Don't get me wrong. My father appreciated good writing; he just didn't think there was any money or long-term happiness in it. And I have to admit it: Like most parents, if my child showed any signs of wanting to become a writer, I'd try to steer him or her in another direction.
Parental discouragement aside, there are also editors and agents, who make bouncers seem like Bambi on Ambien. Fact is, it's nearly impossible to make a steady wage as an entertainment writer or a novelist. Some dead authors succeed, if they secured a good contract pre-mortem. Today, The Great Gatsby is a perennial best-seller.
So, again: Who needs writers? Well, we all do - unless Jackass 3 (currently in production) is your cup of tea. The first two installments made $164 million at the box office. All that with no script and no discernible plot.
