Here's what I have to say about gatekeeping, gatekeepers, and to anyone who has felt left out because they don't feel like they are qualified:
Fuck gatekeeping, and gatekeepers are assholes.
You're self worth, your creativity, your imagination and your uniqueness are what make me interested in you. I don't care if you can write something your pretentious old English teacher wants you to write. Instead do what feels natural to you. Do what feels like a good story, or a good piece of art.
Now I've heard this thing that you have to know the rules before you break them. The trouble with this is that the rules are changing. Most writers (and I assume artist and musicians) start out by trying to copy their favorites. Fantasy writers start out copying Tolkien or Rowling or Butcher, then they start to find their own voice and make it their own. A lot of rock musicians start out just doing shitty covers of their favorite bands. The thing is a lot of your favorite authors, musicians, artist, etc got famous for breaking some rules, being really good at it and making something new. So now the people copying the rule breaks are going in thinking that is the way it should work. The rules shift, the next generation of creative minds is going to build on top of the new rules and broken rules they have learned so gatekeeping a "Don't do this time honored literary thing." is going to fall flat when people are trying to work off someone who ignored it.
Now this doesn't mean don't take writing ADVICE. There's a lot of good advice out there to make your writing stronger. I love getting feedback and having something pointed out to me. Recently a fantastic beta reader pointed out that I was very lacking in descriptions. I didn't think about it but adding in descriptions of the guard uniforms, of dresses, of the rooms really brought the world to life. Now some people might think "Jesus Wesley, descriptions are writing 101."
You obviously weren't required to read a lot of Hemingway in school.
At the same time if the are some rules you want to keep and go for, than do it if that's what works for your art. There are people who say "omg you can't do that much world building in a fantasy novel people get bored." Yet the first great fantasy epic of the modern era is still one of the most popular series in print almost 80 years later and it's got world building so big it's hard to comprehend (yes this is Middle Earth). It didn't die with Tolkien either. Tell me Jordan's The Wheel of Time's world building isn't staggering, or Martin's GOT world isn't full of history, secret societies, bloodlines, etc etc. Yet these works are very popular. They are standing the test of time with old readers going back to them and new readers picking them up daily. Anyone who says "You're not the next Tolkien" needs to back down. Who knows if you're the next Tolkien or not. I'd prefer to find out who YOU are and what you are going to contribute on your own to art, not just who you are like. If you want to write an old school fantasy, go write an old school fantasy. If you want to do some weird psychedelic experimental rock music, do it, do what you'd want to see, listen to, or read.
The point is, don't let gatekeepers keep you out of something. They're assholes who think they are elitist but are probably just miserable themselves and want everyone else to feel that way with them.
You're wonderful, you're talented, and I am excited to see what you do, there are no gates with this guy. (Unless you're a nazi/racist/homophobic/etc, then go away)
Stay hydrated, keep dreaming.