I honestly thought it couldn't hurt. At worst she has to waste time reading a message she's uninterested in, at best we work together. That's all the more possibilities I considered. I certainly got ahead of myself after that one comment that said s/he'd be flattered and figured everyone must feel the same. And I meant that "I've improved" thing as an offer to show her my work if she wanted to see it

What does she gain? My assistance. I can't put myself in her shoes too much because it's been so long since I actually posted anywhere - that's why I asked here. But if someone offered to be my editor/assistant writer, I don't know that I'd be as insulted