Is poetry.com, and poets.com scams?

Question

I've been recieving awards, and promises of my work being published in the anthology book, but I'v just been invited to Vegas, has anyone been to any of the conventions, or have any advice for me before I make the wrong move.

Answer 1

It's a total scam. Don't do it.

Answer 2

Save your money, it's a scam.

What they do is tell you that you have made it to the finals in their contest, and then they tell you you can buy the book for a modest fee of around $75. Then, they tell you that for even more money, you can have your own page with a bio. Then they tell you you can travel to Las Vegas. The whole thing is just a way for them to make money. Every time you give in and hand over the green, they will up the ante and offer you something even more spectacular.

I dashed off a piece of trash poem once for them as a throwaway. I was trying to do one of those things where you have to do four of the offers and you get to claim a big prize (HA! another scam). I only had one offer left to go, so I did the poetry.com one. Turns out I could only fulfill the offer if I bought the book. The poem really was a crappy little two couplet thing, and that was like 5 years ago, and they still contact me from time to time.

Save your money and go to a bookstore and buy yourself a copy of the 2007 Poet's Market. That's a legitimate book that you can use to find publications that will accept your submissions. You'll save money, and you may just get yourself published for real.

Answer 3

Yes, it's a scam. You will be published in an anthology, and then they charge you basically about seventy five bucks for the book. They make their money off of you buying the book and your family. It is never released in print, like at Borders or Barnes and Nobles for the public. Also, you go to Vegas and bascially put up a LOT of money to do these things. I do believe they give out awards occasionally, but it's mostly a scam.

Answer 4

I've had two poems "published" with poetry.com. The books are $80, so you're pretty much paying to get it published. It may be smarter to just publish it yourself and sell it locally. That way you can have a whole book.

Answer 5

Being published on poetry.com and poets.com doesn't count as publication and the awards are worth nothing. You see, they make their money off people willing to pay them money to get their works published. They make NOTHING from actually getting the work published elsewhere.

If you want to be a published poet, pick up The Poet's Market and start submitting your work to real markets.

Answer 6

Yes, its a scam of sorts. When I was in high school, I fell for it myself. I had a poem published in a book and I bought that stupid thing. Cost me around $80 or so for it. And its never gotten me anything except an $80 book and a lot of junk mail. I wouldn't pay any money for anything that they put out. Its not worth it, trust me.

Answer 7

Be careful. I submitted work to Poetry.com and felt like I was paying them for any so-called awards that they were offering me. I was invited, too. I didn't go because I didn't want to pay mega bucks for a plane ticket to go someplace that I wasn't even sure was on the level. Please be careful and don't stretch your hand out farther than you can draw it safely back.

Answer 8

These places will publish anything that's sent to them...and I mean ANYTHING. Check out this web site for testimonials from other people who have been scammed for big money to attend these conventions.
http://www.eliteskills.com/writing_scams/poetry.com.scam.php

Answer 9

I am interested to know more about this too

Answer 10

Pretty good arguments.