Thread by @AGComedy

Just got harassed on LinkedIn by the same new writer who harassed me months ago. Had to report and block. Here's what NOT to do if you are a new writer asking people for help or advice THREAD #WritingCommunity #preWGA 1/

This guy approached me for help on a film project. I thought he meant help from me as a development producer/script writer (because I do this A LOT and it's right on my LinkedIn profile), so I quoted my rate and all the services he would get from me. No biggie, right? 2/

He responded with this 3/

Just decided to drop it. I don’t like escalation like this. If he has just something like “I don’t have any money- and this is cheeky, but could I bend your ear, just for a quick convo?” I would have said fine. 4/

Months later, today, he reaches out again, asking for hours of work giving them ideas and helping them with funding etc. I explained that I couldn’t do that, and that’s when everything blew up. 5/

He accused me of hypocrisy - “you make out like you’re supportive of disabled people” I AM BITCH, I’M DISABLED. I AM NOT SUPPORTIVE OF ASSHOLES. Then he accused me of being rich and having no idea how hard new writers work HE WRITES 3-4 hours a day! 6/

(Those of you who know me well know I work b/t 10-18 hours a day, almost always on weekends too, haven’t had a holiday in 4 years, and sacrificed everything as an autistic single mum for this). I give tons of free notes, serve on 2 disability boards and champion new writers 7/

So new writers, please take the time to get to know more seasoned writers in the community. When you reach out to them, value their time. At best entitlement will get you nowhere- at worst, it literally gives an autistic person like me the shakes. 8/

I promise you new writers if you change your approach to networking from “what can I GET from this person” to “how can I use my knowledge and skills and abilities to GIVE to others while I grow” it will change things for you. 9/

There are some garbage people in this industry but so many people are AWESOME and they want authentic friendships just like you do. Find the people you have stuff in common, grow real relationships, and the help and advice will flow naturally. BUT 10/

Of course sometimes we do need help and advice fast from people we don’t know. This is something I teach to writers and TV/Film students- here’s a link to a thread that can help you. 11/

But please, be kind. We are living in such a dumpster fire of a time, and we’re all on the edge. We need to have a think about how we reach out to people. Put out kindness, we get kindness back. Put out fear or anger, we literally make things harder for ourselves WHY?!?! 12/

Phew, that felt good. The shakes will eventually stop and I’ll continue to love the hell out of this #writingcommunity. Y’all have given me so much. People who rock win when we’re here for each other in the struggle. Turn to people, not on them. #pipelinewriters ##preWGA