See, here is the thing, only a small handful of literally millions of people will be capable of "writing successully" without a degree. I'm not saying because they lack talent, but instead, they lack opportunity. You aren't going to be writing for a major news network/magazine/paper/whatever if you don't have a degree. It is as simple as that. And without such a job...well it is very difficult to get your name out there.It'd have been more worth my while to write successfully for a few years and then teach at a college level with an honorary degree that they give me. It's why we don't have math and science teachers anywhere; when they go to college, they don't get just a degree. They get very specific skills that can be used in the workforce.
Now, books on the other hand are a different story. Books you don't really need a degree for. Afterall it is a job that pays ZERO money unless you manage to sell your book to a publishing company (I'd assume this is what OS is talking about?).
Also, OS, what exactly have you written? I've always been curious, you got any links? (aside from that website with Melee and Halo stuff, lol).
EDIT: also, no one is going to believe your "skills" if you don't have a degree. Most people won't give you the time of day in a job interview without a degree of some sort.