Jasper Milvain - in 'New Grub Street' by George Gissing - is an optimistically enterprising writer:
"There's an idea, by-the-bye. I'll write a paper on the characteristics of that new generation; it may bring me a few guineas, and it would be a help to you."
"But what do you know about the subject?" asked Dora doubtfully.
"What a comical question! It is my business to know something about every subject — or to know where to get the knowledge."