By: Katie Foley, Editor in Chief

We’ve all read controversial things, and then scrolled down to the comments only to find ourselves amazed at the lack of requirements for commenters. We’ve all jokingly wondered if there should be a law regulating the use of the internet by “trolls” who’ve nothing better to do with their time than sit around and pick apart writers and their work. It would be great if trolls were required to have “internet licenses” to operate. But alas, they are not.

Recently, one of our writers found herself on the business end of an “internet troll” who went so far out of the way to contact the writer that the writer ended up being the recipient of a flood of emotional messages blasting her for being the sole cause of discourse between the commenter and the commenter’s adult child. (It should be noted that the writer didn’t actually write anything that pertained to the child or to the commenter, but she was guilty by association- she personally knew an in-law of the commenter through her professional work). After being repeatedly asked not to contact the writer again, the commenter persisted with personal messages, crossing the line between internet troll and stalker.

This situation is not unique, and as writers, we will all face a similar situation sooner or later. Some of us, sadly, may even have been on the troll side of this scenario. So how do we as writers, who are also readers, deal with it?

We practice “constructive commenting.”

by: Erin Whitehead, Creator of Many Kind Regards

Writing has long been a part of my life. I can remember as a child, writing poetry and short stories in spiral bound notebooks with a pencil. I can remember using white-out to correct my mistakes on the typewriter. Today, many years later, I rarely put a pen or pencil to paper and probably don't remember exactly how to use a typewriter. (Although I am in the market for a great antique piece I can display in my office, so...if you find one...) Things have changed for me as a writer. All of my writing is now done on my computer, or on the notepad app on my phone. (I am certain that is a marketable skill of sorts... to be able to write 800 words as I wait in the carpool lane or pretend to cook dinner... all on my trusty smart phone.)

But the medium in which I release the thoughts, ideas, and stories from my head and into written word is not the only thing that has changed. The way we consume content and respond to it has drastically changed as the internet and social media have become a part of our everyday lives. As a result, many writers (myself included) are changing the way they craft and present their content to their audience.