International Society Of Poets, Poetry America & Poetry.Com -All Editors In These SCAMS! International Who's Who In Poetry -INVITATION Owings Mills Maryland

Hey, wait a minute. I got editors choice award signed by Howard Ely for my poem "Shadow Warriors". How many editors choice awards are there? I am looking on my wall at a award from International Society of Poetry sent from Elizabeth Barnes, president, saying I'm a member in good standing 1995-1996 am am recognized for support of The Societ's principals of Peace-Education-Accomplishment-Charity-Equality. That was ten years ago. TEN YEARS. Does that mean this has been going on for ten years or more? I offer my same challenge to ISP. How about sennding us all on this sight to the symposium in Washington or at least our awards for free. I mean ten years of my poetry, I'm sure you've made enough off of them to cover that? Throw us a bone here, a biscuit, a truth.

Ray,

How much money do you think ISP made off of your "Shadow Warriors" poem? Zero.

This company is in the business of running "feel-good" conventions that people pay to attend. If you think they will let you attend for free (and pick up your airfare as well) because you have written a modern masterpice, you are in for a rude awakening.

If you would like to attend the convention to schmooze with your fellow poets, simply pay the fee like everyone else. Then go and decide for yourself whether it was worth it.

Kathy,

International society of poets is charging forty dollars per book. So for every book printed, profits are made. Which there is nothing wrong with that. Also, seeing that the people send the first poem in to be screened, that poem is on the writer.

However, if the company keeps asking for more poems, and then wants to charge money to the writer for copies of poetry printed in books, this doesn't seem to make sense. Seems to me that the writer should recieve some type of money for the writing of a poem or poetry if he or she has to pay for a printed copy of supposed exceptional poetry.

To the writer of the rebuttal: I can tell you that many of the same awards are being put out on a daily basis by this company. I have also received letter after letter telling me I am a winner of this and of that from this company. It's all a bunch of bullshit. I can't believe you actually have the award they sent you hanging on the wall. Take that down and put it in the trash because it doesn't mean anything. Research this company and you will find that 20/20 conducted an investigation of this company. Having a second grade class of students submit poems that they had created. Everyone in the class recieved a letter stating they had won and was invited to the conferences. So, don't be fooled by this company. Thank God I never sent them any type of money. I still keep emails and mail from them every week trying to get me to pay for this or that.

To explain my title, there is only one way to become a poet, and that is by
studying and writing poetry. Throughout the many years I have been a customer of
this society, I have never expected the pretty, pink, poetry fairy to wave her sparkling wand over me, and say, "Poof, you're a poet!"

I speak only of my own feelings and experiences. I have received several Editor's
Choice Awards, I believe they are called. I have never been asked to pay for them.
I've found membership in this and other poetry organizations enriching and
educational. They help me to view poetry as an art, and to enlarge my horizons.
Just now, I'm working to master the Haiku, Senryu, and Tanka. I know nothing
of the experiences others have had, but would like to share my experiences and thoughts.

I published a poem on this subject, WHAM, BAM, IT'S A SCAM! that can be viewed
on Poem Hunter.

I love 20/20, but I felt that they viewed the subject through the eyes of the
critics, an easy thing to do. For example, in my recently published poetry book,
I discussed my point of view. I, as a retired teacher, often wished they had a space in their books were a teacher could pay to publish her class's poetry if he/she
obtained parental and school permission. Children make wonderful poets,
and they are too young to be trite.

Once again, I thank Rip-Off Report for permitting me to voice another point of view.

First of all, you do NOT have to purchase the book in order for your work to be published in it. I have had SEVERAL poems published with them, and have only bought one book.

No, you may not win a prize, but I've been to one of the conferences and they are WELL worth the money. You pay for several very helpful writing workshops, a banquet dinner, and great entertainment. I plan on returning any time I have the money for the conference and airfare.

You might want to save negative comments about the conference since you have never attended.

About seven years ago, when I was a young high school student suffering from bullying and peer abuse, I joined a social networking/dating website called espinthebottle.

As part of my registration for the website, I had to submit a piece of poetry to Poetry.com. I took one of my favorite poems that I had written recently and submitted it. Imagine how happy I was to see that I had won Editor's Choice, and my work was going to be published. I submitted biographical information for their book, and then got a letter back asking that I pay $40 or so for a copy of the book with my poem in it.

Even at that age, I didn't buy into that. Being a highly intelligent and talented (not to toot my own horn) child, I had been part of a lot of things where they try to sell you something extra, like your picture at the moment you've won an award, just to get a bit of extra money out of you.

When I got information about the "symposium", I desperately wanted to go, to meet other writers my age (because it was supposedly for young writers, according to the paper I got). I ultimately chose not to go in favor of OAKE Honors Choir. Also, I thought the picture of my award looked suspiciously badly photo-manipulated.

When I created a second account on espinthebottle, I submitted a second poem, one I wrote on the spot. Once again, I won an award and got invited to the symposium.

I was beginning to wonder what was up. Was I really that great a writer that my first draft of a poem could win an award? I tried again and submitted something I had written in third grade. I won again.

Finally, just to see if I was right, I submitted a piece of nonsense entitled "Nonsense". It consisted of song lyrics with certain words replaced by random typing on the keyboard.

Lo and behold, I won again.

My point is that, although they award anything, there is something to be said for gatherings of ambitious writers like these "symposiums". This company is obviously just out there to get a bunch of money off of people based on fake "feel good" awards, but the memories people take away from these gatherings are real and can be worthwhile. I suggest that, before you enter an online contest like this, you take a look at the conferences out there that cost a lot less. There are plenty of poet conventions and the like around the country, and they offer the same feel good experience and social gathering without the fake award.

I'm sorry to break anyone's hearts about this company. They may have started out alright, but they WILL award anything.