- Poetry.com
Poetry.com is a web site run by The International Library of Poetry, also known as the International Society of Poets and the International Poetry Hall of Fame,cite web
url=http://www.sfwa.org/beware/contests.html
title=Writer Beware: Contests and Vanity Anthologies
publisher=Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers of America
accessdate=2007-04-15] a Maryland-based company considered by many to be avanity publisher . Poetry.com claims to coordinate monthly poetry contests and other services through its website, though the actual competitive nature of these contests is unclear. The site's ostensible primary purpose is publication of poetry anthologies submitted by aspiring authors, and invitations to poetry conventions hosted by the group. TheBetter Business Bureau of Greater Maryland classifies the business as a vanity publisher, and notes that the quality of the poetry submitted to them "does not appear to be a significant consideration for selection for publication."cite web
url=http://www.pw.org/mag/0411/newsstever.htm
title=THE CONTESTER: Poetry.com Struggles for Legitimacy
author=Margo Stever
publisher=Poets and Writers Magazine
accessdate=2007-04-15]Criticism
Although there have been a number of complaints to organizations in the
United States , such as theBetter Business Bureau , by those who feel they have been misled by poetry.com, no action has been taken to date. Upon further examination of the offers and contests provided by poetry.com, it is evident that while their promotional material may be strongly worded in order to develop sales, it does not break any laws. Writers who have submitted poetry to contests are offered the option to purchase a book with their poem published inside while they wait for the winners to be announced. The contest itself has been proved to be legitimateFact|date=August 2008 as their winners of the contests are displayed on the site and their poetry is available on the site as well.Additionally, although Poetry.com's website claims that these books are available at "major bookstores", [cite web
url=http://poetry.com/faq/qnas.asp?Question=53
title=Frequently Asked Questions
publisher=poetry.com
accessdate=2007-04-15] attempts to purchase these books from major retailers such asBarnes and Noble orAmazon.com generally fail.Fact|date=September 2007As of July 2008, there is no verifiable report of any successful legal action being taken against the company for alleged fraud. No attempts to this date have been made by any government agencies to alter or halt the business of either the International Library of Poetry or Poetry.com.
References
External links
* [http://www.winningwriters.com/contests/wergle/we_guidelines.php Winning Writers] hosts the Wergle Flomp Poetry Contest in which deliberately bad poems submitted to poetry.com and selected as semi-finalists may be entered for cash prizes.
* [http://www.eliteskills.com/writing_scams/poetry.com.scam.php Elite Skills Writing Scams] has more information.
* [http://www.poetly.com/ Poetly.com] a response site to Poetry.com allowing vanity self-publishing without the anthology purchase requirement.
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