Writers, theyÂ're a fickle bunch. It just doesnÂ't matter how much money you throw at them, or how many cases of bourbon you send, most of them will still flake out on you.  ItÂ's true. On the scale of dependability, writers rank just a little above pirates, but below topless dancer on a coke bender. (Some writers spend their lives trying to get below a topless