This is a topic near and dear to my heart. Poor online behavior is a total pet peeve of mine and since this is my blog, I’d like to rant about it. So if you’ll indulge me, I want to offer some tips on presenting yourself as a professional online.

We get so caught up with social media that many times we forget who our audience is. We want to rant about things that upset us and make us feel bad. With that in mind, let me ask you a question. Would you unload all your dirty laundry in your place of business, or at a social function that you attend in person? Of course you wouldn’t. And neither should you do it online. If you want to be respected as an author, you should present yourself in a respectable way. This involves putting on your online suit. When you’re dressed up, your behavior changes. You behave in a different way than you do when you’re wearing shorts and flip flops. You’re more cognizant of how your actions are being perceived by others.

This series of tips will help you recognize poor online behavior and the affect that can have on your readers, fellow authors, potential agents, and potential publishers. I hope this will engage us in some lively discussion about examples of unprofessional online behavior and how to avoid it. There will never be any names mentioned in the examples I use, nor should there be in any examples you choose to share. I firmly believe to be taken seriously as a writer, professionalism is critical. Let’s explore the topic and see where it takes us. Look for my first tip soon.

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Copyright 2014 by Kelly Abell