Actually, this is my point (and Amanda Palmer's): Artists are really bad at understanding when they are being offered donuts. They are also really bad at accepting the donuts. I have spent the last 20 years working with artists and arts organizations, and it is astounding how blind artists are to the opportunities that are being thrown at them every single day. And how reticent they are to accept the proffered donut. Accepting the donuts requires the artist to understand they are being offered a donut, it isn't poisoned, they do deserve it, and accepting the donut does not compromise their art in any way. That's a big part of "The Art of Asking".... teaching artists that it is ok to ask, and to receive. Writers and artists should take the donuts when they are offered, but unfortunately they rarely are ...