Who can afford to write today?

Francis Wilkinson of The Week daily newsletter takes the new media environment a step farther than most with an essay in which he asks the intriguing question: "Is writing for the rich?" Basically, he says it's the best of times for writers with lots of outlets and it's the worst of times since many can't get paid. It's a subject poignantly touched upon by the perceptive "Between Friends" comic by Sandra Bell-Lundy (you can find it at this address, look for the March 4 comic). It sums up the dilemma of the new media: lots of writing with little or no pay is available. An associated thought: Will the Internet become worth as much as you pay for it?