Social Networking for Shy People

I’m confused. And tired. And confused. I had a plan. It looked something like:

• Gather clips of my best advertorial writing.
• Re-write my resume
• Look up freelance writing jobs
• Apply for freelance writing jobs
• Uhhh… get a freelance writing job?
• Prove I’m a fabulous writer by wowing my employer with my motivation, energy, passion, education, ability to follow directions, and, of course, my literary wit
• Have first writing gig translate into a full-time writing career
• Quit boring day job
• Have more time with kids
• Have more time to volunteer
• Have more time for church
• Have more time for the green revolution
• Enjoy the “creative life”
• Get out of debt
• Buy a house
• Keep enjoying the “creative life” while blogging about my favorite topics (environment, personal growth, politics, baking, cooking, vegetarian and sustainable living, and random enjoyment of strange news that no one else reports on)
• Read a lot of books
• Retire
• Save the world
• Read more books

As I began to research the proper way to go about starting a freelance writing career, I found I needed:

• To have a blog (check)
• To post to that blog often (not so check)
• To post relevant, interesting, stimulating stuff in a niche (not so check)
• To create a fabulous group of people through social networking sites (miniature check)
• To Digg, Twitter, Stumbleupon, etc.

Bear with me. I started a blog. I post when the mood strikes, about whatever the mood strikes. But the, you know, 35 people who’ve seen the blog, aren’t really motivated about what I write. That’s cool. I can handle rejection.

What I can’t handle, apparently, is social networking on the Internet. I’ve admitted before that I’m not a super social butterfly. I like people. I think other people can be cool. They can be mean, funny, annoying, inspiring, irrational and, above all, interesting. But I never know what to say. I try to think of interesting topics, and my mouth freezes up. I’m completely intimidated. Seriously, it’s taken nine months of my kids being in daycare for me to get on a first name basis with all of the teachers. Nine months. I see these women five days a week. Oi. And I’m so proud that I can actually carry on a conversation with them now. Sad. I’m sad.

So, it should be easier on the Internet. Right? No.

There are so many online services out there. Why isn’t there a social networking site for people who are shy? For people who don’t know people? For people interested in joining a group? For people who want to be part of something different. Something that is easy-to-use and goes beyond the randomness of the “What are you doing now?” sites.

I believe I may have stumbled upon (ha ha… stumble… never mind) a social networking site that does just that… BlueGooseNews.com. Go check it out. Discover what a social entrepreneur is. Join a group. Change the world. Create a blog, post pics and videos… and feel like you are a central part of a bustling community that cares about its members, and rewards them, too!