A lot of writers don’t appreciate it, Bill, because it diverts readers to your story and they are not likely to come back and read more stories by the original author. If someone is reading the comments, they have usually read and liked the story. Often, they will scroll down to see if that writer has written anything else of interest. If they have, the likelihood that the reader will follow that writer increases.

When you divert them to your stuff, you’re now more likely to get that attention. You’re cutting the line, as it were.

We make money from reads. When a writer has earned a reader’s attention with a story, they deserve the chance to establish a further relationship with that reader. Even though you believe you are enriching the reader’s experience by adding your link, you’re diminishing the other writer’s earning potential from that reader.