Social networking can’t be boiled down into neat bullet points. It’s an ever-changing, growing beast that started as cocktail parties and business organizations and has now spread to pretty much take over the Internet. That’s not a bad thing, necessarily (though it can be from a privacy standpoint).
Regardless, there’s one part of social networking that I think many people overlook, and that’s commenting. Sometimes I feel like social networking sites are a bunch of people thrown into a room, all yelling information about themselves…but no one is actually talking to one another. For social networking to work, there has to …read more

One of the reasons I get frustrated with social networking is the sheer number of people who seem to lose all tact when they log online. I guess it is the ability to be anonymous that makes people think it is OK to be rude, annoying jackasses. There’s at least one on every social networking site…the dreaded trolls.
First of all, let me clear something up. Trolls are not people who debate, disagree, or otherwise dissent from popular opinion, even if they aren’t exactly nice about it. Trolls are people who go out of their way to disrupt conversation just for …read more

This weekend, I talked a little about how some bloggers think they are too cool for school. One of the worst things about these bloggers, in my opinion, is that they don’t reply to their emails unless they perceive the sender to be just as cool. I mean, I’m not saying that I never miss an email or that I reply to people who obviously are spamming tons of sites…but in general, it is just polite to get back to someone, even if it takes you a few days to do so.
ut what about comments on your blog? Assuming they …read more

As you may have already read, August is all about fiction writing here at the Freelance section of Bizzia. Don’t worry – there will be some non-fiction freelancing posts as well for those of you who have no interest in fiction writing at all. However, since I so rarely talk about the topic, I thought it would be fun exploring fiction and freelancing for the month!
I thought we could start of by sharing a little about ourselves with one another. So here’s what I’m curious to know:

What kind of fiction do you write? What kind do you like to read?
Have …read more

Yesterday, I posted some thoughts about commenting on others’ blogs. One commenter, Brian McLaughlin, had this to say:
I scan quite a few blogs and when there is a particularly insightful item I like to acknowledge them but many blogs make it VERY difficult to comment if you don’t have a WordPress account or don’t choose to provide what seems to be excessive amounts of personal data, just for the ability to leave a note…
He’s absolutely right! I can’t tell you how many times I’ve gone to leave a comment on a blog only to realize that the blogger has …read more

If you’re reading this website, chances are that you doing online freelance writing, at least as part of your writing work. It’s hard to survive as a freelancer working in only print media, at least until you have some success in book publishing. As a freelance writer, you may do ghostwriting most of the time, but whether your name is attached to it or not, you probably take a sense of ownership in the writing.
And when someone bashes that writing, it is easy to feel upset about yourself or consider new professions.
The Internet is not a kind place. If you …read more

In honor of Take Your Daughter and Son To Work Day, coming up on April 24th, we are having a contest Around The Business Channel. In order for our contest to be a success, we need you and your children to join us this month. What’s in it for you? Money, money, money!! Money! (Sorry, I miss The Apprentice already). Actually the winner will be determined by votes. The best comment we receive across the Business Channel will win. The prize: $25 gift card to Barnes and Nobles.
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Summary:
From April 1 …read more