Writers have always written for money. Publishers have always asked for payment. It was the advent of the web that made copy free.

The thing is that adverising slants copy in order to suit the advertiser, and that is why paywalls are important. More and more publications are going behind paywalls. If you recall, you would always pay for newspapers or magazines 30 years ago.

What is affecting the quality of writing is the fact that everybody thinks they can write. In reality, some 1% of the population has what it takes.

Yesterday I was reading some poor girl's writing saying something to the effect that she spent her day doing her nails. And she thinks this is worth publishing. Why? Because when a Kardashian does it, they get views. When a nobody does it, nobody cares less.

Why does she think she can write? Because there are a thousand bullshitters who are telling people they can. Sign up for my newsletter. Follow lots of people, and they will follow you back. This particular lady had added close to 7000 people and had nearly a 1000 follow her back, and she had 5 reads.

What does that tell you?