100 Hub pace. It's been really fun to pull all of the stuff out of my brain and get it on paper and I also think that it's been a great learning experience for me to actually write on topics that I think have the potential to make money. It's a whole new way of thinking for me and it's already been quite an experience.
So, for those of you who are still trying to pump out some good, high-quality Hubs like me -- keep up the great work and for those of you who don't want to play along anymore, that's OK, too. It'll all be over in about 20 days. :)
As a manager it is my job to know when the means in which to acheive the end results isn't working and a new concept or path must be initiated even if means scrapping the original plan. Its better to stop it than let it continue in its current path, "to hope" everything turns out the way it was intended to. I constantly put aside my ego and think of new strategy before irreversible damage is done. I have to know when to stop the hype and when to be realistic. 20 days gives me plenty of time to find something better to do.
OO, Janetta has also brought out a hub similar to this one
Hupsy, I think each hubber has got something different out of the challenge which is all good. But this has also made the hubbers who are not here for the money a little frustrated, which is not so good. But as you said, 20 days and it's over.
Whew! I spent more time browsing the comments on this one than the hub itself! Lots of food for thought - I was on the phone with a fellow hubber last week who emphatically said she believed it was spamming to run a challenge like this one. I have been putting up a few more hubs lately in the spirit of the challenge, but for me, its an exercise to write on topics other than the ones on which I blog (don't expect to see much additional AdSense revenue though!)
GT, I think this challenge thing is already almost over and hubtivity is slowly getting back to normal and people are starting to read again. Personally, think it was an ercise in futility.
Steph, I actually think many have pulled out of the challenge as after the initial hype, they saw it was spammy and just too much. The diehard IMers though are loving it. To make an average hub takes me about 3-4 hours. How the hell can some of them produce excellent hubs in 20 minutes like some of them say?
I think once they see the slow down they will jump up and start screaming again to "come on you can do it!". I can't stand when people don't reveal their true intentions and that's what I feel hubpages management is doing. I see a drop off too, today, but that's only now.
Great Hub, Cindy
Must admit, I signed up to the challenge because I wanted to push myself - much like KCC. For me, HP is a portfolio, so a little diversity in my articles is good.
Sadly, some paid work came up, and that takes priority.
Only another 20 days GT, and we can get back to spreading a little insanity on the forums. ;)
GT, think enough negativity about the challenge has been aired to stop the powers that be doing their cheerleader thing. Hang in there, some good hubs coming out and we need to support those not in the challenge extra well.
Sufi, we can start with forum insanity today! lol
20 days is too long. They should have just done a one week challenge. That would avoid burn out and people leaving.
I agree Toady, but honestly most are fed up with it and not posting their links. Hype is over and we're getting back to normal. Hup visited this hub so I think he knows better not to try and rehype everybody.
Cindy - Already there - my HubChallenge is to drag 30 forum threads down into coversations about alcohol. Six so far!
You are probably right, GT - maybe setting the target as 30 Hubs may have been more realistic. One good Hub per day is possible, if you have a little spare time.
Love it Sufi! Have fun in the forums and don't piss off Knowles too much!
Knowles loves his alcohol, so he is a willing participant in the challenge. Some of the fundies are a tough nut to crack, but that makes it all the more fun :)
Break out the Ouzo and let battle commence!
Oh God Ouzo yeah, but stay away from Sambuca. Hmmm not sure how to spell it. It was when I was hitting the sambuca that I set the restaurant's tablecloth on fire.
For some reason, that does not surprise me. I will keep watching the BBC World Service, waiting for the headline 'South African Destroys Central Nanjing in Freak Alcohol Related Accident.' ;)
lol, that could be my daughter. She is a wild child! Wonder who she takes after? Must be her dad
Definitely - I can just about see your Halo glistening in the avatar.
Yeah, I might need to photoshop my halo back in!
Yup - it does look like it needs a polish. I long since traded mine for a bottle of Ouzo and a pack of Lucky Strike.
Lol Sufi, a man of my dreams
I have big thumbs, too, and no paunch ;)
Okay, Greece is not too far, will be right over there in a tic!
Very Good Hub Excellent Job!
mdawson17
Thanks Dawson, and may I direct you to some of the other hubs published by hubbers during this challenge that have been largely ignored....
Wow! As a Newbie the challenge inspired me. I do agree with your point of not rushing a freelancer. Very Important to not sufficate creativity with deadlines, but also Important to benefit from them.
Your writing is Perfection to say the very least. Thanks for sharing.
Thanks for your comments, KStyle and am glad you joined HP!
cindyvine, I'm a new fan to your hubs. This is such a wonderful little piece. I chose to do the 30 hubs in 30 days option because A. there is no way I have the time to write a whopping 100 hubs in 30 days, and B. I knew 85% of my hubs would be haphazardly constructed if I attempted the 100 hub goal. This piece is wonderful, and should be sent to all hubbers as a reminder that quality trumps quantity.
Thanks for being a fan AV! I'm pleased that you're also promoting quality rather than quantity!
Cindy, I *think* I agree with everything you said. So many comments to read on the way to the comments box - seems like ages since I finished reading the hub itself! ;D
I didn't sign on to the challenger. Thought it was a bad idea the day it was announced, for the same reasons you and the others have mentioned.
I *didn't* turn off notification, only switched it to an e-addy I don't use much. But only 10 days in, sheer volume prevents reading so many new hubs. This is insane! I can see why some hubbers have left or are considering leaving.
I'll stay, but won't publish any more new hubs for the duration. Been here long enough to know how many views and comments to expect in the first hours and days after I publish a new hub. The one I published right after the challenge started barely saw the light of day. Pretty much died on the vine, which is *not* normal. Therefore, I won't be subjecting another (and my ego) to the same fate until the challenge is over.
IMHO a week or 10 days would've been sufficient for this insanity. An entire month is simply **too long**. Are you listening, Hup???
JG, I don't think Hup has to call off the challenge, I think it is busy dying a natural death all of its own accord, people are reading hubs again and starting to comment. So, we shall endure lol
Oh what's been happening here? Have people left HP? I've been away for a few days and this is the first hub I've read since I got back to town...what did I miss?
FP, check out the forum about the 100 hub in 30 days challenge. This is what's got some of our knickers in a knot! Pissed some off enough to leave or suffer from burn out.
Cindy - hey :) The reason it took me so long to read/find/notice this? Refer to the hub above the comments ...
Everything I wanted to say I read on the way down to the comment box. I dislike being old news.
Your article is an honest reflection of the mood around hubpages. You've voiced what many are feeling/thinking.
Sometimes - the best things in life really do come in small packages. Diamonds simply aren't as big as bricks ;)
Eloquently written Cindy - I do hope you feel better!
And to all who continue on and strive to deliver quality over quantity - well done!
Hey Froggy, yep, a lot of hubs have got lost during the challenge, but let's be positive eh? At least there'll be more for us to read when it's all over!
Hey Cindy, great job on this hub. I must confess, I began reading the comments and just decided I won't get through them all, there are too many! So I don't really have the "flow" from the beginning of the hub all the way through the end of the comments like you do, but I want to say that I agree with you on this one.
Being new to HubPages myself, and because I always want to write for my own reasons, I didn't join the challenge. I have enjoyed my short stint here on hubpages and I would hate to see anything damage such a great community of writers and I know you would too.
So I give you kudos for writing this hub, whether people agree with you or not, they can't say that you don't care! And that's what I like about you and about this hub the most. Have a great day! ~ Scott
Thanks Scott, you're righyt, I do care about this community!
There 's too much to read and so hard to find the good stuff. Even people I am fan's of are churning out way much "how to ..." kind of stuff" or Hub page challenge stories. making it hard to be selective. I still try to followand participate in the hubmob stuff.
Yeah Sixty, I've just vowed to do my own thing and write about what I feel like. I'll probably be able to do one a day but if I can't I'm not too fussed. Prefer to just stay true to myself.
Waaaa, I want my cindy back! Please Cindy come back to us! I miss the hysterical fun lady who wrote the most fabulous and funniest hubs for us common folk. I always knew that if I was having a bad day, I could read one of your hubs, LMAO, and could go to bed feeling good again. I am looking forward to this challenge being over, so I can have my favorite hubbers back! :-)
Hi Cindy - God, I love the way you write....in any case, I did not join the challange as I knew there was no way I could turn out anything of quality every single day. I am just not that talented. As it is now I have a hub I have been working on for a week. I loved your hub and I think it was on the money. Thank you for saying what alot of people were thinking...
Cindy, I don't expect Hup to call off the challenge. My last comment was only a suggestion to never throw another 30-day *anything* out there again. It's just too long for such a large group, and seems to have generated more bad feelings about HP than good. Might've been better if Hup had done the challenge alone, with the rest of us cheering him on while we continued to write at our own pace. Just my two cents.
Cindy dear, I loved this. Take it from an old 77years lady (if it ain't broke don't fix it) I love the many friends that I call family on the HP but I too think I will just sit back and wait until this silly race is over. Quantity will effect the quality of many fine writers without them even knowing it. (sometimes when your out side looking in you can see---more?)
Very interesting and well written. I joined the challenge more as a way to kick my own rear into gear and get many of those written that i just haven't gotten around to doing.
What most have to realize is that it is a challanege and not required. It can be exhausting. So just see how many quality hubs you can put out in that time frame might be a better way of looking at.
Keep up the good work!
Yep there's a lot of crap being produced at the moment, I should know I'm responsible for some of it. :) I have to say that I find it hard to believe that anybody can churn out anything overly interesting in 15 minutes. (but I could be wrong)
Great hub, really funny and straight to the point, loved it.
So glad I didn't take up this challenge. Good luck to those of you who did but it's certainly not for everyone. I will never sacrifice quality in my hubs and unlike some of you geniuses (or is it genii!?)out there I just can't do quantity (at least not that much quantity) and quality! Couldn't agree more with this hub Cindy, but best of luck to all of you in the challenge. I suspect some good (and bad, and just plain ugly) will come of it all!
Well, I should say congratulations because, by writing a Hub about how stupid the HubChallenge is, you probably got more comments than any of the Challengers! Way to get your Hub in the weekly newsletter! I've yet to get one there, I think, 3 years later!
I took up the challenge because sometimes I need a little prodding to get my writing jumpstarted again... I get in little modes where I just started writing a lot all of a sudden, and I'm proud of what I write. I've taken this opportunity to answer a lot of the questions posted by Hubbers, so I like to think that my Hubs are meaningful :)
I'm relatively new to hubpages and I took up the 30 in 30 challenge mainly to force myself to go through each day thinking about interesting events or topics I could write about later on, after work, if I had the energy left. I wouldn't mind making money on hubpages, but I don't think I'll be able to quit my day job anytime soon. So far, I've made $0.81 in four weeks. I also can't bring myself to write about things that I'm not interested in, just for popularity sake. Several of my hubs have barely been read at all, much less commented on. I'm cool with that. This writing experience is all an adventure to me and the more I learn along the way, the better.
I have given up trying to read new hubs which I used to enjoy. Some of the new ones from the challenge are frankly not worth reading. I am sorry this happened. Your hub is great! Thanks
i was so glad to see your hub. i would have missed it had it not shown up as a featured hub. i did not join the challenge. i don't have that diversity in me at this time. also, i just knew my writing would have suffered and i don't need the stress. having said that, i have felt left out and i was glad to read your hub. thanks for saying what i was thinking.
There is one other factor that you've left out: motivation.
I had about 12 hub URL's claimed, and haven't done anything with them. They've been sitting there looking rather neglected. I figured now was a good a time as any to finish them.
Also, I've not concentrated on other peoples efforts. Or lack thereof. People will make crap no matter what their incentive. The thing I like about the HubScore algorithm and the flags that HubPages HQ have in place is it actually filters out the crap. If people think they can copy and paste a hub AND try and monetize it with third party affiliate links, it ain't happenin'!
Besides that, what others do has no effect on my output or quality.
Whikat, I have still been writing some normal cindyvone type stuff, check out my profile and my latest hubs. You ,ight have miseed some of them in the challenge!
To all the others who've commented, I feel awful for not writing a little personal comment to each of you as I normally do, but I'm running out of time and have to get ready for school. 6.10am here now. Thanks for dropping in and taking the time to leave a comment and air your views.
Darkside, everybody has a different motivation, but for many of us here reading and comments on people's hubs is what makes Hubpages the place we choose to be. This challenge has made it hard for our community to continue doing that!
Hmm. I agree that some people who aren't already skilled writers may be doing spammy things and keyword-stuffed entries, though I haven't seen any -- this may be because the people I follow are few and well chosen. I have been seeing some Hubs on topics I wouldn't read from people I follow, but I do what I always do -- click, look at the title, decide on topic if I want to read it and go to it only if I'm into that topic.
I disagree that it doesn't improve writing quality.
It does in the long run. I have accepted that not all my Hubs will be of the quality of my best Hub, but one of the things I do constantly is try to raise the bar on the worst so that when those moments of finite perfection happen and an article comes out better than all the rest, my articles on average are generally better than they used to be.
I enjoy writing challenges.
I know many people who can improve dramatically from having deadlines or trying to do it fast enough they don't have time to get self conscious and decide not to post at all.
It's a skill and it takes a while to learn. I may just have more patience for those who are still learning, but I haven't seen these problems with it and my email box isn't exploding too badly. I get only one notice per writer I'm following and it bumps up with three or four replies if I don't click on it right away. I guess if I were following a great lot of people it'd get overwhelming, but I don't.
I've found it stimulating and what it has done is given me a new way to look at topics and get more specific in my articles, focus on one brand of colored pencils instead of colored pencils in general, that sort of thing. Examine specific things in more depth and provide more specific tips on things. I'm doing rants too, but my readers like my rants so that's not a change at all.
What a good read. I enjoyed it, thank you. I'd like to read the comments as well but I'm gonna be busy writing. There is more content in the comments here than all my hubs combined.
Robert, it's great that it has worked for you. I think this challenge is fine limited to 30 hubs, but it does depend on the individual. I don't think that churning out 100 hubs in 30 days, where you are spending 20 minutes on a hub and writing only 200-300 words will be improving your writing. People doing that are doing it for the money - wow 85 whole cents or whatever. Exciting stuff!
Jonsky, yeah, the comments have as many words as a couple of the 100 hubs in 30 days people's hubs altogether! lol
Most of what you say is true cindyvine, but I think you and some of the others have risen above turning out 'crap' and the reason I havent turned off e mail notifications is because I would like to know when these hubbers come out with fresh offerings. I just dont visit the rest or skim through the first few lines.
Of course, since I spend more time commenting...I have stopped writing myself :P
Thanks Diana, it's great that you have continued to comment. You are a light in the darkness!
this challaging is owesome, but I don't think so to write 100 hubs in 30 days. but nice to try.
So are you trying it Prasetio?
I agree that the Challenge has spoiled my enjoyment of HubPages, because the daily Hubtivity is just too long to catch up on, the forums have gone rather quiet, and I've had to turn off my email notifications.
But it's also true that the social side of HubPages isn't what makes money for the site - and we should all care about the site making money, because we all want it to last forever!
However, I do think some Hubbers are missing the point about the challenge. There's no magical bonus if you reach the target, and the articles themselves don't have any special or extra earnings potential. The new articles will do exactly as well (or as badly) as any of your existing ones - it's just that you'll have more of them. That, IMO, doesn't justify the annoying hype surrounding the challenge.
Exactly Marisa! I think many hubbers taking part in the challenge are under the mistaken impression it will improve their earnings!
Hello, cindyvine! Thanks for clarifying all the stuff I was hearing about since I came back from hols! Pretty interesting comments, too, so good read all in all!
I see there are more than a few great hubbers who have decided not to publish anything until this challenge is over. To them I'd like to say, "please don't stop publishing because there are some of us here who love your stuff, and that's what we want to read, not the mass produced challenge stuff!", but of course I'm not really confident they'll read this comment, so... Laugh!
I came back from my trip with a few ideas for hubs describing my travels. Guess I have to rethink when to publish those... not that I'd be able to produce THAT amount of stuff (even if it where shyte!) so quickly. I have people to see, lover to do, beers to drink... in short, a life!! Laugh!
lol Elena! You did miss all the hype but I think things are already slowly returning to normal. I look forward to reading your new hubs!
Interesting hub, Cindy! I have to confess this is the first hub I've read in ages and I guess I never realized how many folks are here for the social aspects. I mostly just concentrate on producing hubs and make occasional visits to the forums. I rarely actually read hubs because I'm etiher busy writing one or working on one of my other websites.
I signed up for the HubChallenge because I work better under pressure and it seemed like a good way to kick myself in the butt to do 30 hubs in 30 days. I could never do the 100 hubs challenge. I just can't churn them out like that (and I have other sites that can't be neglected for a month). I usually spend a couple of hours on each hub.
My intention for this challenge is definitely to improve my earnings. I agree that people's earnings won't increase just becaues they are pumping out the pages, but with careful attention to keywords and topics that have performed well in the past, it is quite possible to make a significant difference in income. But I expect it will actually take months before the real results can be seen.
Well, if you hardly ever stop off to read hubs and comment Em, then I am honoured that you stopped off and commented here. I think what this challenge has brought home to many is that there are two factions in Hubpages. The money-hungry and the socialo lot. Some try and do both.
Oh my God! This hub is a hundred. And Gee, fore very action there is a con sequence... :) Scheduled for later reading tonight. Thanks.
Enjoy, Haunty!
Oh, I see, this is the one that got a 100 score!!!! Congrats!
Cindyvine, you hit the target. I side with every word of yours even if my opinion doesn't count. When I saw the challenge I just frowned sceptically and my hands were itching to comment something like "quality for quantity" or "what do you need it for, people?". But I didn't write anything. First of all, I was trashed enough here for "incorrect" opinions, secondly, even in real life I usually don't enter into arguments, because you will not prove anything to people blinded by certain agenda.
I just write and publish here for mere enjoyment. I appreciate very much if people comment on my hubs. I read only what I choose to read. Even if I don't comment, I always rate a hub I've read. I accept positiveness, I reject negativeness. Without fighting.
I appreciate you very high. You are special, as there are so many really special people here. You don't have to be an expert to see if there is a soul behind the writing. We are our own masters. We are choosing for ourselves what to eat, what to read, with whom to be friends. We just have to make wright healthy choices.
Thank you!
Hi Cindyine, I can certainly see why this hub scored 100. It is well written and I love your observations your honesty and your ability to accept views that may differ from your own. Congrats on your great score and on the fact that you reached 300 fans too! :)
Jen
ReuVera and Jen thanks for dropping in and taking the time to read my hub and comment! I enjoiy writing and sharing my views and ideas, almost as much as I enjoy reading other's ideas. For me, and I think many others, it's the whole interaction thing going, that makes Hubpages so special.
Hi cindy, thanks for writing this one. And all the comments from everyone was "enlightening" of sorts. I believe many needed to air out whatever feelings they have inside about the hubchallenge. When the challenge started, I could feel it in the forums, the air of pressure and excitement and feeling of rushing. So I deliberately stayed out and made sure I didn't get suck into the vortex of "panic", at least it's panic for me. I know it's not panic for some. Hehe
I just want to ask all you guys who are not happy with the challenge to please, please not delete all your hubs okay? For some people like me, I take time to read esp. since I am not on the internet a lot. And it makes me sad to see the hubs gone.
I too enjoy the interactions around HP that is why I understand what you guys feel. I said yes to the 30 hubs in 30 days but have vowed to not let it get in the way of quality. And if I feel tired from work, I don't write. I'm 4 hubs behind! LOL And I don't mind.
And I still take the time to read and comment like before. :-) And if you have time, do read the hubnuggets also.
I agree Ripplemaker, people who want time away from HP should not deete their hubs.
http://theederfblog.blogspot.com/check out my blog and click the advisements
Well Ederf, why must I click your advisements? What are you advising me about?
Sheesh, Ederf...
Cindy, this is the first hub I've read in a few days. The challenge is not the only reason, as we had a family tragedy which has kept me away from the computer.
That said though, I have felt the same way about the challenge but have not voiced my opinion as many of my favorite hubbers are participating. Sadly, though, I really haven't been following them as I normally would since I just can't keep up.
I fully agree with all you have said, and you write so well with such a nice flow. I applaud those who are part of the challenge and striving to create quality hubs rather than just churning out keyword-rich junk. However, I really can't wait 'till its over - I enjoy the hubpages environment much more when it's in 'normal' mode.
Thanks for this!
RooBee, sorry to hear about your personal tragedy - hugs to you from China ((( )))
I jumped in too fast, too early, and burnt myself out after writing 9 hubs. Like you said, "There is something about pressure that dries up creative juices..."
Exactly Futonfraggle, just take a break, have a glass of wine and relax. Read a book, some good hubs and those juices will flow once again!
Well well if this isnn't an interesting place to be on the internet. All these readers repplying to this post. To me writing a hundred hubs was just two much for me so I did not take up the challenge. I suppose if I had taken it up I would have had all these hubbers here visiting my hub. I often wondered how some hubs attracted so many visitor's posting comments when mine can barely get one or two. Is this the secret following the chalenge.
Ah Juliet, I think the problem is that with the challenge, many hubs have just got lost!
I remember it from last year, wasn't impressed then and am similarly unimpresed this time around. When somebody wants you to do something, more often than not it's not for your benefit, but somebody's, or in this case HubPages'.
Yeah Paraglider but you need to have good interesting hubs to read to attract visitors so that they sign up to hubpages and stay and increase the community. This challenge is making people write hubs that are a bit spammy all online marketing stuff and so pumped up with keywords that they ain't fun to read. That's not kind to make people pop in and stay.
Hi cindy, It does look like this challenge may be running out of steam , my email count has dropped dramatically since it started. I'm wondering if Hubpages has commented anywhere on the effects this has had on their views. Can anyone let us know ?
Ah Ag, I don't think they'll comment on that. Hup just commented in the weekly newsletter that 1000 hubchallenge hubs had been published already and that he had already made a few dollars etc. Not too hypie as I think he does realise as he also put in a link to this hub to show how some hubbers are getting annoyed.
Cindy, this is the first Hub of yours that I have read, and it is a good one! I admit when I saw the challenge on the forum I thought (even though everyone was already well into it) I'll jump in and do 30...simply because of the "mob mentality" and, to be honest, I wanted to "fit in." But then I came to my senses!
Hello cindyvine I had started a Q@Alast the other day asking if others had noticed that those who were not involved in this challenge were not get traffic on their hub-site (As I have noticed)! In return the response I got was flat outrage and anger! I even lost a fan over it! My writing has never been insulted like this! The challenge was put out there and know it casing Huber's to want to leave or just not like hubbing anymore! My personal email has been slammed with notices of fans with published hubs and more than 3/4 of them make no sense!!
IS THE THIRTY DAYS ALMOST UP???
MDAWSON37
30 days is only half way, but don't worry Mdawson, the challenge is almost a thing of the past and is fading rapidly. It's a bit mean of people to stop being your fan though!
Lisa, I'm still trying to do one a day but if I don't I really don't care lol
Thank u Cindy :D
Roobee, hope you managed to put your feet up and relax the weekend
You should join Xomba. It has its crap writers but some GREAT ones too and they make more money than you do (if the amounts you suggest are correct). A couple of members admit to making $3000 a month and that is verified!
Thanks Dick, will check it out
I did not accept the challenge for most of the reasons you stated it was a bad idea, and I totally agree. I feel like I'm pretty good at putting my thoughts to paper (when I want to) but I wasn't about to start writing "crap" just so I could say I did it! Anyone can write a half-assed article in just a few minutes, and most of the people who write crap are so sure of themselves that they aren't even smart enough to use spell checker! Like you, I don't like wasting my time reading something that reads like a 3rd grader wrote it, and I'm seeing a good bit of this kind of writing since the challenge began. I will not leave hubpages because I did not fool myself into believing that I could actually produce quality material writing at the pace you would have to write to "complete" the challenge. I will continue to write as usual. I will only submit "quality" articles (regardless of the subject matter), and I will do it all without stressing myself to the point of wanting to quit, simply because " I know myself and my limitations" and I do not let others talk me into doing something I know I can't do right! I have only written two articles on hubpages since I joined about five weeks ago and don't know when I will write another, but I can promise you this; they are and always will be "quality" articles that I can be proud of regardless of who reads them!
Spymaster, it seems that there are many who feel as we do. We just have to hope that it continues to slowly run out of steam.
I get your point and it is well taken. I am not certain though if I entirely agree. I'd rather have my students writing than not writing at all. Also, being a part of the hubpages encourages hubbies to read, which means learning. So while I empathize with your perspective and frustration, I vote for go ahead and write. I have deleted hubs that I am not thrilled with, I have gone back and edited some others and will continue trying to improve as I encourage other hubbies to do. I am also learning so much from others. It's almost always a catch 22 in life. Maybe I'll fall into a good patch once in awhile.
Trimar, I agree that it's good to write rather than writing nothing, but some of the hubs that came out of the challenge weren't really practising the craft of writing. They were all about attracting search engines and adsense clicks.
hai Cindy! Just getting to this Hub directly from my inbox and I have to say, you really made your point. The Hub Challenge may be good for some writers, but for others, not so good. I have been so worried about my fave writers and I was hoping that this 'challenge' does not burn you guy's out. I am selfish, in a way, because I did not want quality to suffer for quantity. I agree with you in that I am having trouble following the hubvitity because of the 'spam' created by this challenge. Writers like CC, (you), Chris A, GT, KCC etc. is what made for expertly (yes, expert) hub-reading follows for me. Now, I am sifting though 'fog' trying to be faithful and it would seem now, 'accidently' happening upon some 'rushed' work. -sigh- I cannot wait for this to be over, I miss the 'old hubvitity'.
However, I do support all of my faves who have taken this challenge. Maybe next time, HubPages will think it through before doing something like this again.
AIDY, you know out of everything bad comes something good, and I think the good is that HP will have learnt a valuable lesson.
Hi,
I am new comer of the hub pages. i read the article about your knowledge sharing the challenges. i really appreciated and benefit for others who uses the hub.
Thanks Jazdmarket?
Cindy, you are such a gifted writer that it takes my breath away.
"OMIGOD I managed to write 100 pieces of crap in 30 days! Aren't I just so wonderful and smart!"
All I can say is ROFLMAO. This is not the best line in the lot above, but it certainly caused me to spray my morning coffee all over my monitor. (looking for someone to send the bill too btw...j/k)
Two words....YOU ROCK!
Why thank you Master Trooper, you are a pretty hot rocker yourself.
You people surely are professionals at this writing business. Do you work or you just work on the internet. I try but it is so time consuming. I suppose it is because I have a regular job.I really cannot get caught up in this 100 hubs challenge.I do try to write a piece now and then that I find interest in at present I am looking at the freemason society
Well, THANK YOU! I'm a newbie and aside from being intimidating, this hub challenge did seem to inspire alot of garbage that had me wondering if that's what it takes to have any measure of success (whatever THAT is) on this site!
yEah Juliet, read your hub on that and you're doing great research. Check out the knights templar and see if there is a connection between them and freemasons. Also, think is it the mormon or one of thos religions is based on freemasonry. Guy who started it was kicked out of freemasonry, so started a religion.
LR, most hubbers here don't want garbage
Cindyvine, thank you for this hub. I thought that I was the only one thinking I made a mistake. I do not only write for hubpages, but I have been asked to write for examiner.com and about ten other places. I am finding it hard to keep up with even the 30 hubs in 30 days. I still have a full time J.O.B., two children under the age of eight and a husband that I do not see much because I am trying to get my writing down after work and on my days off. I have almost given up on this challenge. However, I have gotten the mind set that if I do 30 then I do 30, if I dont, I dont. I was also pulled on the bandwagon thinking that it was a mistake, but thought, hey... why not. Well, why not is that I am getting burnt out and I am not getting any more money than I did before. I am also feeling that I have not been putting the best foot forward on this hubbing. I will be going back after my hub challenge and review my hubs. I will be only keeping the best and deleting the rest or rewritting them giving them a new life. Thank you again as always I love to read your hubs.
It is sad to find out that someone or a bunch of hubber left. This is the best only because you are all here. I hope that all that have left come back. :(
Cindyvine wrote: "Why thank you Master Trooper, you are a pretty hot rocker yourself."
(Blushing)
All those comments I hope you read mine. I am new...I just learned of this great writing sight and thought I can do that. I am NOT here for the money although it does make one feel like they are appreciated...I am here to learn what is going on in the REAL world.
I never thought I could do the challenge...so just was sitting back and reading...I think you are right. We all get all charged up! then the reality sets in...
I love your hubs and hope you keep up the good work and art on yours...makes it yummy to read!
WW, you just need a few days rest and you'll be all fired up again. I'm sure many who left will return as this honestly is the best community!
Trooper, aw, bet your wife tells you that all the time so why you blushing?
TCM, I ain't going anywhere and plan to keep on writing!
Holy cow, it took twice as long to read the comments LOL...and they were just as interesting as the hub! I do agree Cindyvine, I didn't take the challenge simply because I'm not that dedicated (I think anyway) and even if I started strong, I'm not sure I could finish. Not saying I have much of a life, but what I do have takes up emotional time, if you get my drift. At any rate, I didn't think I had enough left over energy to dedicate to writing quality & quantity.
I did, however, notice the influx of alerts in my email box, and to be honest I haven't been able to keep up with my favorites, let alone browse the selection the way I used to.
Thoroughly enjoyed your hub, well written, succinct, and a whole lot of other adjectives lol. Thank you for putting to word what a great many were thinking...always enjoy your stuff!
Thanks EL, yeah, some of the comments were interesting and others enlightening!
thanks for sharing
Happy everyday…………
You and I were sharing
I like girls, like the pretty girl
so I am willing to collect their photos
and share with you
Oh thank you Niangbo, it's so kind of you to share your pretty girl photos with me. I'll pass them on to R.Blue
This makes me feel kind of bad for everyone doing this challenge. As if I wasn't sorry for you already...
Aw AJ, you don't have to feel sorry, it's almost over bar the shouting.
Here's a different tack. I've written 6 hubs. One of them has more than 99,000 visits as of this morning. It could hit 100,000 in the next day or two. Another has over 80,000 visits.
In the process of doing that some people have reversed their cancers.
The best to you.
Kelley Eidem
Together we csn cure cancer - one person at a time!
Wow Kelley, that is awesome, how do you generate so much outside traffic?
Wow I spent at least an hour reading all the comments on this hub. I should get a special medal for it! :)
I am glad to see so many people voicing their concerns over the Challenge. When people did it initially, they got rotten eggs thrown at them, and either converted or got heckled out.
Hopefully this convinces HP not to do something like that again.
Still waiting on that medal ... :D
While I will be the first to admit that I looked to see who else had joined the challenge before taking the plunge, I am doing it just to see if I can.
I am unable to write one every day because of other commitments - but when I was introduced to hubbing, I was at a personal low point. very low ...so it was great to find acceptance, encouragement, and (wonder of wonders) praise for my writing - a balm for my soul, if I may wax poetical.
I was a little short of praise at the time, or of feeling the least bit praiseworthy.
I enjoy Hub Pages, and the new outlet for creativity it has afforded me. I work hard to maintain the quality and integrity of my hubs. I don't want to be lumped in with some of the schlock and drek I have come across out there.
I, too, agree that there was schlock and drek out there before the challenge, but I hear your warning, cindyvine. Sometimes we don't look before we leap. But I see this as a challenge to try to write 30 (quality) hubs in 30 days, and I find it both exhilarating and damned hard work. Whether I can achieve this depends as much on the whims of the interruption gods as it does on my willingness to burn the midnight oil, but I plan to do my best to achieve the magic number.
I did manage 3 in one day - and then had to take a break, because life intervened along with the beginnings of temporary burnout, but when all is said and done, I will be able to say, "Wow, I can't believe I wrote that many hubs in 30 days." ...and I will be proud of them and proud of what I achieved.
Thanks for raising these questions. I believe it is important for us to know why we undertake something, and to understand the consequences (or at least know that there always will be consequences).
I agree CindyVine, I choose not to participate in the great Hub Challange...Nice article and thanks for supporting the feeling many of us may share on this issue. I'm not trying to be a party poop but, HubPages draw those of us who write for fun and not for challange...
Nancy, yeah, think there are a lot more who write for fun than they bargained on!
Great hub with many good points. The mob mentality remark is probably about right on the money. I did not take up this "challenge" because I knew I was not capable right now of cranking out that kind of work- not good work anyway. Maybe if I was in a certain space in my life without many commitments and lots of quiet time....maybe...but even 30 hubs in 30 days is alot (at least to do 30 GOOD hubs)
Thumbs up!
Thanks Dorsi! This challenge did turn HP on its ear a bit, but luckily seems back to normal now.
Cindy I did not do the hub challenge because I just didn't have the time. I was also caught up in the 3Gs but I guess the main reason I could not follow it up was I knew I couldn't waste so much time on the hubs this month.
Initially I used to enjoy commenting on hubs, but with close to 40 hubs pouring in each day I just delete it all. I can't possibly sit through 40 hubs each day for a month.
In the process I am sure that I have missed a few great hubs...Like I almost missed this one!
Well Cashmere, glad you found your way here in the end!
Throw another shrimp on the barby
Think we'll crack open a bottle of wine, Blonde?
la la la and hohum
- How to make homemade Chinese dumplings
Chinese dumplings are also known as jiao zi (pronounced jowdzer). They consist of a ground meat or vegetable filling wrapped in a thin layer of pastry that is folded in pleats on the one side. Jiao zi can be steamed, boiled or fried and is best... - 5 weeks ago
- Child-friendly Beef Wellington Recipe
Beef Wellington is beef fillet coated in pate de foie gras (liver pate) and chopped mushrooms, and wrapped in puff pastry and then baked. The origin of the Beef Wellington is unclear. Nobody seems to be sure if it was named after the Duke of... - 6 weeks ago
- Forget the cha cha cha, try the chi chi chi!
Forget the cha cha cha, try the chi chi chi! Build your life brick upon brick. Live a life of truth, And you will look back on a life of truth. Live a life of fantasy, And you will look back on delusion. From "The Daily Tao," by Deng Ming-Dao... - 4 months ago
- Getting rid of clutter
T.R.A.M. Every now and then it’s good to have a big general clean-up. It’s amazing how quickly we accumulate clutter. Clutter makes our lives chaotic and causes mega-stress. Clutter can exist from bad relationships, a crappy job or piles of... - 11 months ago
- Building an attitude of gratitude
What you put out to the universe you get back Someone once told me, “What you put out to the universe you get back.” How right they were and still are. If you want people around you to be happy, then you need to be happy first. If you are... - 11 months ago
- Working to a budget
Since you’ve just cleaned out your closet, part of getting your life back on track after a break-up is sorting out your finances. Many of us spend way too much and acquire debt like Paris Hilton acquires designer sunglasses. Continually... - 13 months ago
- Top Hangover Cures
It goes without saying that the best hangover cure ever is not to drink yourself into oblivion. Not all drunks are created equal. Your size, shape, gender and genetics dictate how fast you succumb to the forces of alcohol. When dumped or... - 13 months ago
- Dumb Diets vs Eating Smart
There is something about the word ‘diet’ that makes me want to rush down to the nearest bakery and stuff myself on delicious pastries. In my mind ‘diet’ means eat less and die. I know that’s not true, but every time I have tried a new diet... - 14 months ago
AEvans Level 7 Commenter 3 years ago
I am fried Cindy and I am horrified that CC left , I e-mailed him I hope that you get a chance to read the commentary. I am only doing 1 day and sometimes that is complicated, this is hub is a wonderful awakening.