The things you post online can come back to haunt you like Michael Myers, the Poltergeist, and that creepy girl from The Ring all rolled into one. It's not that one lame comment on a news story or an awkward tweet will doom you. But as a writer, you are your brand. And if you're here from the activist crowd, the other side is just waiting for an excuse to discredit you.
So, here are a handful of tips that should help you avoid falling in open graves, whether you're building an online presence or being chased by zombies:
1) You never know when they're watching you.
Your worst nightmare could be lurking behind the trees of that blog post or peeping at your Twitter at any time. You may post 79 times a day, but that one time you let your crazy show could be the time when an agent or editor pops over to your page. It could be the time when a reporter or council member decides to see if you're worth an interview or a meeting. Don't let that be the moment when you're caught in the port-a-potty with your pants down. (Ten points if you got the Jurassic Park reference.)
2) There's no good way to get rid of a psycho serial killer.
The internet has a short memory. Except, of course, when you want it to forget. That's when your rant gets immortalized in reposts, caches and screenshots. You can bust out your arsenal of chainsaws, hand grenades, holy water and delete buttons, but oftentimes, the damage is done. And just when you start to think it's safe to go out, it will rise again. So, think before you post.
3) Don't go in the basement. Don't check out that noise. Don't swim in the sharktopus*-infested waters.
Usually you can see disaster coming, as long as you don't ignore the warning signs. So, if you find yourself firing off a response to something that made you attempt to throttle your monitor before you've even wiped the foam from your mouth or, say, posting when drunk (in other words, the equivalent of going for a stroll in the graveyard at midnight wearing only your nightie), it's time to rethink your plan. Step away from the keyboard before you do something you might regret.
4) Make it to the sequel.
All of this isn't to say "go forth and be boring." Being an extra in a horror movie never pays off. In general, especially as a writer, you get bonus points for personality. Just be aware of what you're putting out there because anyone could be watching, and you don't want to be defined by your death scene.
*Here's the Sharktopus trailer, just because it makes me laugh every time:
I really like this post. So true. I carefully monitor readership of my posts, some of which are controversial, perhaps. I don't like libel or slander. I have attorneys who are classified as Super Lawyers in their profession. They graduated from Harvard Law School. They review my work and tell me what is risky in their opinion. Good tips, Stephanie. I'll read this one often.
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