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You'd rather a promising writer serve dishes than write? Would you say that about someone who could code?

How about both? I’m not being glib but it’s not like you can’t have a blue collar job and write during your downtime. Especially if it is your passion.

You’re far more likely to hire a bunch of “writers” who don’t want to do work they consider beneath them than to give the next Hemingway who is stuck at McDonald’s their big chance.

Hard to write if you're working 80 hours a week at a restaurant. Yes, that is a realistic amount of time for someone at a restaurant to work before you say "just work part time and survive on $200 a week".

Lots of prolific writers composed their early works while working menial jobs. It's hardly a barrier to entry for people with something worthwhile to contribute and if anything it's become easier to publish and find an audience rather than harder.

If there is demand for their product they won't have to worry about having to enrolling in such government programs. The same goes for anyone in any discipline.

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