It's funny you say this because part of my low mood surrounds a children's book I'm trying to publish. I wrote the story and my mother and I are doing the illustrations. Because of our lack of computer knowledge, I'm stuck relying on others in my family who have yet to find the time to help me.

The elite few aren't necessary elite as writers, but I wouldn't put it past them to consider themselves as such. Interestingly, many don't have much to write home about, pardon my pun. But like you said, those who criticize hurt. It's not that they've necessarily criticized my writing, but have made blanket statements about a bunch of us writers who support each other and write to prompts naming us as less than.