Miss Mattie’s Guide To Introducing Yourself To Another Writer

Summary

Miss Mattie provides guidance on the proper etiquette for readers to engage with and introduce themselves to writers on Medium, emphasizing the importance of meaningful interactions through comments and highlights rather than generic requests for follow-backs.

Abstract

Miss Mattie, through her nephew Harold's account, addresses the need for courteous and substantial engagement with Medium authors. She suggests that readers should leave evidence of their visit by highlighting, clapping, or commenting on articles, rather than merely reading. A thoughtful comment, particularly one that references specific parts of the writer's work, is seen as an appropriate way to introduce oneself and encourage the writer to reciprocate by reading the commenter's work. Miss Mattie also advises against using generic messages like "#FollowMeBack" as they do not leave a positive first impression. She provides a template for a polite introductory comment and reminds readers that an extended message can be drafted in a document and revised for context. Additionally, Miss Mattie points readers to Medium's rules for fair play and invites questions in the comments section, ensuring that the community remains informed and engaged.

Opinions

Miss Mattie believes that reading alone is insufficient for making a meaningful connection with a writer; active engagement through comments, highlights, or claps is necessary.
She values personalized and affirming comments that show genuine interest in the writer's work, suggesting that such interactions are more likely to result in mutual engagement.
Miss Mattie discourages the use of impersonal requests for follow-backs, viewing them as ineffective for making a good first impression.
She recommends saving and revising longer messages in a document before posting to ensure they are contextually appropriate.
Miss Mattie encourages adherence to Medium's community guidelines and offers her assistance in answering any questions about proper etiquette on the platform.
She promotes full membership on Medium, highlighting the benefits for both readers and authors, and provides links for further engagement with her content.

Miss Mattie explains the proper way to introduce yourself to another writer.

My dear aunt, Miss Mattie, has observed lately that some readers are not familiar with the right way to read and acknowledge the literary endeavors of Medium authors. Miss Mattie wishes to set the record straight on the appropriate etiquette of introducing yourself to another writer.

To properly read a Medium post, a reader should subtly leave evidence of one’s visit. Whereas reading time counts for the metering of the written word, reading alone does not provide a calling card the way that highlighting, clapping, or commenting leaves evidence.

Your introduction to another writer should be done through responding (commenting).

Miss Mattie says that either responding to a specific passage or the entire story is an excellent way to engage with the writer. Responding to another writer is your opportunity to make a positive first impression with the writer and other visitors who happen along.

You may leave a simple message such as, “Thank you for posting.” You may wish to express more affirming words of encouragement. It is also appropriate to politely encourage the writer to read some of your work. Something along these lines would be suitable.

You have such worthwhile things to say. Thank you so much. Your statement of “yada yada yada” especially resonated with me. Please look at some of my stories if you have a chance.

An upbeat message inviting someone to read your work respects their time and is likely to bear fruit.

Leaving a brief comment such as #FollowMeBack is unlikely to provide a positive impression. You only get one chance to make an excellent first impression.

Harold’s Hint: An extended message can be saved to a Google doc or Word doc and then copied, pasted, and revised to suit the context.

Questions for Miss Mattie

Miss Mattie recognizes Medium is a big playground, and unspoken rules may be hard to learn. Please feel free to pose questions in the responses. She will do her best to answer promptly.

Disclosure: Grammarly.com edited this story.

If you haven’t joined Medium as a full member yet, please consider doing so. A portion of your membership fee supports the Medium authors you read at no additional cost and gives you full access to every story. You can use this [link].

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Miss Mattie’s Guide To Introducing Yourself To Another Writer

Miss Mattie explains the proper way to introduce yourself to another writer.

Your introduction to another writer should be done through responding (commenting).

Resources for fair play.

Questions for Miss Mattie

Miss Mattie's Guide To Reading a Story

Miss Mattie explains the proper ways to read a Medium story or article.

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