In the nether-reaches of the internet, shadowy figures argue whether authors who write for money are sellouts. These are their opinions.
If you push aside enough cobwebs, wander down enough dank corridors, and tiptoe through enough iron-bound doors you might find yourself in the nether-reaches of the web where shadowy figures debate the question of whether writing should be about money or art.
I confess I have no strong views on this matter, but that’s not an interesting way to approach a question, so for the purposes of this post let’s pretend I have all the strong views.
In case your socks got too wet and your candle burned out before you reached this nether-web, here are some of the arguments that may or may not be bandied about.
Against art: Writing only thinking about yourself is self-indulgent.
Against money: Trying to write what you think readers want is the best way to produce vanilla, derivative stories.