JKMacKay,
well said... I agree with everything you have said...
Where would you find better editors that you trust? I have met few other writers, they had suggested that I can join writing class online and get their feedback. Do you trust that one too? If I submit my work for a review, will they steal it...but the problem is, you must read other people's work. What if you are not a preofessional to read other people's work??? 
I did the same thing you did..I just write, write, write, read, read, write, write, read, read and so on... But the problem is you need another set of eyes, lol...
I just start a memior a year ago, is there a rule about writing a memior like in any other geres? Or you just write the way you want it since it is your story in real life? (Of course I make up names and places to prevent our idenity.)
