Hello Idore,

Thank you so much for the wonderful critique, and also for the opportunity to enter this contest. . . I found it to be challenging, fun, and a great learning experience for myself. I would have responded sooner, but I wanted to wait until the contest results were in for fear that I'd somehow jinx myself!

I am simply elated that I've been given an honorable mention!. . . I've always been shy about this kind of thing, so subjecting myself to being judged and potentially "rejected" was a scary thing, but I am so happy I did. My confidence in my writing ability has probably increased tenfold, and I have been writing more than ever over the past several weeks. . . .

Thanks again for all your input and help, Idore. I look forward to (maybe) entering the contest again this next time around.

J. J. Kayson

Dear Idore [if I may],

Thank you for the critique. I haven't been so nicely handled since I first met my wife.

Robert Faulkender

Re: Critique, "The Broke Whisperer," Jan. 23, 2010

Idore,

Thank you for my Critique. All of your pointers were well received. This was my first time ever writing or just having the faith to submit something. I did have the story read where the waitress replied to me, but as you stated, I should have had others critique the story before submission. Again, thank you for being very professional, and you certainly know how to handle fragile novices, like me, with great care!! LOL.

Take care,

Leila Greene

Dear Idore,

Today I received your check and notice that I won First Prize in the 100 Words or Fewer Writing Contest (Third Contest (ed.)). Thank you so much; it is an honor.

I have just started writing for publication and this is the first time I have ever been paid for my work. What an exciting day! I was so happy that I found myself singing as I cleaned my boys' bathroom, something I seldom do... the cleaning, not the singing.

Thank you again for sponsoring this contest. I look forward to reading the other stories.

Sincerely,

Kristin Noel Fischer

Thank you tremendously for your generosity in giving me an evaluation for my “100 or Fewer Words” contest entry. I am a 61 year old untrained writer who has enjoyed writing short stories for roughly twenty years. I attended a workshop for three years in the middle of that 20 year span and learned a lot of basics, but I still have so much more to learn. I entered this contest not to win $500.00, but to see if I’m progressing. Your evaluation helps me greatly. “Circling back to the beginning” sounds like a way of keeping the story’s ending in line with its beginning. I will gladly try again after June 20.

Thank you so much again.

Ralph Jackson

I think it is a great challenge and fun; it kept me busy while my husband was sick, and since he died April 1, I am able to resume my writing.

Bette Mroz,
Arizona

Idore,

Thank you so much for your feedback! Looking back on that last line, I think you and the evaluator are exactly right; I should have omitted the “yet” I originally put “and” instead of “yet,” but it seemed almost too casual at the time. As for the mention of stars, I really wanted to leave that up to the reader, and I gladly welcome your initial interpretation that the character was staring at figments of her imagination. By the way, this was a fantastic contest! The guidelines and directions were clear and concise, and the contest itself challenged me in a rather unexpected way. The simple restriction to a hundred words or less had a noticeable effect on my skills as a writer, and it opened me up to a whole new style of short literature. Thank you again, and I look forward eagerly to your next contest!

Hannah Lewis,
North Carolina

Idore,

Thank you for the opportunity / experience to have been an entry in your contest. Did not expect my 'little story' to win anything. It was a unique experience...wanted to give it a whirl. A learning experience, for you and me. Contest scams are all over the Internet nowadays, at least 100 Words or Fewer was not one of those.

Too busy now to enter anything more for awhile. . . .

I also just wanted to say that regardless of the outcome, I have enjoyed your contest. The challenge was worth it. The experience worth more to me/ than money. I will watch for any others for the spring.