Maybe you already have.
When you receive your letter confirming that you have made it to semi-finalist status and will be published in their upcoming anthology, please, please, PLEASE research the company before you do ANYTHING.
Many people have been hurt (emotionally, financially, does it really matter how?) by these poetry contests. Many of them are scams. If nothing else, upon finding this out, our pride is damaged.
Many people invest in the books they will try to sell you. Many people are very disappointed in the book if they receive them. That�s right I said IF. Sometimes, they don�t even receive the items they purchased. You feel positively helpless trying to contact the company.
Don�t lose hope. You aren�t alone and your writings will be enjoyed.
Don�t lose faith. Not everyone is as heartless as the people behind these scams.
Make sure you search the web to see what you can find out about whichever poetry contest you have entered into.
Good luck.
Some poetry scams to watch out for include, but are not limited to:
www.famouspoets.com
www.freecontest.com
friendlypoets.com
these three all go to the Famous Poet�s Society free poetry contest
also watch out for:
www.poetry.com
International Library of Poetry (ILP)
And Noble House (an affiliate of ILP, to which ILP gives out information on you and your poem in order to publish your poetry in yet another barrage of forms and have you pay them yet more money to own these various forms of your published poetry. )
