8 Things I Have Learned from (and Appreciate in) HubPages

As the year draws to a close, I look back from the time I started to write in HubPages. I have been writing here for six months already, producing 89 hubs (this being my 90^th), gaining more than 40,000 views and generally enjoying myself.

Prior to my HP days, I have been writing online (for other people) for more than six months already. While the part-time earnings are okay, there’s just something different when you write for other people rather than for yourself. Even back then, I was actually looking for a site where I can write my own stuff, read other writers’ articles (hubs) and communicate with my readers or other writers. Needless to say, I have found all those (and more) in HubPages.

With this hub, I just want to share some of the things I have learned while writing and publishing my hubs in HubPages. I’m sure some of you have learned the same things, while others have learned a lot more. Some may still be on the verge of learning these things (and I wish you good luck in HP). Whichever point you are now, I do wish you’ll enjoy reading this hub as I’ve enjoyed writing it and going down my (short) memory lane in my HP experience.

That I can write whatever I want in HP. Of course, within boundaries (read HP’s FAQs). I have written about my profession, accounting, such as: why is it important to learn the basics of accounting, what the tax season entails for us accountants and what are some of the scandals that shook our (accounting) world.

I have also written about my alternative career choices, the perils of social networking sites to one’s employment, some online writing sites for Filipinos, tips for managing time for freelancers and tips for writing proposals online.

Being a Filipino residing in the Philippines, I have also hubbed about the beauty of my country through my hubs on my hometown, Butuan City, my favorite city, Davao City, my favorite island resort, Amanpulo, the 7 natural wonders of my country and the beautiful island of Camiguin. I’ve published hubs to tell the world about what happened to my country during two of the most devastating typhoons this year, Ondoy and Pepeng, and how Filipinos from around the world came through to help our Filipino brothers and sisters who were severely affected by these two typhoons. As a citizen of my country, I can’t also help but write about our politics and about the state of our economy.

If I can play favorites with my hubs, I’d say these are how to stop procrastination, the things I hate while driving, domestic violence against men, bad study habits of students and my food hubs.

That I can try my hand in writing a lot of things. Except for poems and stories, I have tried my hand on writing a lot of things here in HP. There are my ranting hubs such as making up my mind, my complaints as a boss and what I hate while driving (2 hubs on this one). I’ve also written informative hubs about my country, our traditions and my profession. Hubs targeting Amazon sales? I’ve definitely written those. Maybe in the future I’ll try writing a poem or two and a short story or two (I hope).

That I can write hubs that people will read. I refrain from saying lots of people because this may seem like I’m bragging, but I’m really happy to see that I’m getting some readership here in HP. It shows that I’m writing stuff people actually want to read and even comment on. I love it when I receive comments from my fellow hubbers and even, from outside readers. These comments show me that there are really people out there who take time to follow me, read my hubs and write to me that they appreciate what I wrote.

That I can communicate with other hubbers…around the world. This one is a bonus. I’ve always wanted to communicate with other writers (something that I couldn’t do when I was writing for other people). And being able to communicate with them brought me closer to understanding other people, their thoughts, their words and their feelings.

I’ve met other Filipino hubbers here such as ripplemaker, dayzeebee, bingskee, General Howitzer, Cris A, Maita (prettydarkhorse), mommyfreelancer, the husband and wife hubbers, Papa Sez and Mama Sez, IslandVoice, MM Del Rosario, Lita Malicdem, jill of alltrades, CelinaMac and zylla3philippines. I’ve met hubbers who are in other countries that I have not yet visited such as Uninvited Writer (Canada), Shalini Kagal (India), myownworld and Lady_E (U.K.), Princessa (France), frogdropping (Portugal), Sufidreamer (Greece), earnesthub (Australia), Art (HealthTip) from Belgium and Pearldiver from Bumbletown, New Zealand (if I forgot anybody, and I know I forgot a lot of people, sorry).

That I can read (and appreciate) other hubbers’ hubs. Being in HubPages has certainly broadened my horizon as I have read and learned a lot of things. I have read the wonderful poems of Cris A, poetlorraine and walrus (I mean Ralwus), the haiku of Pearldiver, the very interesting (and sometimes very sensual) poems of Tantrum, the short story (series, that have me glued to my seat) of Dohn, the valuable tips and advices from darkside, relache, Mark Knowles, Lissie, sunforged, ryankett, Ultimate Hubber and frogdropping, the interesting (and sometimes naughty) hubs of Anath, the touching hubs of Kimberly (lyricsingray), the interesting products in Nelle Hoxie’s Amazon and eBay hubs and the all-around, wonderful hubs of KCC Big Country and Hal Licino (ooooppppsss, definitely forgetting a lot of hubbers here, sorry again, guys).

That I can learn new terms, new concepts, new stuff in HP. Okay, I have to face it. Before joining HP I have absolutely no idea what SEO stands for. I didn’t know how to apply for Google Adsense and Amazon and, in general, monetize my hubs. I have absolutely no idea how to do backlinking (I’m still learning) and how to get a blog up and running (I’m still learning this one, too). I do not know what the sites Xomba, shetoldme, redgage, etc., etc. are for. I have learned how to check if my hubs were copied and what to do if these were copied. And, in general, I do not know that there’s really such a thing as real (even full-time) honest-to-goodness earnings from writing online. Lots of stuff I was ignorant of and I have to thank HP for opening my eyes (and my mind) on these things.

That I can read a lot of interesting (sometimes controversial) topics from the forums. Need I say more? Okay, just because I don’t participate in the religion and politics forums doesn’t mean I don’t read them. Sometimes, I agree, sometimes, I disagree, but most of the time, I just sit back, relax and watch (I mean read) the fireworks going off.

That I can have a great time while writing things on topics I am genuinely interested on. Enough said.

And these are the things I’ve learned from and appreciate in HubPages. Thank you for reading!