DavePrice on HubPages

Serious writers often come to HubPages looking for money- but stay for the community.  DavePrice has experienced something of the sort- and a bit of a paradigm shift as well!  Check out our interview below to learn more about his HubPages experience:

HubPages: Why did you join Hubpages?

I recently took a 6 week sabbatical from work to search for an opportunity to become a full-time writer. I stumbled across Hubpages in my search, and it seemed to fit what I was looking for. Anyone can see at first glance that Hubpages is an incredibly unique opportunity for a writer.

What did you expect from the site?

I admit that my first desire was “lust” (as I have so often had to admit to my wife). I thought it might be a place where I could make a little money on the side writing articles while I continued my search. It took me a couple weeks to realize that Hubpages was exactly what I was searching for; it was the proverbial “I didn’t know what I really wanted until I found it”.

How did it work out?

(Laugh) It did… and it didn’t. It only took me a few days to realize that, while I could strive to be a “profitable” writer on Hubpages, it was no longer my primary desire. The response I received from Hubbers made me quickly realize that it was the interaction that I craved far more than the profit. Every writer knows as soon as he publishes he may be misunderstood, ridiculed, reviled, and run out of town tarred and feathered; yet we are a sadistic lot, for we crave the response more than we fear the rejection. I have never received a negative reaction from a Hubber, even from those whose views are diametrically opposed to my own. On the contrary, the responses I received have encouraged me (that’s right, it’s your fault Hubbers), and most importantly, refined my writing ability more than college, or life experience, ever did.

Where do you hope to go with your writing on Hubpages in the future?

I’m no different than most in that I want to be published in the traditional way. I know that Hubpages provides a legitimate opportunity for me to accomplish that goal. I want to be a competent writer whose words impact the lives of others in a positive way. My writing has already improved exponentially, which hopefully gets me closer to that goal. I’ve started as all newbies do, with subjects that I know best. But I am eager to explore ideas in my writing that force me to become a better writer.

One surprising result of my time on Hubpages is that my thinking about my career has undergone a paradigm shift. I have gone from being totally focused on being published to investing all my energies on becoming the best writer I can be on Hubpages. If I am published one day, great! But if all that ever comes of it is that I am allowed to enjoy becoming an accomplished and respected Hubber, I promise you I’ll be a very happy man. This is what I have come so quickly to love about Hubpages. I am inspired and encouraged by Hubbers whose talents far exceed my own. I have the opportunity to share in the wisdom and experience of talented writers from around the world. I am educated by writers whose work I admire and respect. I have been embraced by a community of people who care about my craft and my content. Sometimes a man needs to know when he already has everything he wished for.

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Are you looking to do some serious writing on HubPages? Check out our Learning Center to find resources on how to drive traffic to your hubs and be found in search results.  Even if you’re more interested in getting “found” as an author, poet, or activist than earning money, these methods are helpful as they’ll help you gain readership and stand apart from the din.