The problem with the networking idea, is you have to find a good website. I have multiple stories of places I've been to where people are just awful to each other, and I don't mean in story critique.
Just casual arguing back and forth, and thumbing each other down to fluctuate each others egos.
I'd like to find a community, where people at least act like adults.
And in my case, I'm not even certain what genre I write, so finding someone who writes a similar genre isn't an easy task.
Wattpad comes to mind specifically. That and Absolute Writers Water Cooler, Kindle Boards, and Quantum Muse.
Even my room mate, she had more of a tendency to brainstorm plot points unsolicited that give me advice about specific things I've written.
I'm so done with that.