How to Be Productive On HubPages, Even When You Don't Have A Thing To Write About

So I'd been on HubPages for a few weeks and I was rolling like a freight train, writing a hub just about every day. As soon as I'd finish a hub, an idea for the next one would be right there. I was moving right along and didn't think much about it, until another writer commented, "Nine hubs in ten days? You go, g-girl!" It gave me a jolt. By day eleven, I had the "Ten Hubs" accolade. And that's when the fear struck. What happens if the ideas stop coming?

Then suddenly, my fear came true. After finishing my thirteenth hub, my luck run out. (Unlucky 13?) I had no idea what to write about for my next hub. I spent an entire night dwelling on it, hoping inspiration would strike. I walked with my friends the next morning, anticipating that our conversation would spark something.

But nothing.

I sat at my computer. Looked out the window. Still blank.

Was I out of ideas? Was I done already? I felt a little panicked. But then I remembered to fall back on lessons I've learned from other writers through the years. You are never done! There is always something you can do with writing to feel productive and to keep moving toward the next piece. Of course, I am no expert, especially about HubPages, as I'm still so new to it. But I did find ways to apply writer's block techniques (and other ideas) to HubPages so I could still feel productive, even when I wasn't writing a thing. These ideas not only kept me moving on HubPages, but they also helped me to write my fourteenth hub!

When you are stuck for a writing topic, there are some general suggestions to unblock you. You can take a break for awhile, set yourself a schedule and deadline, do some creative writing exercises, seek out a completely different activity, or try freewriting. I've also heard you can try to uncover the deeper issue beneath the writer's block. All of these are good suggestions, and although they may actually lead to a hub on HubPages, there are ways to beat writer's block and be productive on HubPages at the same time.

1. Edit Work You've Already Done When you're stuck, don't just stare at any empty screen! Go back into your hubs and re-read them, changing and improving what you've already written. Every single time I read my writing, I find something I can improve, whether it be a spelling error, a grammatical error, or a better way to word something. I am amazed at how different something can sound to me when I have been away from it even for a short time. Reviewing what you've already written may lead you to another hub idea as you realize a subject could be expanded or explained in more detail. Maybe you could write a sequel or an update? Even if it doesn't lead to an idea right away, you are still making a hub better, and you are writing!

2. Add pictures Go back to your hubs that have one, few or no pictures. Maybe you could find a better picture, or add more. ( When I revisited a hub, I realized one of my pictures actually had the exact opposite message from what I was trying to get across! I had read it wrong the first time.) You can set a goal to have at least five pictures in each hub--that way you can have a slideshow. You can also check for pictures without sources and add them for proper credit. Anything you do in the realm of pictures will not only improve your hubs, it will get you inspired as you browse through images. You never know what a picture may spark in you! Hey, you know what a picture is worth, right? A thousand words would make a great hub!

3.) Read hub topics that are new to you One writer's block technique is to get out of your comfort zone, such as reading a genre you wouldn't normally read, or seeing a movie you wouldn't normally see. You can do this on HubPages, too! Click on hub topics (Explore, Hubs or Topics) and select some that you wouldn't normally read. Find something that sounds interesting to you, for whatever reason, read it and write comments. A new subject area can stretch your thinking beyond your normal pathway and maybe inspire a new idea. Maybe you like a writing style, or an example, or find a way to relate this new topic to your own work. If not, your comments may at least lead you to a new connection or to new followers of your own work outside of your usual circle.

4.) Visit the hubs of your followers Reward those who are supporting you by reading their work. Read at least one hub from each of your followers, making sure to comment, vote, and/or share. Before you get through the entire list of followers, you may have some inspiration for your own hub. And even if you don't, you'll have supported other writers and may get more traffic as a result.

5.) Take it to the next level Writers who are blocked are often encouraged to take a break. If you're not writing something new, you can use the time to share your hubs in a way you haven't. Have you put your writing on facebook yet? Learned how to tweet, or use pinterest? I have to admit, I just started putting my writing on facebook a few days ago, and the feedback has been really positive! (It got me a lot more traffic, too!) I still don't have a twitter account, and I've never "pinned" anything, but I will soon learn. If you haven't done these things yet, use your "writer's block" of time to learn how and/or get them done. You can also set yourself to learn about other things on HubPages that may still be mysteries to you (I know they are to me) like widgets and referral trackers and all the initials of HTML, RSS and SEO. You can look into starting a blog if you don't already have one, or learn how to choose better titles and tags. With all of this new knowledge and skill, not only will you have more traffic to your hubs, you will have something to write about--- a hub that explains it all to hubbers like me!

6. Brainstorm with a "round robin" technique. You can spark creativity by writing an outline, web, or diagram. This same technique can be applied to a "round robin" sweep of the headings across the HubPages homepage. Tell yourself you will click on every heading and sub-heading, in successive order, and you will either read or write as a result. Start with "explore" and select a topic to choose from to read. Go to "hubs" and do the same thing. Don't forget to leave comments! Answer a question. Ask a question. Read others' answers. Check out the "forums" for new info (maybe a contest!) or for something you can learn, read, or write about. Go on to "notifications". Read what comments have been left on your and others' hubs. Under your username there is plenty to do on your account and profile (when is the last time you updated that?). The "learning center" is also absolutely packed with reading, writing and learning opportunites. By the time you get to "start a new hub" not only will there be a good chance you will have an idea for one, but your presence will definitely be known on hubpages (leading others to you).

7. Don't let doubt hold you back. If at any point you get an idea for a hub, don't question it! Just start writing. As doubts creep into your head (Maybe this isn't a good topic? What if no one reads it? Do I have enough to say? Who am I to be writing this? Maybe I should just bag this idea and think of something else?) don't let these doubts stop you--keep writing! Tell yourself you will stiick with it and see it through to the end. Every single hub I have written has gone through such questions and doubts. So many times I wondered, should I just stop writing this and try a different idea? But if I did stop, I never would have finished even one hub, let alone a dozen.

When faced with writer's block for whatever reason (fear, boredom, burnout, lack of motivation) it is important to not just sit there but to keep moving forward. With these HubPages- tailored techniques, you can look for inspiration while accomplishing something positive and productive at the same time. Believe me, it works! Just ask hub #14!