Tessa, writers are people; you can find all kinds.

The closest I came in asking for help was when, at the very beginning of my writing, I challenged one of the best Polish columnists to show me what was wrong with my column that he just rejected. He got pissed off and erupted with a one-minute tirade showing one by one all my mistakes. That minute was priceless. I learned so much.

I made a lot of effort to help other writers when I noticed the talent and saw that my advice could be beneficial. I do it on Medium as well.