Crux Compatible

Rejected by The New Yorker (pt. 8)

The goal of a first message isn’t to impress someone. It’s to give them something fun and easy to respond to.

Pay attention to their profile. Notice the weird little details. Ask about something specific. Add to the joke. Get a little weird yourself.

You don’t need to be hilarious or come up with the perfect line. You just need to show a little personality—and make it clear you actually read their profile.

And please, for the love of God, don’t just say “Hey.”

The best Hinge openers come from actually paying attention to someone’s profile.

Notice the weird thing in the background. Pick up on the obscure reference. Playfully disagree with something they said. Take something literally that obviously wasn’t meant to be.

Be curious. Be specific. Add a little humor. And most importantly, give them something they can actually respond to!