Writer's Fallout Shelter

Kind of on topic... ever read Atlas Shrugged? Good novel, that.

Seriously, who are these "serious" writers, and have they ever been paid? Is it their sacred respect for art's virginity, or a bad case of sour grapes (perhaps they have yet to feel the satisfaction derived from payment)? Why should you write (or, more to the point, share your writing with others) for free?

I do it here, on this site - but it's not really free. I get a relationship with readers, beginning with comments and continuing through dialogue and friendships, that would be impossible in other venues. I have fun. See, I get paid for my 8-5 writing job - I do this for my soul. But I still expect something of value in return, because as you say, writing is work. It's fun work - but it's still work. So we shouldn't get paid because we're smart enough to do a job we love to do? How would we eat and keep roofs over our heads with that mentality?