Okay, so now my confidence is in tatters.  It was bound to happen.  Sol reminds me that I'm tired, and therefore should not draw any sweeping conclusions from my current mental state.

I got back a crit on a story that I have worked very hard on and I thought was almost there, and having read my friend's comments I know that it is just undeniably not.  And I don't know if I have what it will take to fix it.  I don't know if I should try to fix it.  The problem of diminishing returns occurs to me. 

I can take critique.  That's not the issue.  The issue is that this one has been through critique multiple times already, and I believe that it is very, very close to as good as my skills can get it at this time.  And that is not good enough.   

I'm going to stop whining now and go watch the DVD of Ray Bradbury speaking at the conference.  Ray always helps.  

And I'll try again tomorrow.