You click the alluring Submit button. Off goes your beautiful piece of imagination in hard copy.
And off goes yet another victim right into the con man’s hand.
You, unfortunately, are blissfully unaware of this. In fact, you’re celebrating the fact that your piece just got chosen to be published in an anthology available for purchase! The story got chosen out of millions of others and they actually bothered to mail you a printed copy of it along with a “personalized” letter from the director of said contest. In fact, they mailed you thrice when you took too long to respond, that’s how eager they are to award you. They’ll even send you an engraved plaque with you and your piece’s name on it!
. . . So long as you can snail mail them $450 to start the printing process, and attend the conference in Chicago to receive said plaque. Of course, you’ll be expected to buy your two-way plane ticket AND rent a hotel room from your own (or Mum and Dad’s) wallet ($???).
And if you pay just a wee bit more ($129 more) you’ll get a framed plaque!
Is anybody actually keeping track of the $ signs here?
Below is a list of contests and organizations that often place ads on popular websites that are then visited by us unsuspecting, aspiring writers. Many appear to be disguised vanity publishers, whose goal is to sell you expensive personalized products and attract you to conferences. Others may charge you membership or service fees for which the benefits are questionable, or which can be obtained elsewhere for free. Winning prizes from these organizations will add little to your resume, and may even make you look amateurish to publishers and other poets.
And off goes yet another victim right into the con man’s hand.
You, unfortunately, are blissfully unaware of this. In fact, you’re celebrating the fact that your piece just got chosen to be published in an anthology available for purchase! The story got chosen out of millions of others and they actually bothered to mail you a printed copy of it along with a “personalized” letter from the director of said contest. In fact, they mailed you thrice when you took too long to respond, that’s how eager they are to award you. They’ll even send you an engraved plaque with you and your piece’s name on it!
. . . So long as you can snail mail them $450 to start the printing process, and attend the conference in Chicago to receive said plaque. Of course, you’ll be expected to buy your two-way plane ticket AND rent a hotel room from your own (or Mum and Dad’s) wallet ($???).
And if you pay just a wee bit more ($129 more) you’ll get a framed plaque!
Is anybody actually keeping track of the $ signs here?
Below is a list of contests and organizations that often place ads on popular websites that are then visited by us unsuspecting, aspiring writers. Many appear to be disguised vanity publishers, whose goal is to sell you expensive personalized products and attract you to conferences. Others may charge you membership or service fees for which the benefits are questionable, or which can be obtained elsewhere for free. Winning prizes from these organizations will add little to your resume, and may even make you look amateurish to publishers and other poets.
· The Amherst Society
· Cader Publishing
· Circle of Poets
· Famous Poets Society
· Iliad Press (an imprint of Cader Publishing)
· Iliad Literary Awards Program
· International Library of Photography (aka Picture.com, affiliated with Poetry.com)
· International Library of Poetry (aka Poetry.com)
· International Poetry Hall of Fame (aka Poetry.com)
· International Society of Poets (aka Poetry.com)
· JMW Publishing Company
· League of American Poets (poetryamerica.com)
· The National Archives
· The Nashville International Song and Lyric Competition (aka Paramount Group)
· National Library of Poetry (aka Poetry.com)
· Noble House (an affiliate of Watermark Press and Poetry.com)
· Paramount Group
· Picture.com (aka International Library of Photography, affiliated with Poetry.com)
· Poetry.com
· Poetry Press
· Poetry Revival Contest
· Poetry Unlimited
· The Poets' Guild
· PoetsOnly.com
· The Poets' Workshop (www.poets.com aka Poetry.com)
· Sparrowgrass Poetry Forum
· Stamford Research
· TA.TI. Edizioni
· Watermark Press (aka Poetry.com)
· White Oak Press (aka Poetry America)
· Cader Publishing
· Circle of Poets
· Famous Poets Society
· Iliad Press (an imprint of Cader Publishing)
· Iliad Literary Awards Program
· International Library of Photography (aka Picture.com, affiliated with Poetry.com)
· International Library of Poetry (aka Poetry.com)
· International Poetry Hall of Fame (aka Poetry.com)
· International Society of Poets (aka Poetry.com)
· JMW Publishing Company
· League of American Poets (poetryamerica.com)
· The National Archives
· The Nashville International Song and Lyric Competition (aka Paramount Group)
· National Library of Poetry (aka Poetry.com)
· Noble House (an affiliate of Watermark Press and Poetry.com)
· Paramount Group
· Picture.com (aka International Library of Photography, affiliated with Poetry.com)
· Poetry.com
· Poetry Press
· Poetry Revival Contest
· Poetry Unlimited
· The Poets' Guild
· PoetsOnly.com
· The Poets' Workshop (www.poets.com aka Poetry.com)
· Sparrowgrass Poetry Forum
· Stamford Research
· TA.TI. Edizioni
· Watermark Press (aka Poetry.com)
· White Oak Press (aka Poetry America)
I’m not certain what exactly these guys do with the fiction pieces they have already received. I admit, I was foolish enough to fall for this a year ago. After three snail mails and four-plus emails, they finally gave up contacting me.
Anyways, just thought I’d post this here so none of you hard working people let your work into a scammer’s hands.
Anyways, just thought I’d post this here so none of you hard working people let your work into a scammer’s hands.
Adding your comment:
..... I'll post on this again when I remember so anyone who wants to try it can find it 
