I don’t like being thought of as a wagon, but I do like to think of myself as a welcoming person.
When a new person or family moves into the apartment building where my hubby and I live, I like to go to their place during the move and introduce myself. I believe this makes their transition to their new life in our building easier.
Similarly, when an editors’ organization to which I belong releases a list of people who joined the association during the past month, I like to go through it and contact those who live in my home state to welcome them to the organization. I also tell them a little about myself and my editing business while asking them what they do (if I cannot find out from their organizational profile).
Why only those who live in my home state? There are always way too many people on the list to contact every single one of them. The exception I make is that I will contact people who live in or near a certain major city next to my state, since my adopted hometown is a bedroom community of this city.
I also refrain from contacting men or those who identify as male. Doing this, in my opinion, can make things complicated (if you know what I mean), since I am a woman.
Some people choose to remain silent and that is okay; I respect people’s desire to remain private. Others write back and are very friendly and appreciative that I took the time to welcome them. Thus often begins a “pen pal” friendship. I have even subsequently spoken on the phone with other editors.
Do you like to welcome other authors and/or editors? What has that experience been like for you?