International Society of Poets rip-off

Not only are they rip offs they only women that I have ever talked is rude.

They stole one of my poems. I entered a poem in their stupid contest and it was on their site for maybe 2 weeks. I go to enter another poem on their site and my first had disapeared. So I called them and I talked to some lady who was very rude. She said that my poem was being viewed in front of judges for the contests and it should be back on the website in 2-4 weeks.

4 weeks passed and it is still not up there so today I called them and the same rude lady answered the phone. I asked her where my poem went. I told her that I entered in the contest and it disappeared of their website. She then told me that the poem was either playgerized or it had profanity in it and they only remove them from the website if they do.

I am sure they it was my own work and I did not use profanity. I would just like to know where my poem went.

For all they people that dislike poetry.com got to their website and under name search type in poetry.com in the last name box and when the poets names come up read the poem by Suck this poetry.com its pretty hilarious.

Not only are they rip offs they only women that I have ever talked is rude.

They stole one of my poems. I entered a poem in their stupid contest and it was on their site for maybe 2 weeks. I go to enter another poem on their site and my first had disapeared. So I called them and I talked to some lady who was very rude. She said that my poem was being viewed in front of judges for the contests and it should be back on the website in 2-4 weeks.

4 weeks passed and it is still not up there so today I called them and the same rude lady answered the phone. I asked her where my poem went. I told her that I entered in the contest and it disappeared of their website. She then told me that the poem was either playgerized or it had profanity in it and they only remove them from the website if they do.

I am sure they it was my own work and I did not use profanity. I would just like to know where my poem went.

For all they people that dislike poetry.com got to their website and under name search type in poetry.com in the last name box and when the poets names come up read the poem by Suck this poetry.com its pretty hilarious.

Not only are they rip offs they only women that I have ever talked is rude.

They stole one of my poems. I entered a poem in their stupid contest and it was on their site for maybe 2 weeks. I go to enter another poem on their site and my first had disapeared. So I called them and I talked to some lady who was very rude. She said that my poem was being viewed in front of judges for the contests and it should be back on the website in 2-4 weeks.

4 weeks passed and it is still not up there so today I called them and the same rude lady answered the phone. I asked her where my poem went. I told her that I entered in the contest and it disappeared of their website. She then told me that the poem was either playgerized or it had profanity in it and they only remove them from the website if they do.

I am sure they it was my own work and I did not use profanity. I would just like to know where my poem went.

For all they people that dislike poetry.com got to their website and under name search type in poetry.com in the last name box and when the poets names come up read the poem by Suck this poetry.com its pretty hilarious.

Poetry.com is the biggest rip off in ages. Dreamers send there money in hoping for something in return. I submitted a poem but did not send them any money nor would I ever.

It is very obvious to me that the people who come on here and write positive things about the company are part of the company.

Then you speak of the conventions. I was also invited to a convention in Las Vegas. Everyone who submits poetry is invited to that crap. Another way to take your money get richer. The checks they present at the conventions I am sure are preprinted and false. Just like the company itself. The members winning money probably work for the company as well.

I do not write for money. I wrote for myself and wanted to share it with people. Unfortunately, I sent it to the wrong company.

I read you report and was deeply offended at how you talked about people and thier dreams. I have dealt with this company and I do not agree with how they do things. But you should not put others down because you think that you are so smart and important. Poetry is not what you see, but what we see and what we feel. A poem is an expression of ones ideas and feelings. For you to down and disgaurde someone elses work makes you no better than the company ripping us off.

The majority of all workshops/conventions in any subject area are not worth the money required to attend them (in fact most are not worth any money). Anyone who believes otherwise must be hopelessly nave. There are millions of people who belong to online poetry sites. Most have no training or talent. However, many of them have one thing in common: a delusional appraisal of the quality of their writing. This comes from equally ignorant people telling them how wonderful their writing is, or from people who do not want to hurt their feelings.

The simple fact is, most poetry written by these millions of people is derivative, trite, and hopelessly sophomoric: not worth the killed trees. These people are easy pickings for organizers who care nothing about poetry, but see an easy way to make money. Even if these conventions were legitimate ways to become published, there are few if any people who write poetry that make a living solely on their writing. Very few poetry books are sold outside of academia for class material, most of which are anthologies.

I have been both published (without paying for it) and have won money prizes. I also have dedicated years (40+) to this avocation. However, I have no delusions that I will ever make any significant money from writing poetry, nor do I ever expect to win fame or acknowledgement. Even those who have won Pulitzers, or other highly regarded awards, are generally unknown by the vast majority of people: not only average folks, but also among those who consider themselves poets.

THE BOTTOM LINE: If you want to win money, play the lottery (your odds are better), if you want to become known, shoot somebody famous. * If you truly want to write poetry, at least take a few college classes on the subject so that you will have some idea about what you are doing. If you have not mastered formal poetry, then please do not inflict your free verse on unsuspecting people, that is worse than showing them your vacation pictures, and will probably earn you extra time in purgatory, if not send you straight to hell: which in my opinion would be more fitting. ~Erthona

*For those who are incredibly nave, my suggestion that you shoot someone famous is said sarcastically, that is, as a joke: it was not meant as a serious suggestion, please do not take it that way. If you do, do not claim I told you. I know that there are those of you out there almost desperate enough to consider it. I mean, anyone who would drop $600.00 to attend a three-day poetry convention would probably do about anything.

If there are those who would like to create a legitimate non-profit poetry convention, with real classes taught by knowledgeable poets, and a book that those in it do not have to pay for, see non_profit_poetry_convention, which act as an accesse point for people of like minded intentions, and will put you in touch with others. It cost nothing, sell nothing, puts out no spam. It is only used to disseminate information on this topic.

Oh Melissa, before you start busting someone else on this site, I would strongly suggest that you start reading first and not assuming what you will. No where have I ever said that Poetry.com, etc was legit, I always say they are not. I have helped others see what this company's real scam is. So before calling someone else a "loser," look at yourself. If you can't read, you certainly can't write, huh? So who's the loser now?

wrong, for losers like april waldorf, shelly and others who claim that isop and poetry.com are legitimate. They are NOT. If you have to pay for a convention, for an award, or to have your poetry published, walk away.

It's already obvious and has been stated numerous times what a fraud and fake these companies are. If you want your poetry actually PUBLISHED, go to a legitimate publisher. Poetry.com is nothing except a scam ripoff business who caters to trusting people with dreams and high hopes.

Anyone can have their poetry "published" with poetry.com, all you have to do is pay. Anyone can attend this nonsense convention, which is not really a convention but a ploy and method which poetry.com uses to ripoff hard working people of a lot of money. No it's not legit, stay away from it, don't give your money to it and keep your kids away from it. Don't ever support these companies because it's a waste of your money, time, talents, and just profit for them. Real publishing companies do not charge people for publishing, they pay them if nothing else. You will not 'make it' as a poet through poetry.com you will only lose 600-2000 dollars, your poetry, and a lot of your time and hard work.

Do not support this company, despite what the fakers here say. poetry.com is a fake and a fraud and cons hard working trusting unsuspecting people into paying ridiculous amounts of money for their fake ripoff conventions and fake publishing.

The cost of the ISP conventions is a rip-off. I attended the Philadelphia Convention (August 2004) and I would like to know how they will use the poem I submitted to the "room judge" in Room 414 at 9:00 a.m. on 8/14/04 and where did it go after he judged it? Also, the women who won the $20,000.00 was in a hospital emergencey room when it was announced she had won and a poet-friend who she had met that weekend read her poem at the Awards Ceremony, which was hurried and very suspect!

It also seemed very strange that those chosen as finalists displayed NO EMOTIONS when their names were called! And when and where did ISP print off those fake checks that displayed the amount each finalist won? They obviously were done ahead of time but when and where? There were people reading contest poems all day Saturday!

What I would suggest for poets who, like myself, are not novices, DO NOT ATTEND AN ISP CONVENTION!

The cost of the ISP conventions is a rip-off. I attended the Philadelphia Convention (August 2004) and I would like to know how they will use the poem I submitted to the "room judge" in Room 414 at 9:00 a.m. on 8/14/04 and where did it go after he judged it? Also, the women who won the $20,000.00 was in a hospital emergencey room when it was announced she had won and a poet-friend who she had met that weekend read her poem at the Awards Ceremony, which was hurried and very suspect!

It also seemed very strange that those chosen as finalists displayed NO EMOTIONS when their names were called! And when and where did ISP print off those fake checks that displayed the amount each finalist won? They obviously were done ahead of time but when and where? There were people reading contest poems all day Saturday!

What I would suggest for poets who, like myself, are not novices, DO NOT ATTEND AN ISP CONVENTION!

The cost of the ISP conventions is a rip-off. I attended the Philadelphia Convention (August 2004) and I would like to know how they will use the poem I submitted to the "room judge" in Room 414 at 9:00 a.m. on 8/14/04 and where did it go after he judged it? Also, the women who won the $20,000.00 was in a hospital emergencey room when it was announced she had won and a poet-friend who she had met that weekend read her poem at the Awards Ceremony, which was hurried and very suspect!

It also seemed very strange that those chosen as finalists displayed NO EMOTIONS when their names were called! And when and where did ISP print off those fake checks that displayed the amount each finalist won? They obviously were done ahead of time but when and where? There were people reading contest poems all day Saturday!

What I would suggest for poets who, like myself, are not novices, DO NOT ATTEND AN ISP CONVENTION!

The cost of the ISP conventions is a rip-off. I attended the Philadelphia Convention (August 2004) and I would like to know how they will use the poem I submitted to the "room judge" in Room 414 at 9:00 a.m. on 8/14/04 and where did it go after he judged it? Also, the women who won the $20,000.00 was in a hospital emergencey room when it was announced she had won and a poet-friend who she had met that weekend read her poem at the Awards Ceremony, which was hurried and very suspect!

It also seemed very strange that those chosen as finalists displayed NO EMOTIONS when their names were called! And when and where did ISP print off those fake checks that displayed the amount each finalist won? They obviously were done ahead of time but when and where? There were people reading contest poems all day Saturday!

What I would suggest for poets who, like myself, are not novices, DO NOT ATTEND AN ISP CONVENTION!

My story is I was so heart broken, when the Twin Towers were destroyed it played on my feelings so I thought I would, express my self. I entered the contest I paid to have my name in the book. I was not going to that convention, I realized it was a scam sadly, so many people that write poetry are releaving the inner thoughts and pain.And they capitalized on that.

I have posted several pieces of writing on this site and have told friends they could look up my writing at www.poetry.com. When I went to look it up myself so that I could send my last poem as an ecard to somebody the website was down. I still am not able to reach the website where all the poetry sent in is found.

If this is a legit company then there should be information given regarding the website being down and what to expect, and where to find all the poems that have been "published" through them. That is fair. I was just looking up a piece I had sent them and ran into these rip-off complaints. I never fell for their letters of being a finalist buying a book from them of my own work, nor did I think that the convention was worth what they were asking for tickets to attend.

Using ones own ego works to market their business of making money but does not make for the most "famous poets". I knew not to quit my day job when I got the letter that said they were going to publish me in a book that I could buy .... But one thing I liked was it was a place where I could send my writing and be able to share it with others via the internet. Where did it all go????

I have been asked to attend these functions and true enough they are not free. The key word here is "Invited". Nothing says you have to attend, however, if you do, someone has to pay for your room and board as well as the seminars that you will attend.I have gone to seminars for my church where it has cost me more. Yet I do not say that my church is ripping me off because they ask me to attend and help pay the price for teachers to be there to help guide me in whatever endeavor I was undertaking at the time, be it religion or poetry.

I have been a member of ISP for a few years and have had my own book published thu them. Without their help, I would not have embarked on such an adventure. I enjoy being published, meeting other poets thu the seminars and other events that take place. To say that one is being ripped-off,
is a mistake on their part. If you feel that you have been, do not attend.

For those of us who really get something out of being at the seminars, do not have time to listen to your compliants for whatever reason you might have a grievance. Simpley put-you do not have to go. You do not have to pay. You do not have to be apart of something that others are getting a benefit of use, such as I. I am not rich,nor can I attend all the seminars.

I write because I love to write,Not to get rich, nor get handouts from those who are better off than I. If you want recognition, it comes with a price too. Nothing is free, that includes seminars at poetry functions. thank you !

I think these particular posts highlight a segment of the publishing industry. Ages ago, when I submitted poetry to Poetry.com, I was told paying for the book my work appeared in offset the cost of publishing. I was also told the volumes would mostly appear in libraries etc.

There are concerns I have about Poetry.com, mainly they are misleading about exposure of your work, and in my opinion play upon a person's sincere desire to get their own work the exposure it needs. But, in the publishing trade there are self publishing companies or companies where you pay a portion of publishing costs etc. The issue weighed is getting your work out there right away or waiting a longer time period for a regular publishing company to put the manuscript through their review and publishing process. They market for you while self-publishing let's you market your book. Both ways have their own pro's and cons.

However, there are many questionable companies out there and thus books such as "The Writer's Market" is a good resource for information on companies etc. in the publishing trades. Also beware of quick success promises. Most of all the established authors will tell you it takes time, and comittment to stick with it.

I was going through some of the Poetry.com posts and came upon this one. The last poster, Ruben claims to have won some BS award by these people and called another rebuttalist a liar about winning second prize making fun of her work.

Funny thing is, Shelley wasn't the liar here, Ruben was. I went to POetry.com and looked up her winning, she did in fact win $5,000 for her poem, "Depressionville Hotel." I read this poem and quite honestly, I thought it was good. I have some of my work published, but refuse someone like Poetry.com to do such. What's funnier, I can not find any such award given by them. Then, I also can not find your name anywhere, you did not win ANY award nor do I see ANYTHING writen by you. I guess you thought you'd get by with no one checking.

You shouldn't call people liar's when you, yourself are nothing more. And to Shelley, congrat's, but take heed, if you want a real publishing of your work, go to a real company, Poetry.com will screw you over one way or another. Again, good work.

I was going through some of the Poetry.com posts and came upon this one. The last poster, Ruben claims to have won some BS award by these people and called another rebuttalist a liar about winning second prize making fun of her work.

Funny thing is, Shelley wasn't the liar here, Ruben was. I went to POetry.com and looked up her winning, she did in fact win $5,000 for her poem, "Depressionville Hotel." I read this poem and quite honestly, I thought it was good. I have some of my work published, but refuse someone like Poetry.com to do such. What's funnier, I can not find any such award given by them. Then, I also can not find your name anywhere, you did not win ANY award nor do I see ANYTHING writen by you. I guess you thought you'd get by with no one checking.

You shouldn't call people liar's when you, yourself are nothing more. And to Shelley, congrat's, but take heed, if you want a real publishing of your work, go to a real company, Poetry.com will screw you over one way or another. Again, good work.

I was going through some of the Poetry.com posts and came upon this one. The last poster, Ruben claims to have won some BS award by these people and called another rebuttalist a liar about winning second prize making fun of her work.

Funny thing is, Shelley wasn't the liar here, Ruben was. I went to POetry.com and looked up her winning, she did in fact win $5,000 for her poem, "Depressionville Hotel." I read this poem and quite honestly, I thought it was good. I have some of my work published, but refuse someone like Poetry.com to do such. What's funnier, I can not find any such award given by them. Then, I also can not find your name anywhere, you did not win ANY award nor do I see ANYTHING writen by you. I guess you thought you'd get by with no one checking.

You shouldn't call people liar's when you, yourself are nothing more. And to Shelley, congrat's, but take heed, if you want a real publishing of your work, go to a real company, Poetry.com will screw you over one way or another. Again, good work.

To set the record straight, Shelley did NOT win ANY prize, for this poem or any other. In fact, her poem was so remarkably stupid and lame that the judges have passed it around as an example of what poetry should not be.

I am Ruben Kincaid and I have won poetry.com's Laureate Award each of the last three years. Befitting such a prestigious award, there is no such thing as second place. Shelley, I demand you retract your b.s. statement right away.

This is a rip-off-- any place where you have to PAY for an award is. The only way this company makes money is through scamming it's poets into buying their anthologies and paying over 600.00 for a silly convention. A $5000 winner in the convention doesn't speak for everyone else because the majority of people won't win anything.

If you don't have money to waste, then don't attend the event because the whole company is a rip-off.

I attended the November 2002 poetry.com and ISP Convention in Hollywood, California. I met some truly wonderful people from all over the world and made and have kept several friends and contacts. I learned a lot about the craft of writing in the three full days of seminars, and got real encouragement and motivation to submit more of my work for publication.
It was a life enhancing event; then I won the second place cash prize of $5000 US for my poem 'Depressionville Hotel'. Here it is May 2003 and I'm still walking on sunshine, still motivated to write more and submit more. I don't really mind if people want to knock it before trying it. I plan on returning to their fall convention and I don't need competition.
Thanks for providing a truly great format for reporting both sides of the story. Even though in this instance you might say I think people are wrong in judging before investigating, I would still caution; If you go to the conventions just for the prizes, you might as well go to Vegas where the odds are better.
Please check me out at poetry.com under previous winners for 'Depressionville Hotel' and for others listed under Shelley Haggard.