Well, as you probably guessed, I've started getting responses to the ten crits I wrote last week.

Now, I know that what I write in my crits are my opinion, and I hope the person who subbed their story for critique knows this, too. And that's okay. We all have our different points of view.

Overall, the responses to the crits have been pleasant. E.g. "Thanks for the crit. I appreciate the plot hole note. And I'm glad you like my use of imagery."

Occasionally, I get responses that lead to a dialog. These are also useful and pleasant. Both the writer and I learn from these, I believe.

But oh it's so frustrating to have someone write back, saying that they agree with your crit but they're not going to rewrite because they don't have time or don't believe in rewrites or any number of things. Then why did you have me crit it in the first place? That's right kiddos -- better not to respond and leave it be.

Or how about this (something to this effect): "Everyone had problems with this plot/story issue, but no one understood that I was trying to change plot structure so what you guys are saying I didn't have was actually at the introduction of the story. (And there's other reasons why all the critiques didn't apply to their story.) I didn't write back saying anything like, "Well, in that case you have just changed the entire focus of your story, what your story is about, even though you have just written to tell me that your story was about this other thing, which needed this particular piece of plot here to make it work."

Now, I believe that it is up to the author (and perhaps editor in the end) to make decisions about what is done with a story. BUT if you have 15 - 20 people ALL telling you your story has this problem, you may want to listen.

I know this may make very little sense (trying to protect the identity of the writers and all that), but it a frustrating thing to be told that maybe I (and 15-20 other people) may have just wasted their time.