Well, first of all, if you believe me to be singling out writers, it's because I'm responding to a thread about writers, and because I am one of them. I write fiction and I'm working toward getting published, and I very much hope to earn money for my writing. Nowhere did I say that writers should work for free.

What I said is that pay should not be the sole motivation for a writer to write. And I don't believe that most of the fiction in a bookstore was written solely for pay. That doesn't mean the money wasn't a factor. That doesn't mean money isn't important. But think about all your favorite authors and if you can, ask them which of their works they're most proud of.

This was a thread about seeking motivation to write. I believe the most essential reason any person should write fiction is because they have a story they want to tell. It doesn't have to be the only factor, and I'm sure it isn't. If a writer is lucky enough to be paid for their writing, all the more reason to do it. Money determines a lot of things. But if you're a writer, the fundamental question of whether you write or not should not be one of them.