by Barbaraanne Helberg

Created on: May 21, 2010   Last Updated: June 18, 2010

A writer's personal information in some forms, such as a photograph and biography, should never be required to be shared on any Internet writing site. This should remain purely a personal choice of the writer.

This personal information, however, may add to a writer's credentials when he is seeking recognition for his work, or attempting to find publisher-friendly situations.  

Every writer should be free to seek attention for his work in his own way, bound only by legality. If Internet hosts require certain information to ensure someone is who he says he is, a sharing of information should be private between the host and the writer. Making private information inadvertently, or unwantedly public is exactly why Facebook sharers are now thinking twice about whether to join the great Facebook deletion scheduled for May 31, 2010.

Internet writing sites that make sharing personal information a requirement may meet the same stumbling block as Facebook.

There are many writers who value the opportunity to share their biography and/or photograph on writing sites they frequent. This practice enhances the networking experience for those seeking other writers and publishers. Many publishers scan Internet writing sites to locate capable writers available to help them solve publishing and marketing problems. Helium is one of these.

But that doesn't mean every writer on Helium should be required to give photographic and biographic information for mainline consumption. A Helium writer may wish to simply contribute articles and bathe in the gratification of instant publication because Internet writing may be a hobby - certainly one perfect for retirees -, or an outlet to express his interests in a wide variety of topics.

Writers who are serious about networking will probably have a personal list of what Internet writing sites can do for them. For example, the following criteria may be a writing file core list idea for personal page presentation in the mind of a web writer seeking attention for his writing resume:

1) Contributes to my overall body of work and presence in the writing community; 2) Allows me to display a brief one-page personal view of me and my work; 3) Lets publishers know who and where I am; 4) Displays personal information that will contribute to my credentials as a person/writer; 5) Gives an opportunity to have more than just one place on the Internet to present myself; 6) Presents a live feed of my work almost instantly.

At present Helium, as well as most other writing sites, maintains a policy of personal choice in what a writer decides to share on his own home pages. Each writer has his own thoughts on whether a photograph and a biography of himself displayed on his personal space will enhance that area for writing networking, or potentially leave him open to identity harm.

Either way, what a writer chooses to share on the Internet should remain in control of the individual.  

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