<table> </table> As Letters editor, I receive hundreds of e-mails, faxes and snail-mail letters from readers each week.</p><p>Choosing which 13 to 18 letters to print each day is a challenge, especially when many writers weigh in on the same hot topic.</p><p>What sends a letter to the top of my &#8220;publish&#8221; pile? Some pointers:</p><p>&#8226;Keep it short. We prefer that submissions be no longer than 150 words, and 200 is the maximum. Longer is seldom better. Which, as a reader, do you prefer: a long rambler or a short letter that gets right to the point?</p><p>&#8226;Top priority goes to letters that address specific topics in the news. But if you offer a widely held point of view on a topical issue, your publication chances diminish. If I receive many letters expressing similar opinions, I may publish several of the first and best. I always look for fresh takes on tired topics.</p><p>&#8226;Think of your audience. If you&#8217;re responding to a particular letter or news story, say which one. Provide some brief background information. Not everyone has read the story or heard the sound bite you&#8217;re writing about.</p><p>&#8226;Support your opinion with facts and figures, and cite your sources, please. This helps keep the Letters page factual. If your data don&#8217;t check out, your chances for publication dwindle.</p><p>&#8226;Avoid personal attacks and name-calling. The point of writing a letter to the editor is to convince readers that your opinion has merit. Saying that all (fill in the blank) are idiots, losers or kooks puts some readers on the defensive and obscures your message.</p><p>&#8226;Avoid sending letters via e-mail attachments. Sometimes I&#8217;m not able to open them, and sometimes the spam filter deletes them automatically. Copy and paste the text of the letter into the body of your e-mail.</p><p>&#8226;Don&#8217;t take it personally if your letter isn&#8217;t published. <em>The Star</em> receives many more letters than we have space to print. I often receive many eloquent letters expressing the same opinion.</p><p>And to allow as many viewpoints on the page as possible, we try not to publish any writer or Voices commentator more than once every 30 days.</p><p>I&#8217;m honored and privileged to read and publish your letters. Keep them coming.