Dear Mr. Critique Guy,

When I agreed to exchange pages with you, I know I said I wanted an in-depth edit. I know I said I wanted you to be straight with me. I said that thing about not pulling your punches because I’m tough. I think I strutted a little at that point.

I’m used to hearing tough critiques because I’ve been a member of a writing group for years, okay? Week after week these people read my spew and give me thoughtful comments, whether to say “great” or “start over.”

These people should be sainted but I digress.

You come along and with a snap of your fingers you say my character needs to show his emotion more. Oh really. Whuttt, you can’t read my mind? And I can’t even tell you about it . . . I have to SHOW this stuff to you?

Mr. Critique Guy, you ask a lot, you know?