[BitwiseFool]

I'd like to add that there is another aspect to this, sheer luck. There are brilliant authors, musicians, and artists that, for whatever reason, never get the traction they need to be successful. So much of success in creative endeavors depends on being at the right place at the right time, and in the right market.

As lamentable as it may be, if a larger proportion of the population was able to be artists there would still be a struggle to be recognized. In fact, it might even be harder for them.