Dear Andy Weir, I am also a writer and I hope someday to write novels, specifically young adult novels, more specifically YA sci-if and fantasy, as weird as possible. Sometimes online I find other authors, young authors who have published maybe a few ebooks or short stories, who write in the niches I like. But when I try to reach out to them on their websites, they always ignore me. I'm sad because I want to find new people to share my writing with and talk about wiring with.
What's the best way to contact another writer that you want to get to know and share writing with without coming across as a person just looking for free publicity or whatever these online authors think I want? What words and phrases should I use to indicate that I'm looking to network, not to shill?
Because I'm a little awkward and extremely direct I would really appreciate getting some advice from you! Thanks!