Dear Newbie Writer — This Is How to Connect with Other Writers

Spamming strangers is not

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It doesn’t hurt to ask, right? Well, dear hustling spammer, unfortunately, it does. It hurts you and it hurts everyone else.

Look, I understand you want to grow an audience, go viral, and make dough online. I understand you are desperate for attention. I sometimes feel desperate myself. I also know how freaking hard it is to get eyeballs on your words. And if you’re actually trying to make friends, I feel you. Writing can be lonely.

But what you’re doing is not “reaching out.” You’re not trying to “connect.” You’re trying to use others to get ahead yourself. And no one likes to be used.

You see, when you contact a bazillion random writers with “Hi, my name is I-Don’t-Give-a-F*ck-about-You. Here’s my link. Let’s support each other.” you’re not spreading kumbaya. You’re just making those of us who have been around for a while roll our eyes and wonder whether we should block you.

Sure, by cold-messaging 100 people to “connect,” a dozen or so misguided newbies like you may accept. And you may think that’s great. Yaay! A dozen new followers! But the price is that you’ve just antagonized the rest of us — the remaining ~90 people, among which almost surely are the ones who could actually help you. It…