2007-05-19 17:38:43 · 5 answers · asked by ignoramus_the_great 7 in Arts & Humanities ➔ Poetry
This is a difficult question to answer, mostly because Poetry.com has been a massive joke among writers (professional or not) for quite a few years now.
Pros
-It gets your work out there and published
-The website has a decent rhyming dictionary.
-The books are very nicely bound and designed.
Cons (a much longer list)
-Very few people actually see all (or even most) of their prize money
-The selection for putting things in is completely arbitrary, and the site doesn't have any quality standards built in; you can send in horrible, completely unedited poetry and have it accepted, or submit a newly discovered sonnet by Shakespeare and have it rejected.
-All of your rights to your work are forfeited-- you have completely given your poem to Poetry.com and they can do whatever they wish with it.
-The cost of your "prizes" from the contest is so high that almost no one bothers to go and get it, meaning that Poetry.com has your poetry, your prize money, and probably your immortal soul, while you've gained nothing.
-The books themselves are overpriced and badly organized and formatted, making it difficult to find or appreciate your work or someone else's.
2007-05-19 17:50:42 · answer #1 · answered by Maria 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
No publisher in their right mind would take your poem once it's been on Poetry.com-- no offense to you. It's for the large part a scam, but nice if you're just doing it as a hobby. Do NOT and I mean DO NOT buy into their anthology-- anyone can be in it if they're willing to release the rights on their poem and pay for it. If you're looking for exposure, work on your poetry and try and get accepted to a reputable journal. You can find one that suits your needs at: http://www.duotrope.com
2007-05-20 00:48:51 · answer #2 · answered by xsilently_screaming_foreverx 2 · 1⤊ 0⤋
years ago i put something on poetry.com
i swear, its like they take every poem ever placed on the site and try to publish it in a book. i will almost guarentee you that if you put a poem on the website, they'll send you an email/ snail mail that it was great enough to be put in a book theyve published...
my mom found my letter and was very easily conned into buying it. its like the "who's who of american high school students"
just another way for them to get money off of you. But, i wrote that poem about 7 years ago, and poetry.com still has it on record.
oh, yeah... and the prize money...
they will send you a letter informing you that you are eligible for some huge monetary reward, BUT you have to rsvp to a seminar in southern california (im in south carolina) and its about $1000 per person to attend, and you have to attend to get the money. at least it was this way when i was offered it.
its a complete and total waste, unless you want to use it as a lexicon for contemporary poets
2007-05-20 08:45:53 · answer #3 · answered by Brooklyn 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
i think it is a good website
in order 4 u 2 like the website u have 2 be able 2 love 2 write poems.
it has good points because it's a good way to show that u can do whatever u want if u put ur mind 2 it.
it also give u an opportunity 2 go out of state r whatever
i like it alot.
it is one of my favorite websites because i like 2 write poems.
2007-05-20 00:55:37 · answer #4 · answered by #1 tweety fan 2 · 0⤊ 1⤋
It is a sham site.
I sent a piece of crap poetry i wrote in 5 minutes and they sent back that it was the Best Poem Ever.
2007-05-20 01:17:00 · answer #5 · answered by Experto Credo 7 · 1⤊ 0⤋