Do You Delete Some of Your Hubs or Let Them Stick Around?
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With the fall weather settling in, I am spending more time at my laptop than raking leaves in the Great Outdoors. It seems like it doesn’t take much to entertain me, so I am content to spend hours writing and reading.
I have been writing and reading Hubs for almost six months, and I don’t see my new past time going away. What I found most helpful was the 30 Hubs in 30 Days Challenge. Since I went into this already believing I could write 30 hubs in 30 days, the results were only sweeter when this challenge was met long before the 30 days were over.
Yes, I can do this! And oh, what a feeling!
Some people don’t need the 30 Hubs in 30 Days Challenge because they already have this built-in knack to keep writing and submitting their writing. If you do have the chance to challenge yourself, give the 30/30 a try. If you’re shy, you don’t have to announce it, but it may help to write about your experience in a Hub of your own. Who knows, you may inspire someone to do it.
To do the 30 Hubs in 30 Days Challenge is supposed to be fun. Don’t force yourself to complete the 30/30 because once you get started, there’s a very good chance you would want to complete this goal. If you quit for any reason, you can always set another goal. There is no “right” time for the 30/30. What you want to learn is what it really takes to get you writing.
Learning the writing process of setting goals and accomplishing them is all about you.
So after writing for a few months, I now have about 153 Hubs to my name, and maybe a couple more after this weekend is over. I like to travel, so I like to write and take photographs about places and events. I am never without one my travel journals and my dying camera. This is a good habit for any writing you do because you never know if a friend, family member, stranger or tourist is going to say something brilliant. As a photographer, you’re always on guard for that money shot—the once-in-a-lifetime photograph that everyone will find memorable. Videos are just as entertaining. Keep in mind that some ideas or events will never happen again, so you have to catch them when you can.
On this rainy Sunday afternoon, I have 154 Hubs if you count this one. I do have several of them that I had written, submitted, and forgot about. I can honestly say I don’t love these pieces to death, but the numbers also tell me that they aren’t loved to death by my readers, either.
When I first started writing for HubPages, I wanted to do some “fiction.” I completed about 27 chapters with many characters that I “know” in real life. I don't regret writing these chapters because it taught me that I can sit down and write up to 2,000 words in one sitting. About a year ago, I couldn't write at all.
I am allergic to lawsuits, but so far, I have changed my characters enough so that none of the people I write about have approached me. This type of writing has showed me that I can write without hurting anyone’s feelings or making them angry. I also know that I have enough writing skills so that my writing doesn't make these people want to show up at my door with weapons. Yes, my characters in real life do know where I live.
When I look at my list of Hubs, it’s the fiction and the book reviews that draw the fewest readers. I don’t do anything with them. I see the scores. They don’t move, but I keep writing. I haven't gone back to the novel or book reviews.
My biggest problem as I write my Hubs? I’m attached to them. Once I write them, they pile up on my account and stay there. I don’t visit them, but they remain as part of my line-up. It’s like keeping all of my benched players and never using them in any of the scheduled games.
Instead, they are sitting and taking up space. I could re-write them or add some interesting illustrations. It turns out that I don’t even have the motivation to do that.
I wonder if anyone has my same problem, collecting and keeping Hubs. So far, like friends and family during the holiday season, they stay with me.
Tis the season, I guess.
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Deborah, I know you can do the 30/30 (and more!) long before the deadline. I did try to delete my "babies," but I brought them all back because I couldn't stand it. When I write a Hub, I finish it, publish it, and move on. I don't know what it is about deleting Hubs. I think I see it like murdering tomato starts or a full-grown rose. Sometimes I think I go too far as a Seed Gatherer in the SAVE THIS department.
I gave you many votes on this one, Arlene, including up! You make some good points. I DO go back and look at my older hubs. Granted, I don't have as many to go through as you. I'll reread and revise, find a better (often original) picture, add a video, or link it to newer hubs I've written. Sometimes, just the act of revision seems to raise the hub's score. Sometimes, I re-share them to new readers. When they start getting down close to 60, I'll look at them again. Still, I don't think I could get rid of any of my "babies." Put them on the bench for a while, maybe, but I'll eventually call them up to bat! Great hub! :-)
I deleted one of my half-made hubs, but my scores went down, so I decided to keep them. :-/
Thank you, Victoria Lynn! I hate to admit this, but my Hub babies get better treatment than the ex and all the other exes. I keep the Hubs and know they are there as listed, but don't really do anything to improve them. You have given me some inspiration to check up on them and see what I can do to make them a little more attractive for the reader. The problem with the 30/30 is that you are whipping them out and always thinking about the next one. This goes on for 30 days, so when you're done, you say, "What??? What am I going to do with all of this?" So with the completion of that 30 means going back and seeing what you've missed. Thanks again for the votes, the tips, and the encouragement.
I can't imagine deleting any hubs either. I must have thought they were important enough to write them in the first place! They might come around if the topic is somehow resurrected - if the author writes another book or a sequel in the case of a book review, for example. I do have a tendency to go back and review old hubs to look for better ways of saying things, checking for keywords, etc.
I am learning new things eveyday and my older hubs could certainly use a freshening when I get a chance.
plinka, I was having such a good time hitting those buttons and deleting my Hubs. I almost deleted my 27 chapters before I got to feeling sentimental. I asked myself, "Didn't I have a good time writing those?" So I put them back and haven't done anything with them since. I am beginning to think that keeping my Hubs is equal to my extreme lack of housekeeping skills. I don't want to admit it, but even on my computer, I am a pack rat.
I have deleted some and I have some that I have unpublished. I unpublished some because they really need more work (mostly early ones)and one because it was controversial and my husband didn't want it out there.
I read this question in the forums and the general consensus was to just leave them out there. They may not get traffic now, but could do so a year from now.
Getting ready to start another 30 in 30 Friday if you want to join along!
Millionaire Tips, I do agree with you. If the Hub was important enough to to the research and writing, why not keep it? I thought writers kept track of their Hubs and weeded their "gardens" most of the time. Thanks for your comments. I could use a walk through my Hub Garden for some serious changes. (Sigh).
Now, Cindy, I did read about that 30/30 Challenge of yours in the Forum and have been thinking about it ever since. Hmmmmmm. Very tempting! I think it would be fun because I do admire your enthusiasm. And, you did put up a link for it, right? I'm not doing anything on Friday, so I could join in. Writing would beat Black Friday activities. Tick, tick, tick. As you can see, I am leaning towards joining you and your 30/30 group. Thanks for the invite!
I would never suggest throwing anything away unless you are absolutely convinced that a given piece is below your quality level as a writer. Writing for numbers means nothing and the readers will soon figure it out as they will tire of the product. The numbers simply become a function of overflowing creativity. I tend to serve up things as I write them...just like baking a cake. I may let it cool on the window sill a bit but as soon as the icing is on, it is published. I do that for a reason as after a while you cannot possibly intimately remember everthing but when you first write it, you understand every single word and that is the time at which the appreciation is highest. I have found that I am not the best of may material...the reader is. Keep your quality high but try to publish as much as you can. WB
It has not occurred to me to delete any of my hubs due to to low traffic. I could see me unpublishing a hub someday if I were to publish it elsewhere, but not to delete it entirely. If I wasn't happy with something I would probably edit it. Poetry does not get a lot of traffic, but that doesn't stop me from writing it, because that's what I want to write. Now I didn't get a lot of traffic to my one book review of The Woman in White. I haven't written another since, but I have have written about authors and I have no intention of deleting these.
For me, I always keep them unless they are totally bad. I have a few recipe hubs that I am thinking if I should delete them. Haha!
But yes, seldom delete hubs unless I really know I can't do much with them.
Thanks for sharing on your thoughts!
Thank you, Wayne! You have 500 Hubs out there right now (maybe more since your most current Hub), so I was wondering what you did with the other 500. Just kidding! I do enjoy creating my Hubs, but I always wondered if anyone could have the heart to throw any of their work away.
Flora, I see a lot of poetry on the feed and submitted to our current contest. Poetry seems to be alive and well (and very popular) on HubPages. I don't feel comfortable writing poetry, so I am slowly getting myself to read it. I think I'm getting "the beat," so far. Maybe a little haiku at first?
nicregi, thank you for your comments and insights. I have some horrible Hubs, too, but they are still with me. I ran out of recipe ideas. I've collected enough recipes from Hubbers to last me until December 2013. It makes me wish someone would cook for me. I do have a wonderful bookmark collection featuring just about every subject. I can't get rid of those, either.
I meant that once poetry has been read, it doesn't get a lot of *repeat* traffic.
Oh, okay. But first time out, I still see a good response on most of the poetry published here.
I agree with you, after fussing over the creation of our hubs, it's hard to delete them. For a long time, I held off writing poetry--they don't count much in earning but through this contest, I'm beginning to write them just because I've always love writing poetry. I must congratulate you on writing so many hubs in such a short time here.
Thank you for your comments, angin. I loved your recent piece on flowers, the photographs, and the poetry because everything flowed so naturally. I have not ventured into poetry for the feed or for the contest. I believe there is a way to write it right, and I'm not there, yet. Will I ever get there? I did win a prize for a poem I did last year, and it was published with a collection of poetry and fiction. I could not believe it. I haven't written poetry since high school (the 70s), so I had to go to the library and study English books. I believe I will be stringing gourds or making fleece blankets before I write poetry!
Wow, 30 hubs in 30 days, I should try and challenge myself too. Thank you for the inspiration!
Here's hoping you give the 30/30 a try, Rhelena. Even if you don't get your 30 in by the 30 days as scheduled, you will get to know yourself a little more when it comes to what you can accomplish as a writer. I know there are Hubbers out there doing the 100 Hubs in 30 Days Challenge, but I know if I decided to take that challenge, my husband would divorce me and my dogs will run away from home. Although I am retired and have time to do more things than people who juggle their work with their writing, I do like to balance my time and activities.
Thanks I will try and challenge myself for the month of December. It's just around the corner so it gives me time to prepare.
It's good to balance things out, otherwise you would get tired of one thing. Thanks again. :)
All right, Rhelena! That's the way to go! homesteadbound has put out her 30/30 Challenge notice on the Forum, and according to her comment (above), she will be starting on the Friday after Thanksgiving. Both of you are an inspiration. I will most likely "weaken" and join you.
I silently attempted the 30 but due to writing on about 10 other outlets, I do write about 5000 words a day, so in a way the challenge has been met. For me there is a purpose to every piece I write, I may go back to some and "update" the info or titles to allow them a visual change if one wants to learn about the food subjects. Ironically some of my highest traffic hits are the poetry ones, but I do outlet them on other links I engage in, they get their own organic traffic. You would be surprised the "search" or desire for poetry if you target them right. I believe a writer should not delete any articles or hubs even if they are not getting traffic at the time. I can look at my hub statistics and on the daily they change greatly as to what the net deems important. In the end it is a popularity contest with the subject matter and other hubbers. I value fellow hubbers taking a chance on my writing but I love to see that my articles gain traffic from organic sources, and some days I curse that one of my favorites has dropped in the 60's, but the hits tell a different story. One of my poetic ones has over 200 hits yet is at the bottom as far as the score is concerned.
Arlene don't even think about deleting any of yours ever! Your talent for words along with your quick wit will draw them in as it has for me.
jenubouka, you are certainly an inspiration. Thank you! I've been wondering what writers were doing with their Hubs because I'm sure (like me), they have some that they aren't too crazy about. I think it's funny when I get a comment on an old Hub. No, I can't keep track of my babies. You sure have been busy! I didn't know poetry was so popular on HubPages until now. Maybe I should change my way of thinking and looking into writing something. Dig up my old English texts or hang out at the reference section at the local library.
I really only ever wound up here at Hubpages because Myspace ...committed suicide.
Literally - that's true. Oh, people flocked to Facebook - but Myspace had a rabidly loyal blogging community....so exactly when that was all that was left on that site, they destroyed their wonderful blog platform. You can still blog there, but they destroyed the "seeded comments" - and Hubpages, I think, could still benefit tremendously from seeded comments/direct reply type threads.
So basically, I was pretty dang successful as a ....non paid blogger on myspace. I provided LOTS of popular content for...someone else to earn money from.
Is that stupid? I sure think it is, and I'll never again provide internet content for free.
So anyway, I was very fond of some of those blogs - and the more I thought about someone else making $$$ from MY writing, the angrier I got about it, and so I deleted each and every last original blog I'd wrote....but I moved the good ones somewhere else.
I tried some of them here, heck, some of them are STILL here. What I discovered though was that something can be a popular blog article, and still be a terrible hub...
What I mean by "terrible" is that...it won't be getting any sort of steady internet traffic. Oh, I could tell fabulous stories....but none of them would be very interesting to people that were searching for information about something specific.
I also learned the hard way something that should have been freaking OBVIOUS to me, and that is that news type opinion pieces are virtually worthless here on Hubpages. Three weeks later a news opinion thing, no matter how brilliant, funny, well written, or whatever - is just plain old news.
So....what I meant to say was simply that....I've deleted several hubs, and will wind up deleting a few more...but there's a few that could still be greatly improved upon, and others that I just won't ever delete.
Wesman, thank you for your insights! I never had Myspace, and my Facebook page is full of gamers. I could be having tantrums and ranting away on Facebook, but no one would pay attention to me. But if a new game comes out, then I get invited to join these people. You can never tell what people are going to want to read, do you? Even then, you wonder about staying power of any article. I do live near the UC Davis campus where they keep running that pepper spray video of the campus police lieutenant spraying the students who were passively protesting on campus. That happened on Friday, and got the attention of the national media since then. I noticed on HubPages that there was very little written or commented on when it came to that incident. I figured most of us like G-Rated subjects, aren't all that interested as news junkies or keep more of a creative slant. Also, the news keeps coming, and someone is always doing something to top the other person. I appreciate your comments. And that goes for the Linda Blair and Children of the Corn videos. It's all something to think about.
Thanks Arlene, you would be amazed with what a little Google keyword search does for a hub that is a month or so old. Just by spinning it a little is like hitting the refresh button the whole article thus Google this silly little bird will look at it as new "green" material again and you are on the main page.
Here's the deal(s):
Facebook is a great site, but the 'action' is all in Facebook groups. I somehow, without ever even being asked, get included into every single philosophy type group on Facebook. I know zilch about philosophy....but I must say something that somewhere or another that seems philosophical to someone....so groups that are oriented towards whatever subject matter you are interested in, or write about are "where it's at" on Facebook.
So far as long term hub success is concerned....news ain't ever going to cut it, so an article about the UC Davis pepper spraying thing might be wildly popular, or even "viral" for a little while....but there's no doubt in my mind that in a month or so...it'll be good for three page views a day max.
3 page vies/day as a max is....not worth your time.
But should you create a hub about the History of pepper spray and it's use within police departments in the USA and include a hundred or two words, a vid, and a link about the UC Davis incident - then you'll have what they call an "evergreen" hub - an article that will still be just as valid next year as it is today.
Well, Miss Arlene, we would love to have you join us. Some have already started, and I in fact have started... sorta. After announcing the 30 in 30, I set another goal for myself which was to have 150 hubs before the end of the year which meant 43 hubs in 41 days, so I've been pounding the keys again. I've published 5 in the last three days and 3 of them have been research intensive. Those 3 are part of a five part series on nebulas - 2 more to go. Come join us. The forum post about the 30 in 30 was in my hub luv hub #5 that came out on Sunday.
I'm telling you, jenubouka, you are WAY ahead of the game. I am very slowing getting into the Google way of life. It is a tough one, all right, because my background is in English, journalism, and photo journalism. I'm sure you understand. Back then, when all you had was newspapers and maybe the 11 o'clock news as a supplement, you had to have witty, catchy titles. So I am slowly "unlearning" and going to titles which say, "Just the facts, Ma'am." It's tough, but I'm getting over myself and making the transition. This is what the people want, so it would be silly to go back in time. In the past, anything was acceptable as long as you drew someone in with a chuckle. Or if you were an established "name" writer, reporter or columnist. Ay, yi, yi. Always something new to learn! Thanks for the tips.
Wesman: I got a C- in philosophy, and I had a college instructor with the name, Kahlil. Ugh. The only thing I got out of that class was the quote, "When I am WEAK, you are STRONG." I thought a lot about that line while going through my divorce proceedings. Hahahahaha. That is such a great suggestion about an evergreen pepper spray Hub. The reason why I brought that up was because each time I see that on TV, I always cringe. I had exposure to pepper spray for training (along with other gases used by law enforcement) and wore this huge barrel of it strapped to me during my shifts. It was at least 3x the size of what the lieutenant had in the video, but since I've been sprayed with the stuff during training, I was sickened to see how he held it up before he starting spraying the kids. Like it was a weapon, and he saw these students as a threat. I felt for these kids because he was standing way too close to them. You don't NEED to go up and down 3 times once you hit someone in the face with pepper spray. He wasn't using one of those tiny pocket models. He was using the stuff for riots. For control. When I got hit in the eyes, I went down because I could not see anything. I was so angry that I cried, which made it worse. The whole pepper spray thing does not go away just like that. It showed photos of firemen pouring bottled water in the eyes of the protesters. Hello? The humane thing to do would throw them in the shower or at least have them under a steady stream of water. Yes, it did hit a nerve with me, and my experience with pepper gas happened to be almost 10 years ago. I can still smell the stuff on my skin, hair and clothing whenever I watch this video. Anyway, thank you for your comments and insights. I think I can find an evergreen slant on this subject because the whole situation has bothered me since it happened on campus last Friday night. It is probably enough to get me pissed off to write about it. No, wait! I already am!
Cindy, you know I have joined your crusade, and have been turning in my Hubs daily. I cannot say "No" to your current challenge. I have not left any Forum messages or figured out how many Hubs I plan on writing, but it is safe for me to say that I can at least write a Hub or two a day. Or "bundle" when I skip a few days. The 30/30 has got me in a habit to write and publish daily or at least write down some ideas. Thanks! Count me in on your 30/30.
I love writing, showing off, having fun. But I also want an income. That means search traffic. It's taken me a long time to realise that if people aren't looking for it - it's not going to happen.
I'm not good enough to make it through the power of my writing, brilliant though I think I am of course.
So, slowly I am working my way back through my pieces - trying to see where there is a 'reward' for the reader and how I can title / keyword that 'reward' to their search expectation.
There's no point trying to mislead the searcher. I am rewriting, retitling, researching - and in some cases - deleting.
Mark, thank you for your comments and insights. I've been writing away because I enjoy it. At the same time, I have to go back and do the same thing--rewrite, research, change titles, etc. Along with learning how to design my Hubs to be more attractive to the reader, I need to get my tech skills going and learn much more about developing better titles. When it comes to Google and SEO, I am certainly lacking in those departments. I received my wake-up call this week through so many comments and suggestions, so now it's time for me to act on it. I'm glad I wrote this Hub and finally asked this question. Thanks, again, Mark.
If I don't like a hub, i just delete it. Doesn't bother me a bit.
172 Hubs in 7 months, that is incredible work! Although I am attached to many of my hubs, I have deleted some of them. However when I look back at doing this, I realise that I should probably should have edited them instead. Writing on Hubpages seems to be a constant learning experience :-)
Voted up and SOCIALLY SHARING.
Brett.Tesol: Thank you for the vote up and "socially sharing." I am just tickled to death! Anyway, I decided to start my 2012 right and purge things around my home. Which is a little late for me because I retired in 2002. I find it a joy to write, and I've found that I spend all day thinking about ideas without putting any effort into it. It's in the way I think, which is kinda scattered. It also includes keeping a dream diary by my bedside because I get ideas that way, too. I've found through the 2 challenges I've done is that I can write a Hub or two each day if I wanted to. But let me warn you. If you don't want to keep improving your Hubs and ignore them like I do, you'll be stuck with a mess. By unpublishing and deleting, it was the only way to go through my 210 Hubs for the ones I was willing to edit. I no longer see my Hubs as "my babies" or "my friends." If I don't want them or won't be willing to work on them in the future, they either get hacked or permanently get the ax. No regrets! When I do right a Hub now, I keep reminding myself to write carefully. Or I will later make it go away.
DeborahNeyens Level 7 Commenter 6 months ago
I can't imagine deleting any of my hubs either, but I only have 22 babies of my own at this point. Seriously thinking about doing 30 in 30.