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Novels NonFiction Poetry

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Received 12/6/03I got the link through an online game called utopia
which is a respectable game. So trusting the game I
went to poetry.com and submitted a poem and WOW! I was
selected fortunately I didn't have the money at the
time to waste on the book. the I submitted a poem which
I was very proud of them WOW I was a winner again
but this I was an editors choice. Then I received an
email from them saying they wanted to publish me in
the UK and I am like sure... No now furious for
perverting the point of my favorite poem I submitted
this:

I can't believe you people
You guys are liars
Taking respectable poets
and putting a blind over there eyes
this is all fake
I am sick of you
All of you should be ashamed of yourself
I hope that you are put out of business.
this disgrace is called poetry dot com

The first time I tried submitting it they wouldn't
allow me to put the word "SCAM" in it. OH SURPRISE, now I
wait for my letter to come saying I have been
published for this poem. I am truly furious at them
and believe that they should not be able to disgrace
the work of respected poets everywhere ANYMORE!HobbitReceived 12/7/03I just want to know what I could do to stop it. I tried emailing them of course it isn't an actual email. And I spent my parents money for a book with one of my so called "published" poems in it. And now I want the money back and am really angry about it. I was looking forward to having one of my poems published and my parents are still waiting for a book that will possibly never come. It's been two months and I haven't received this book with my poem in it. ::sighs:: It's www.poetry.com, I just recently found out about the scam. HopeReceived 12/11/03Poetry.com, also known as the International Library of Poetry, or the International Society of Poetry, recruits famous poets to preside at their annual conventions. These poets, according to the poetry.com website, are "professors and PhDs in literature" at leading universities. These respected poets are used by the ISP to lend an air of legitimacy to an organization that victimizes thousands of people each year. One can only specualte why these poets prostitute themselves to such an organization. It might be a good idea if folks were to e-mail these professor poets to let them know their opinions regarding the ISP, poetry.com, and ILP, also opinions regarding anyone who would lend their talents to assist such an organization. [Please write me for] the names of the professors who appear at the ISP conventions....

I got these e-mail addresses off the internet. So I don't believe I'm invading anybody's privacy. If these poets are proud of their connection to Poetry.com and the ISP they should be glad to hear from those who've entered their contests.CharlieReceived 12/16/03Oh, the winner should definitely be poetry.com.
They have themselves connected with www.emode.com now, and a couple of months ago I clicked a link to 'test my poetry IQ.' Before I got my results, they wanted me to submit a poem. So, I slapped down something from a school assignment--I'm only 17--hit 'submit' and waited for my test results...which I never got. What I did get, however, was an email tonight telling me my poem had been selected for an anthology called 'Eternal Portraits.' (The bad title alone should have clued me off.)
My first reaction was to be very excited--any artistic ego would love to believe that their poem was a semi-finalist in a competition--but as soon as they asked me for money, I knew there was trouble. Then I noticed how easy the forms asking for 'verification' that my work was original were to fill out. Too easy. I was convinced it was a ridiculous scam by now.
I did some poking around on their site and found some awful poetry being displayed, and noticed that they'd published something like one anthology a month for the past four years. Ha. I decided to do some quick research to see how many other people had been scammed, and laughed out loud at the 954 web results for 'poetry.com scam.'
Of course, when I realized that I couldn't get my poem off their site, I wasn't so pleased. You can't just delete it...they want you to call some long-distance phone number, which undoubtedly is perpetually hooked up to an answering machine that automatically deletes all its messages at the end of every day. I won't even bother. I've now read enough testimony to know it won't get me anywhere.
I did go to their site and edit my poem for them though, because you can do that. It's now a very long insult with a tacky rhyme scheme, that ends with me asking them to remove my poem. I even changed the title to 'F*** Off'...
The language is called for, I believe. Con artists who take advantage of hopeful writers are the scum of the universe. I really hope they send me another email, this time about the glories of my poem, 'F*** Off.' Wouldn't that be hilarious?
~May Received 1/28/04Late last year, I sent in a poem on Poetry.com for a contest. All of a
sudden I get these papers saying that they want to publish my poem in a poetry book, that I can buy the book for 49.95, and I can also get my poem printed on a plaque for 40$ I also was a semi-finalist. Yesterday, January 27th, 2004, I just received papers inviting me to the annual Poetry Symposium at the Walt Disney World Resort. It said that I would get a silver cup award, and if I won the grand prize of 20 000& that I would also win a publishing contract etc. Well, I'm in Gatineau, QC and all of the money that I have spent so far (for the plaque) has been in US$..and now they want me to attend this symposium in Florida which I would have to pay for hotel accomodations (167$ US per night) plus the flight etc. Let me tell you, I couldn't go either way but I was very excited and would have gone if I had the money, that is until I came to your site and read all of the reviews for Poetry.com. Thanks to all who posted them and thank you for having this site.

LouiseReceived 1/29/04I too have listed my poetry at poetry.com but only to copywrite it. I
have also called the long distance phone number and got an actual person. I have gotten only 2 poems asked to be submitted for their anthology series called A Friends Calling and I am a Black Woman. I would like to know what and how to get my poetry published. without the DRAMA.
Thanks SDW Received 2/5/04I have been receiving many ongoing mailings via US Mail as well as in my email from Poetry.comAt first I was allured to the possibility of having my poetry published, but then when the first letter came in and said we need $25 for the Author's Profile and $49 for one book and $89 for two, I was beginning to be skeptical... I did it anyway, just to see what would happen... I had my first poem published and I even got an Editor's Choice award for it too... I paid the $50 to buy the Poetry on cd too... And because the Poem was very special and sentimental to me I even bought the $89 poem encased on a walnut plaque so that I could give it to him for a wedding present...  Then the big scam came...... They sent me a letter stating that they wanted me to come to some awards ceremony claiming to have some big stars there to give out the awards, but I needed to send them $179 for my award... Of course I didn't fall for that and I soon began to discard the emails and the mail after that.... My english teacher and also the Editor with whom I work with informed me that if you have to pay for an award that you really deserve, then there is something wrong with this picture..  So I felt pretty good about that. and then the little girl down my street also started getting stuff from Poetry.com too and was so excited that she was going to have her poem published.... I later informed her mother about the Poetry.com scam and to please not get discouraged over her daughter's ability, but don't fall into the trap of paying out money they really didn't have....SO, if there is anything else I can include, please feel free to email me and I will do so.. I am a free lance writer and also a good poet and have been published in the past long before Poetry.com and really hope that there is something more that we can do to bring about awareness of these types of scams.Sincerely,De AnneReceived 2/6/04Hi the ISP spring poetry symposium. It is with the national poetry society and they tell you that Bob Eubnaks will be there (former game show host), and they invite you to FLorida. The cost is outrageous. Please check this one out for me.

Thanks,CarlReceived 2/25/04I would like to know is there such a thing as the Nobel House of Poetry. I have not received the books that I order. It has been serveral months now. There is no phone number listed for them or there flyer just addresses.

My e-mail address is LareeshaHall24@hotmail.comReceived 2/26/04Yes, the list goes on and on of the complaints of Poetry.com. They certainly fooled me into sending $49 of my hard earned money.
My poem was going to be published so I thought this was great ..I was flattered.
I became concerned about this SCAM organization this month when my 12 year daughter received two semi finalist letters.
One for each poem she submitted to the site. One poem is on Poetry.com but the other one isn't ... Now isn't that odd.
Knew right away that the whole thing was a rip off.My gut feeling and prediction happened. Now I'm left wondering if I'll ever receive the book with my poem in and if I do receive it ...Will they ever give me back a refund on the book? I tried to call a phone number on their web site at Owings Mills but it has endless music but no answer.
Who is this W.D.Snodgrass character ? Also this Spring Convention or Symposium costs too much money.
Dose Bob Eubanks know that these are a bunch of con artists ? The Trophy is a mantel place disaster that if it really dose cost $200
worth. Spending so much of ones own money on their own artistic work to be published is a crying shame.
So I bite the dust this time. Hope something will be done in future that will stop corrupt Poetry.com from ever operating.
The young and the old are the ones that are getting hit worse in their pockets.

Sincerely,

NeilReceived 2/27/04

I wanted to give you all an update concerning my poetry.com scam report on January 28th. I recently received an e-mail from poetry.com saying that they were ‘sorry’ that I could not attend the symposium and that I had to be there to win some kind of trophy then they proceeded to tell me that although I couldn’t get the trophy unless I was there, they could still send me the other prizes (cup, award, ability to send my poems to certain people blah blah blah) as long as I still paid the ‘participation’ fee of 167$ U.S. funds, which would be approximately 225$ Canadian. Go figure. I’m really disappointed in poetry.com and I hope that other poetry writers realize that poetry.com is a scam before it’s too late for them.


Louise (see 1/28/04 entry, above)
  Received 3/29/04 This one is the best! After reading your site, I did check poetry.com, only to find my name there as one of their published poets.... With a poem that I never wrote!!!! HAHAHA!!!!
From the moment I received their first letter, I knew they were criminals, but imagine having accepted to go to DC to accept the award for a poem that isn't mine!!! I wonder where mine is though.... Maybe someone else did receive the award for my poem after all. Congratulations!

Antonio

Received 3/31/04

HI,   I wrote a poem and sent it to three sites. JMW Publishing Company, American Poets Society and Famous Poets Society. I was shocked when all 3 responded with letters telling me they wanted to publish my poem.  Just like what  I've been reading from others, these people want me to buy a book(s) that my poem will be in. They all seem to have the same price in mind, around $39.95. Oh, and I'm a semi-finalist in all 3 contest. Thanks to web sites like this and others, these people will not be getting my money. There has to be some way to stop these shameless, heartless people. When did praying on the vulnerable and crushing dreams become fun?    Christine

Received 4/16/04Hi:

I am so glad I found this site, I cannot believe I actually thought I got picked. I got scammed big time I even sent them money, meaning Poetry.com they promised me a my poem in a book, they promised to have someone read my poetry at Disney World at this Spring convention in 2004 in March, and a trophy of some kind with my name engraved in it. I sent them like 165.00 dollars for all of that, this really sucks finding out that Poetry.com is a fraud site.

chantelle
 

Received 4/26/04

I have been a member of ILP (poetry.com) for a couple of years now. I have to say that I am a bit confused with all the bashing and claims of being scammed.

I am a cynic by nature and extremely skeptical. So I had my attorney look into them, before I paid for anything. What he found was a place for people to publish their work for free. If you want a copy of the book you are published in, you have to pay for it. They have a phone number, that you get a real person to talk to, 9am-5pm, Monday-Friday. They have an address, in a real building, that employs nine people, whom of which do not work for free. Think of the cost there. Somehow I just can't see them doing it for the money. I have several poems posted, and have seven published in their anthologies. I do not mind paying for a copy of the book.

When have I call them, or send letters, I have always gotten an answer or a reply. I wasn't blown off, and I received all that they said that I would. I had an instances that made me feel as though it was a scam, but when I contacted them, they fixed it. I had order two books that I hadn't received in a years time. When I called them to let them know about it, I got my books within three weeks. Maybe it is all about communication. If they don't know there is a problem, how can they fix it.

I have read many accounts to prove that they will publish anything, even if it sucks. Big deal. We are amateurs and just maybe they are giving everyone a chance to be in print. But that doesn't mean that it is a scam. It is a poet's society. Like belonging to a club. Why is that so hard for people to understand. Their contests are real, and the people who win are real. The ones that suck, do not win. Has anyone ever considered where the contest money comes from? It doesn't just fall from the sky.

I belong and have belonged to many "clubs" and organizations that I have to pay for something. Nothing is free. Everything you belong to will cost you somewhere, from membership dues, to maybe paying for your own uniforms or club jackets. You people with children should know that. Look at Girl Scouts. A world wide well known organization, and it cost me every year for my daughter to be a member. Think about it. How many of you buy their cookies, so that their chapter will get 50 cents of every $3.50 box they sell? Nobody calls it scam. And nobody questions where the other $3 X 1.8 million boxes goes, when you dealing with a non-profit, volunteer organization. They are a multi-million dollar industry. So much for non-profit. And lets not forget sports. Just how much does that cost you a year. One of the many complaints is that we have to pay for shipping and handling for trophies? So what. Yes you may deserve the trophy for your hard work, but I still have to help pay for my children's trophies in their favorite sports, and they are good at what they do. Everything has a cost.

Has anyone stopped to consider that the money for making these books has got to come from somewhere. They do not sale the books to the public, so therefore there is no money to be made there. And as far as the conventions, and all the complaining about the cost, what would better suite you? Free? There are two a year, of which one is held in Disney World. For those of you have never gone, you are given the opportunity to meet other people who are just as interest in your work as you are. And for those of you who have gone to Disney World (not to the convention) you know that it is expensive in itself. If you can't afford to go, don't go. But that doesn't make it fraudulent. They have people on staff, and they have costs.

Come on people. We all want to be recognized and praised. We all want our work to be noticed, and yet, we bitch about having to pay for a damn book. Or having to pay for the shipping and handling for a trophy. Yes, you work hard to be noticed, and it is a shame that someone would take advantage of that, but face it. If you were a famous poet, you wouldn't be entering in an amateur poet's contest. And you would have a publishing contract that made you money. Everyone is complaining that they feel taken advantage of. But I think what it really boils down to is money. Wanting something for nothing. If your work meant that much to you, I would hear more about it, and not how much you would have to spend. Even having a publishing contract will cost you. You loss a percentage of you sales to the publisher. Nothing is free.People struggle for years to have their work noticed, and get no where. I am happy that someone is willing to put my words into print. Even if my poetry "sucks" and isn't good enough to make me famous, I am okay with that. Because I have been doing for a long time, and it probably isn't that good, or I would be raking in the dough. At least ILP gives me a change to feel good about what I write, when I don't have publishing contracts beating down my door. My friends and family enjoy getting copies of my work. Even if it is considered "vanity publishing", at least it is out there.Jonie Received 5/7/04I just received a somewhat authentic looking notice that I have been accepted in the Who' Who in Poetry and the laterst anthology "Eternal Portraits". The poem I submitted, in my opinion was indeed one of my very best and am now very disappointed that it is such a scam. Now as for Jonie (Post 4/36/04) I bet 5 bucks she or he works for poetry.com. Her posting sounded so real and heartfelt. God Bless her! I think I'll just continue to write poetry the old fashioned way and display them in my house. After all I write them for my family's enjoyment most of all.

Dorenda Received 5/7/04

I can't believe that all this complaining and this great web site about this scam.  I just wrote and entered another poem today, which already I can not access.  Why hasn't anyone stopped them and there web site?  What can we do, to knock them out of business.  This is disceptive practice, false advertising, I mean these people use the federal mail system for part of there scam.  I'm sure some laws have been broken.  I only found this web site because I was looking for there email to tell them I couldn't access my poetry.  I called them, they said I would be able to access try in about an hour, NOT!   I'm sure there is something we can do to stop them.  What if they are taking our poetry and printing it in there names in maybe a diferent country? Just wondering.  Sorry I didnt read every letter you have.   Sincerely  

Vickie

Received 5/19/04Dorenda 5/7/04
I said what I had to say, because I meant it. If it is a scam, then I guess the word is out there, and everyone beware and stay away. But, if you are truly a betting person, you just lost your $5. I do not, nor have I ever worked for ILP or any of it attachments. I just don't understand why everyone is bashing them. It is just sad to hear it. What really bothers me, is what does it say about us who do belong to this society. If others claim that it prints bad poetry, they what are they saying about our work. I do not write for money. I write because I enjoy it. And when something is printed, my loved ones like to have the books.

JonieReceived 5/24/04

YOU JONIE, YOU WAINE, YOU must be one their staff to say such nice words about poetry.comAny of you who searchs Blake William Forum Frigator on google engine, enter that Forum, read the testimonials, and found out the type of publishing poetry.com is really doing. It's quite a bomb discovery!Also go to site www.eliteskills.comThey have very good tips to help us to stop poetry.comHere's my tip:Enter poetry.comSubmit any bullshit on the big poem contest.sign it with some bullshit name, and fill in their own adress:ILP, poetry.com1 poetry PlazaOwings Mills, MD 21117-6282THEY WILL BE THE ONES RECEIVING THEIR OWN SCAM MAILS!!! I just did this during and hour. Ha! Ha! Ha! Ha!I feel good ...la la la la...Always enter poetry.com via google, thus they will have to pay to google a lot of money.And everytime you see a link of poetry.com DON'T CLICK IT, it will be rated as one of the most popular. LET's join our effort to remove them out of internet so they won't get more victims.poetry.com is scam and scum!And send e-mail to the sites where you find poetry.com links and explain them they are dishonesty that they should remove poetry.com...Yes, I was deceived by them, too!!! So, help me to stop their dishonesty. Thank you.You can also reported it to the FBI in the internet. You can report the Fraud.RomildeReceived 7/12/04I didn't know any better than the rest and a few years back had poetry.com list my poem for a tidy price to have the anthology.

Sad thing is, that people think this "real" and that it isn't a scam. It wasn't until afterward, I read somewhere that if you have to pay someone for something, it's not a "contest," but a business deal where THEY make the money.

I just happened to check your site so that I could find out more about JMW publishing contests and I see that they too, require a fee for the book they bind that includes your work.

Thank you for having such a site available to people who write.

D.Received 8/11/04If anyone wants to get back at Poetry.com, here is a LEGITIMATE and
LEGAL method for doing so. 
It's called FriedSPAM.  I use it against anyone who sends me
unsolicited emails as well as a few other "unscrupulous" individuals.  
http://friedspam.net <http://friedspam.net/>
LucasReceived 8/19/04

 

I found Poetry.com through a link from emode.com.  I submitted a poem 

and thought it was wonderful that my very first poem was selected for 

publication.  What an ego boost.

 However that feeling of pride was soon replaced with suspicion.  I 

have posted several poems on their website and everyone of them was 

selected for publication.  Imagine my surprise.  

 Shortly after that I received an offer in the mail to authorize my 

poem for  publication and to purchase the book.  I decided to purchase 

the book although I still had reservations.

 Two weeks after that I received a letter in the mail that stated "I'm 

sorry you will be unable to join us at the upcoming International 

Society of Poets' Annual Summer Convention and Symposium...."  

It continued to say "As you know, you were selected to be honoured at this 

event...".  Now, I was never informed of this honour nor was I planning on

attending the symposium.  Warning bells were going off.

 However, not all was lost.  I could still receive all the awards they 

had scheduled for me -- custom-engraved Outstanding Achievement in 

Poetry Silver Award Bowl ($200.00 value), my bronze Commemorative Award 

Medallion ($40.00 value) and my Full One Year Membership into the 

International Society of Poets for 2004-2005 ($60.00 

value) -if I would allow them to present one of my poems at the convention 

in my place.  That wasn't all either - I was also entitled to a personalized 

membership card, an ISP patch and decal and a free subscription to The Poet's Corner 

quarterly magazine.

 But wait!!  There's more!  Because I wasn't going to be present, I 

was required to send them $169.00US ($220.00CDN) plus s&h to cover the 

costs of the time and effort required to present my poem before the 

convention attendees both aloud and in writing and the costs incurred in 

insuring and shipping these extremely bulky and heavy Awards to me.

 I knew then and there that this was a scam and I stopped payment on 

the money sent for the book.

 Thank you for reassuring me that my instincts were right on target.  

From now I will go with my gut instincts from now on.

 Sincerely Jen

Received 8/20/04

 

I am in england. I have reported poetry.com to Google,they sympathise with me but they do not seem to do anything about this scam. I do not mind paying for a book ith my poem in but I would like to know it is for merit and not just a scam. I also sent them a poem saying they were con artists but still got accepted. I all their e-mails are sent back by System Administrator sying they could not be delivered. Surely someone like Oprah W could maybe let her viewers know on tv what a con they are as I know she has a book club. Cant a petetition be arranged. I am so mad, but glad I am not the only one to be fooled. I have now decided to print my own book. It will certainly  be much cheaper. Elaine.

Received 9/04/04How can i even began to express the way i feel right now about poetry.com and famouspoets.com? Right now I am just really mad at myself for not checking up on these sites earlier! I'm a young girl of 15 who has dreams of writing.. But now, i'm afriad i've lost my inspiration.. and my dreams... How am i going to tell my parents, who were so proud of me that all of this was a scam? That the 40 bucks they sent to poetry.com is nothing?
When i first found out poetry.com was a scam, i cried... I just felt utterly foolish and wanted to scream out my anger...
I just want other people to know... Check up on the poetry contest sites you enter! Make sure they are the real thing before you bother to enter your precious poems! Because in the end, it's you who suffer...HouaReceived 1/3/05I strongly think that Poetry.com is the biggest scam ever! I have been writing poetry for several years now and I went to poetry.com to see if I could do anything with my poems. I had started writing and then sending them in. Then, I had bough a $50.00 book with just one of my poems in it. Gladly, I was getting tons of things in the mail for my poems. Thinking that I was making big accomplishments I was on cloud nine. Then, I got something in the mail that said that I was nominated for Poet of the Year for 2005. Basically they were wanting me to waste over $500.00 for 2 days of reading my poems and of meeting famous people. Then, I contacted a friend...who had shared her exact same accomplishment with me.. I knew right away it was a scam! I had wasted almost 2 years on a fake good for nothing web site. Don't get yourself into a mess! I don't write poetry anymore becuase I don't want to get cheated and I know that I had something. Please... Don't get into the mess that I got into.
Toni S.Received 1/3/05

I received notification about 6 months ago from poetry.com that they wanted me to buy a book i was published in, i didn't order it, i didn't really need it, and wasn't going to read it. About 2 months ago they sent another letter saying i was poet of the month, and i again ignored it, they sent a third letter today saying i was up for the 2005 young poet of the year. I'm only 14, and i like writing, but my poetry couldn't be good enough for that, they invited me to a convention down in florida in february, i beleive this is all a scam, however i am going to check it out, i will be in orlando when the convention is supposidly going on, thankyou. ~a concerned poet, Sam

Received 1/3/05is poetry.com a scam?

Received 1/5/05

I hated admitting that Poetry.com was scamming me, but it's true.
They will publish anything you want, for a price. You could send them 
any combination of letters, and they will not only publish it, they will 
award you "Poet of the Year". I should know, I've just been nominated for 
2005. It is a shame that Poetry.com is allowed to deceive people like that. I 
personally am requesting that money I paid for my book be refunded. 
Also, I contacted the BBB and filed a complaint. Fraud is still a federal 
offense in America right? I mean, I know that there are many real poets who are 
defending Poets.com, and that is okay, maybe they would change their 
minds if they realized that if everyone were honored, it's not really an 
honor.

April 

Received 1/6/05

... I am a victim of the poetry.com scam.  I was lucky, however, 

and never bought any of the things I was offered, purely

because I could not afford to do so.  

When I recieved an e-mail for their 'poetry competion' 
at disney world, i got suspicious.  they required you to buy 
registration for over $500 a person!  That was when I found 
out it was all a scam, and now I want to do something about 
it...

Karen

Received 1/6/05

I really believe poetry.com is a total scam. I submitted one of my 

favorite poems to their site. Shortly after, they sent me a letter saying that I was a semi-finalist in their competition. Ok, this seemed great and all. But, if you read their User Policy thing, it says that 

they’ll OWN your poetry after you submit it. Great! Now that great poem you wrote is theirs. I didn’t send anything back, but a few weeks later, in some miraculous way, I had been selected as a Semi-Finalist. I could enter the contest (which is totally stupid because if you’re a 

Semi-Finalist that implies that you’re already in the contest). I could get a plaque and all kinds of things at the banquet’for $595. I so did NOT buy that package. I didn’t trust it for one thing, and I didn’t 

have $600 floating around to go to some fishy ‘banquet’ in Orlando. 

You can get the plaque and junk (supposedly) for $120. Yeah, right. I 

can’t believe I submitted one of my best works to this place. 

They’re a scam place and they will essentially steal your poetry. You have to read their License Agreement thing. You’ll see it in 

their’¦ownership of your piece. We should bond together and sue them. But then again, we did agree to the thing on their site. So, I guess we’re cooked.To sum it up, I’m 98.5% certain poetry.com is a scam, don’t fall for it because you’ll regret it. You may lose the most valuable thing you’ve ever written. Take it from someone who knows.

Watch out,

James

 Received 1//05

I find the comments regarding poetry.com extremely interesting and can understand the anger that the majority of people are expressing. Yesterday I received an e-mail with the following wording "Ladies and gentlemen, and fellow poets . . . It's now time to declare the winner of the largest cash prize ever awarded to an amateur poet . . . Our Poet of the Year for 2005 . . . and Grand Prize winner of $20,000 is . . . Andrew [name of writer]! We're familiar with your work, Andrew, and you know . . . it could happen just that way!" I was naturally somewhat excited until I read the last line, thinking I had finally won some cash. Furthermore, I was impressed by the photograph of the silver bowl award I had apparently won due to "outstanding poetry" (the bowl is only awared to attending poets) and on first reading thought I was one of only 36 poets who had been selected for a competition with prize money of $ 74,000, however on closer inspection it became clear that the "one of  only" was missing, which subdued my vanity and greed. I have posted several poems on their website (usually spontaneously written when drunk) and have given them my permission to publish two of my poems in book form, which I find ok because I stand by my poetry despite its failings and am happy if anybody derives pleasure from it. There is, however, no obligation to pay for the books and I am pleased to say that poetry.com has neither received a penny nor a cent from me and  I smugly do not share the anger of other contributors to this discussion. I am lucky to be one of the few poets in the world who has actually been paid for poetry publications (poems broadcast by the BBC), but this is not generally the case. Who buys poetry collections written by unknown poets purely for reading pleasure in this day and age? I think it is fairly obvious that the only people who are likely to buy these works are the poets themselves or their family and friends. I believe that the activity of writing poetry itself has now become extremely decadent simply due to the fact that most people today would prefer to spend their money on music CD's with strong lyrics rather than on books of modern poetry. I partake in this decadent activity, but would only buy one of their publications to satisfy my own vanity and would only accept an award if it did not cost me anything. You have been duped, but only because you have not faced the hard facts! P.S. one of my poems was removed from poetry.com, because it was too critical of the USA - this gives me much more satisfaction than any publication.

Received 1/13/05

I'm an attorney who is considering filing a class action lawsuit in federal or state court against American Poets Society and other fraudulent publishers. If you've sent these businesses money and are interested in joining the suit please email me at blevs@aol.com. Thank you

Received 1/14/05

 

Well sad to say I'm another victim to poetry.com , I have submitted a
few poems with the same response as you! I am so scared to submit anything
now.
 

Received 1/28/05

Well,

I guess it is needless to say that I was too scammed, and the sad thing is corporations like this continue to make millions of people like us. I have always felt that I was a pretty smart guy, but stuff like this makes me feel like a complete idiot. Basically what I am trying to say is for that lawyer guy who posted a few days ago. I don’t think anyone is to eager to jump into another scam… But if it were up to me and you do go to court. Ask for a 50% refund to be returned for every book that had been sold.

Good Luck and God Bless Here is a poem,

The Lone Mallard

Ever wonder why the world was against you When you always worked so hard But never even got thanked Not even with a simple card You always helped them In spite of that they destroyed your yard Still your friends were always there To break down your guard Mocking you was always a game Poking fun at the “retard” They betrayed you and apologized But always left you scarred Did you ever wonder Why it had to be so hard   Or was it you, that was against the world
Making the world marred Tearing down yourself

You always made your life so hard

Report received 1/3/2005

I too have been victimized by the American Poetry Society, entering their contest, getting a letter that I had a great poem, buy the next anthology where I would see my winning poem published in a hard cover, gold leaf pages, etc.  Just send $49.95, plus S&H and receive my copy. Oh yeah, I could also purchase a placque with my poem engraved on it for an addtional cost.  Thank God I didn't bite on that too.  It was my first attempt and will be my last!

Carol  (USN)
 

Received 6/11/05

I'm not sure if this is a scam, but i just recently got this email saying that i won the amateur poetry contest and have won $20,000. But I have to go to Washington DC and attend this convention which COSTS ME OVER $900!! I don't know if this is worth it, i just want to know if i should do it.

Vinh

Received 6/19/05

Hello, My name is Anntoinette. I also received a notification from poetry.com  informing me about a poem i sent in and asking me to come to washington dc to read my work.. to be a member would cost me 1020.00 and i would have to pay for my travel and hotel..i thank god for your website..something inside me told me to go to todaychristianwoman.com and this is how i found your site...i am so glad i did not send this money in..but i am hurt that someone would take advantage of a person talent and gift....thank you again.

Received 6/19/05Your focus on poetry.com, without mentioning famouspoets.com (and its many guises), may help only the few who can interpolate the warning and understand its general applicability. Vanity and ignorance aside, it's little wonder that publishing scams can succeed to the extent that they do, when they are actually promoted by such organizations as Poets & Writers Magazine. See "Circle of Poets" in the pw.org "Resources": http://www.pw.org/links_pages/National_Organizations/more2.html The text of an email I received from Circle of Poets regarding my "poem" :() (which explains the circumstances that led to this discovery) and their come-on follows my signature. BTW--I notified P&W over a week ago, and the link to Circle of Poets is still there. -- Regards, JReceived 7/6/05 wrote poem for poetry.com because I thought it would be fun and there was a chance that I may win some cash. Then I got the obligatory semi-finalist mail, praising my vision and artistry. And then asking for money, no strings attached of course. So I promptly clicked on the link to edit and submit my poem, which I dedicated to Howard Ely for believing in me and for all the kind words he said about my poem, here’s a copy:



The Scam Artist



(Dedicated to Howie)



To make a scam of people's vanities

It was great fun indeed!

They all imagine themselves as Blake

So hungry for approval

So blind to the fake

Flattery of their artistry

a suitable hook will be

And then, all will be well

Greatness is but a thing to sell

Sell them a book

Sell them a prize

Sell them a conference

Sell their details to other cunning sites!

A message to all who prey,

we may not know rhyme,

but we are not that stupid.

Now leave me alone.



I will be very amused if they put this in their book.

 Received 7/7/05I entered a poem called "dreamland" just for kicks adn to see if i
could get any feedback on it. Well I started getting things in the
mail about buying a book and all that jazz. Well today I just got a
letter saying that I'm invited to Reno, Nevada to recieve my awards as
a Famous Poet for 2005, Shakespeare Trophy of Excellence and the 2005
Poet for the Year Medallion. I also would be videotaped to be on TV
but my contract won't be sent untill after I have in %595 and %395 for
any guest. I"m pretty sure this is a scam and wanted to warn anybody
else who may of reviced this letter. The poem I submitted was a rough
dragt and many other people have already helped me on it so I know
that its not good enought for all these awards.
Thanks for reading,
Melissa
 Received July 11, 2005

JMW Publishing promised my daughter a copy of her poem in there anthology " Prominent Voices in Poetry " over five mounths and $60.00 ago. Still no book. This really pisses me off and these people need to pay for what there doing.                                       Dwayne

Received July 23, 2005I have just joined this site and I would like to offer my thanks for all of the information made available on it. I have had my poems "published" by Poetry.com/ISP. I too received the letters and the praise and the invitation to the convention in Washington, DC, my instincts told me it was all a scam, and although I have never purchased any anthologies I did attend the convention. It was definitely a memorable experience, and I did get to meet poets from all over the world. I also happen to love visiting DC I am now in possession of a coffee mug, a bronze medal, a plague and even a tote bag! That was four years ago and am still trying to decide if it was worth the almost $2,000 it cost me. I think, perhaps I should have stayed home, and invested my money in writing classes.
KiryieReceived July 29, 2005

Thank you guys so much.I almost did the famous ports thing. They said I was Poet of the year and that I would get the shakespeare's excellence award

Received August 1, 2005The League of American Poets is a scam:Exhibit A: Flattery!Exhibit B: You can edit your poem so it can be perfect when included in our next volume!  (As if any editor would welcome suggestions.)Exhibit C: Just give us $50.Received 11/29/05To fellow writers,look out for this scam sites. League of American Poets,Poetry.com and The International Book of Poetry!They are all scam artists.They have no morals and ask for money.Thank God I looked them up before I sent money or anything.I submitted a poem to poetry.com and received in the maiol stating my work was going to be published and so.They even sent me a paper award."Editors Chioce" They called.So being the skeptical person I am .Looked them and found out they were a scam indeed.Well I sent another poem to them jusdt to see what would happen.Well what do you know?I was chose again as "Editors Choice".Well needless to say these people suck and if I could I'd give them a week in hell for ripping people off.I'm currently writing my own book and will succeed myself.GOOD LUCK TO MY FELLOW WRITERS.Received 12/2/05I entered a poetry contest with “League of American Poets”. I received a letter with an order form. The letter said the poem was “Great”. The order form was for a publication in a book and/or the mounting of the poem on a plaque. I ordered just the plaque for $57.00. This was 5 months ago. I emailed them asking where the plaque was. No answer. I started investigating on the internet and did some back tracking. I found a name given in a complaint of a person at the League of American Poets and the city they resided and their telephone number. I traced the name and telephone number (same) to some woman running a dog sitting service in that town. Someone needs to arrest her or at least investigate her. I emailed her asking for an explanation but of course, no answer. I think people who are scammed should have the right to sue the state that the scam took place from. This would get some elected officials off their asses and make them earn a living, especially some state attorneys. I think the law states someone not doing anything about a known crime is just as guilty as the person committing the crime. The tracking I did led me to the following: [personal details omitted]. I have no proof that this is the person doing the scam. Just everything led back to her.JimReceived 12/6/05I too got my Poetry.com "Editor's Choice Award" certificate in the mail today for my poem I sent in 2 months ago. Like all recipients, I too was thrilled to be "selected" so quickly for my first time in submitting. I luckily only sent a check for $45, $20 to reserve a book and $25 for the one page dedication beside my poem so I get a whopping 2 pages reserved for me.
I got sucked in from their praises that's for sure, but it's taken me this long to act on my suspicions about Poetry.com and a friend said they sound like a scam, so I googled in "the international library of poetry owing mills MD" and I found this website amongst many more confirming my feelilngs and THANK YOU for messaging in on this or I would have been out a lot more money in the future.
I don't write poetry much, but I was proud of the poem I submitted, written back in 1997 in a creative writing class in college. Their response with a book publishing, a CD and a plaque made my head swim and they sure had me by the you know whats.
I was about to send in my initials for the CD when I researched all this and then I started laughing at myself for being such a royal buffoon! I spread all their responses in front of me and felt like the biggest asshole and then laughed till I had tears coming. I may be out $45, but after reading all of you wonderful people's responses and warnings, I feel better now and a little wiser. Yes Mr. Rogers, I can spell SCAM S-C-A-M.

Mark

Received 12/11/05

Hello all   I, too fell for the poetry.com scam but luckily didn't send them any money.  I considered ordering the book but after reading this site, I definitely am not!  A HUGE THANKS FOR ALL OF YOU WHO HAVE POSTED YOUR INPUT AND WARNINGS TO OTHER POETS.  For anyone who is interested, here is the poem that I sent to poetry .com:   Into my life he came after that I was never the same. Memories of him are burned in my soul charred by desire and black as coal. I'll never forget those dancing blue eyes or the emotions he so easily disguised. The strong, tender arms which held me so tight disappeared at the first beam of daylight. His love was strong, or so I was told by the lips that gave kisses from a heart that was cold. He wove his web of charm around my heart, and carelessly ripped it apart. He told me he loved me, and I blindly believed, but in the end the meaningless love was the first to leave. He was quick to follow as I heard the door slam, and only now do I realize how lonely I am.     I hope someday a news broadcast will do a story on the internet and newspaper poetry scams to educated people on the warnings of such companies.   Best of luck to all the aspiring poets out there!!   Kelley

Received 12/15/05

    Alas, another one blinded by light.  I too am a victim of poetry.com.   I actually bought a couple of books when I won the editor's choice award and had a page to myself.  Happened to be page one also!  Today I received another notice I had received the editor’s choice award again, and unable to find out which poem won, I pulled up all of my poems, scrolled to the bottom of each and clicked on buy book.  To my "surprise", every poem I had submitted was on the same book scheduled for release spring 2005.  I know only one was in that book, or do they print out a new book with whatever poem you want at your request?  SCAM!!!!  For shame!  My mammy would shove month old cornbread down their throats and deny them liquid for a week! Barb Received 1/9/06This is for Poetry.com also t those of you that want answers they have a phone number which is 1-410-356-2000 if you want to talk to customer service you press 2. I just sent my poem in today and i wish i would have seen this website sooner.  AngelReceived 1/10/06

Thank you for ur site!!!! Today to my surprise I got the infamous letter in the mail...I was just getting ready to sign my check for 65.99 when I came across ur site. I dont need to submit a fake  poem to see this is real. I am just glad that I was smart enough to check out poetry.com which knew there were people out there that would actually do this to people. So once again, thank you sooo much!

Krystal

Received 1/13/06I was absolutly disgruntled and ashamed that I let myself be so gullible to a flimsy internet scam like poetry.com. I am a very modest writer that doesn't openly share my work with anybody, but I figured that since I saw poetry.com in Seventeen magazine it couldn't be a scam. I sent a poem out to them a few months ago and today I just got a letter saying that I was a semi-finalist in their contest and my poem would be published in an upcoming book. LUCKILY I came across this website and I've seen how many people have been fooled by this over the years. Its just an awful thing to do. Somebody needs to file a lawsuit and shut these people down! I mean really, is it even legal to do these t things to honest writers that are just trying to get by?!Received 2.4.06

I too was scammed by Circle of Poets.   I had a poem accepted in 2004 and paid for the book, The Best of 2004, yet here it is 2006 and never received the book.   They gave me excuses then runarounds, yet never delivered.   Now, the email of; help@circleofpoets.com comes back "denied"... <