Poetry Contest Scams and Rip-offs

Don't Let it Happen to You 

Unfortunately, there exist many poetry scam artists who advertise on the internet and in popular magazines or local newspapers. They prey on the trusting and unwary, especially the young and the elderly, with their offers of FREE entry in poetry contests having awards of large monetary prizes and publication. The sponsors of these contests care more about contestants' money than their poetry. Virtually all contestants' poems are accepted (regardless of merit) with glowing praise, then money is requested and cajoled by various and nefarious schemes-- beginning with giving the writer the "option" to purchase the book in which their own work will appear. Friends, the legitimate world of publishing does not work this way. Real publishers pay poets for their work. These contest schemes take millions of dollars from unsuspecting amateur poets each year. 

Click here to see -- Literary and Poetry Scams


Would-be Poets & Scam Artists 

Click here for a summary of Prof. Jenijoy LaBelle's essay in The AWP Chronicle, "The National Library of Poetry--A Scam that Doesn't Scan"

"I hope this will alert many sincere and devoted amateur poets to hang on to their money and share their writings with trusted friends, mentors and established and reputable publications."
              ---Allan R. Andrews


Suggestion: Poets seeking recognition for their work might consider submitting to literary magazines rather than to contests.  Click here for info.


This web page is provided as a public service by Wind Publications. Your comments are welcome.

Copyright 1998, 1999, Wind Magazine.



   


ABC TV's 20/20 Exposé of The National Library of Poetry
Jan 5, 1998 

Tip-Off on Poetry Contest That’s a Rip-Off

Correspondent Arnold Diaz interviews Miss Silio's second grade class, each of whom received the same letter saying that out of the thousands of poems, we have chosen your notable work for publication.

Click HERE for more information.

The National Library of Poetry has recently changed their name to International Library of Poetry (or poetry.com). 

Poetry Ghastly, Published Fastly 
by John Woestendiek
from The Philadelphia Inquirer

"To help you further understand what the National Library of Poetry is all about, let me tell you what else [in addition to the opportunity to purchase their poetry anthology] I've been offered in the last year (and also take this opportunity to apologize to my mail carrier):

"My poem mounted on a walnut-finish plaque ($38), read by a professional reader on cassette tape ($29.95), and printed on laminated wallet-sized cards (96 for $49.95); an invitation to join the International Society of Poets, also located in Owings Mills, Md., and attend its annual convention ($595); election into the International Poetry Hall of Fame, and a permanent John Woestendiek Poetry Exhibit in their World Wide Web museum ($189); an application for an International Society of Poets Master Card; and a letter from a music production company saying they had read my first poem and thought it should be set to music -- either rock, soul, country, gospel or folk -- and offering to do that and send me five copies of the cassette ($299)." 

The total comes to well over a thousand dollars.