I didn't want to reply to this, but I decided to do it 
anyway; seeing that you went through all the trouble to 
send it to the list.  It's only fair that I show you 
the mistakes you may have made. 

<snip the rest of this>

I'm not even going to bother arguing with you. There is no logic to
your argument. You seem to have journalism and contract writers
confused with freelance writers, which is what *most* of us on this
list would probably aspire to be. Writers who set their *own*
timetables and work schedules, and sell a book when they have it
finished.

And yes, just so you know, many people who *do* write professionally
find that they have to set their work aside once in a while, due to
writer's block, and quite a few of them would have no problems with
taking up a short fanfiction project in the meantime. It's a way to
get the juices flowing and have a little fun.

Freelance writers, sir, cannot "get fired". The publisher might tell
them to take a hike if they take *too* long to get a book done, but
they are not drawing a paycheck from the publishing company. They do
not earn a monthly salary for writing. They may get an advance, but
they don't get *paid* for *writing* until they've *finished writing*.
And I have it on good authority that in many cases, writers take up
to a year to finish a novel. A year is a lot of time, sir, and
there's more than enough time in there to toss out a side project
just for fun or as an exercise to relieve writer's block.

Now, I suggest we move on to other, better, more important topics.
This started out as a valid, interesting topic, but as Gary has
pointed out, it has degenerated into an out and out argument. I, for
one, have better things to do with my time. Like writing.

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What kind of Pokemon are you?
How do you do the things you do?
Share with me your secrets deep inside...
What kind of Pokemon are you?
Are you loyal through and through?
And do you have a heart that's true?
What kind of Pokemon are you?

-The Eternal Lost Lurker
(the 666th Pokemon)

"Pokemon, getto daze!"
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