The 3 P's to Successful Writing Online

Each day another person comes across Hubpages with a dream. They want to write online and they want to make money while doing it. Yet, as they open their very first capsule and start entering text, they often times wonder the same question every other online writer wonders at some point, "How do you become successful?"

While this question seems very straightforward - in reality it is not. The definition of success may very from person to person. Is the goal just to have your writing read by others? Is the goal to make money, and enough of it to support your family and quit your day job? Or is writing a passion, and writing online, whether it is Hubpages or some other blog, is just a way to satisfy that passion?

Yet, as a writer strolls through Hubville, they will notice other writers with similiar goals. For those who have just started out, they may see these writers as someone who has achieved daunting tasks - whether it is the number of hubs they have written, the number of comments on their hubs, or just the number of followers they have.

So, for all those new neighbors out there who want to ask that question, I have come up with a simple answer. If you want to be successful at writing online, all you have to do is follow the 3 P's.... Patience, Persistence, and Participation!

As any online writer knows, success will never happen over night. It just isn't possible. This rule of thumb applies to any writer - whether you are writing a book, writing a blog, or writing reviews. (And there might be the possibility as a writer you are doing all of the above and some!)

Do you think those famous authors woke up one morning, wrote a book and were famous by night. Doubtfull! Probably not even possible!

Each and every article written will take time. And, with the amount of time you spend writing that one article you can expect it to take 100 times longer for it to reach noticeable success. Sure, you might recieve a comment or two right away. If you wrote something appealing, some might even share your article with their friends. The best part is, you may have even gained a follower!

Yet, the waiting game isn't over yet and you still need to continue to practice patience! Writing just one article, having it read just one time, and having just one follower won't be enough. But the taste of success was sweet and you want more. So you continue to write.

When I first started on Hubpages, I was so excited the first time I got a comment - the first time I got a follower. I wanted to crack open a bottle of champaigne and celebrate. What I realized is - it wasn't until I have spent some time in Hubpages (and I am talking several months) before my name as a writer started becoming a little more known.

Personally, I have enough followers to say I am somewhat successful at writing online. I know having a following is important, and I am greatful for all those who continue to be loyal. Yet, I am not done. I want to share my ideas with more and more people. So yes, I am getting greedy. I want more people to follow me. But I understand it will still take time. With each new article, a few more followers might trickle in. Occasionally, I might even lose a follower. But, as long as I still have the urge to write, I will still have the patience to become more and more successful every day!

According to thefreedictionary.com, the definition of persistence is:

1. Refusing to give up or let go; persevering obstinately.
2. Insistently repetitive or continuous.

So, if you are going to be successful as an online writer, you have to be persistent. No matter how daunting of a task it may seem at times to put words down on paper, you will continue. If you want to be a successful writer, you will fight through those occasional spells of writer's block. You will find a way to snap back into your creative zone.

The key is to never stop. If writing is something you truly want to do, you will continue to write. Now, I am not suggesting you won't have the occasional spell of just not wanting to do anything. Everybody does. But that is when you can do your research. Go out - live life - and then write about it!

So, if you want to be successful, keep pushing those buttons on your keyboard. Somethig beautiful will come out of it. And someone on Hubpages will notice you for it!

Note: Not only do you need to be persistent in your writing, but if you want to be successful, you also need to be persistent in adverstising what you write. Good use of backlinks will help others find your work. Social networking, such as Facebook, Twitter, Google Plus and Myspace, are great ways to get your work out there. But don't overlook the other sites where you can add backlinks. My favorites are Xomba (another writing site which offers a place to write a review and bookmark your work), ShetoldMe, and Stumbleupon.

It may be hard to believe, but writing online isn't all about the writing. It is also about your fellow writer's writing as well. While you may obtain a few loyal followers who will read everything you write regardless of whether you return the favor, I have noticed active participation in the community will help increase your numbers. I am not sure why this is. I attribute it to the "I scratch your back, you scratch mine!" theory.

Writers are busy people, and often times they are busy finding their next topic or writing about it. The time they spend away from their writing is very vital. Therefore they will be picky about what they read and whose stuff they read. They may be drawn into your article because they are currently doing research or maybe they were strolling through Hubpages and noticed your catchy title. But, they might have been drawn into it because you took time out to visit their page as well, and they are returning the favor.

Not only is being a good follower key in becoming successful, but being a writer who responds is also vital. It took me a long time to realize you could respond in your own comment section of your hubs. When I took the time out to say "Thank You" to those who read my article, it made all the difference. Suddenly I was getting more page views and more comments. Both of which will make for a very happy writer!

Not only will you learn a lot from reading other writer's work, but you will also get a surplus of inspiration and ideas for your very own topics. You will also be making your name known! If you don't take the time to comment, people won't see your name. It is almost like product placement. You want your name in the front of people's minds. Being active in the community, will make you well known!

While practicing the 3 P's... patience, persistence, and participation will definately guide you onto the path of success, there are other tips that will come in very handy as well.

1. Write quality content. It doesn't matter what you write about, just make sure it is somethign worth reading. If you can't make it through your own writing without taking a nap, chances are good no one else will be able to either.
2. Practice using punctuation. This is one of my worst faults. I like to use a lot of dashes and exclamation points - and I don't always use them correctly. However, while that is my style, make sure your style includes some kind of punctuation. Too many times have I come across something written that doesn't include any. It makes it difficult to read. And while you are at it... don't forget to check your spelling. Excessive misspelled words will often have people backspacing out of your page.
3. Be passionate with your topics. If you like writing exciting reviews or recipes, show you are excited. If not, people will become easily bored and gravitate away from what you are writing!
4. Make your title catchy. Sure, a boring title with loads of keywords may help Google find your article, but it might not entice the reader. The title is the first impression, and you only have one shot at making a first impression.
5. Have fun!

If you too would like to write on Hupbages, click here to sign up! We are always excited to have a new neighor.

As always, I appreciate your comments and look forward to hearing from you! :)