“Ok George,” read the message posted on the writers’ critique site.  “I’m still waiting for your analysis of my story ‘The Rockets Go Boom!’ but here are my comments about your piece.

“Given that prologues are never a good idea it would be superfluous to say that yours is too long.  What an info dump!  Try to reveal the setting and alien psychology through action rather than dialogue and exposition.  Show, don’t tell!

“Now, to the meat of the thing.  I found your alien protagonist to be rather… androgynous.  Sure, he’s married and all but your descriptions of his ‘luscious indigo eyes veined with silver’ and ‘hair infused with the light of the sun’ leave a definite impression, if you know what I mean.  And why the knock on religion?  Contrasting the enlightened, science-worshipping husband with the raving religious fanatic wife is a little over the top, don’t you think? …