Caution!
Books To Help:
Dubious Writing Contests and Companies!
Before you stuff that entry into an envelope, check the contest/company out! Make sure there is no question about the sponsor's professionalism or behavior towards writers. Save yourself time and embarassment by knowing for certain.
This is a comprehensive database of links to ensure you aren’t involved with an questionable company!
Some are personal, some are professional, all are dedicated to helping you make the right decision. Many thanks to all who’ve spent time creating these informative sites.
Disclaimer: The links provide information on a variety of contests and genres, almost all have information on poetry contests. We can not be responsibile for what material may be published at these sites.
Want to try these simple steps? This might save you time, money, and heartache.
"WINDPUB" - A branch of Wind Publishing. A site dedicated to assisting writers and poets in discovering legitimate writing contests.
WRITERS WEEKLY - The respected site dedicated to writers has a poetry contest warning section.
Recommended!
Writers’ Weekly complete database of scam sites.
ONE POET’S EXPERIENCE - With a bad poetry contest.
ABSOLUTEWRITE.COM - Poetry scam page:
SFWA.COM- BEWARE LIST - The Science Fiction Writers’ Association is renown and reputable for providing the famous, "Predators & Editors list of scams targeting writers. Their contest warning page.
SFWA- VANITY PUBLISHER WARNINGS
WOCKYJIVVY.COM - More information on poetry contests
WOULD-BE POETS AND SCAM ARTISTS
JOURNALIST-FRED NUS-SPEAKS OUT ABOUT HIS OWN PERSONAL EXPERIENCE.
"WINNING WRITERS" BAD CONTESTS:
JOURNALIST DAVE BARRY SPEAKS ABOUT HIS PERSONAL EXPERIENCES.
POETRY IN E-MOTION- Please see the, "Journal of Stupidities," pages for information.on several dubious poetry/publishing scams.
POETRYNOTCOM- More information and advice from personal experience.
Know of a good site for information on scams targeting writers?
Still Can't Find Information On Your Contest of Interest?
1. Ask around writers' groups and message boards online.
2. See what state and city the contest or administration/sponsoring company operates in, check with the Better Business Bureau. Remember that a listing may not mean much alone. Be certain to check the "complaint," history of the company.
3. Go to a large search engine, like Google, type the name of the contest in to find all material relating to it.
4. ALWAYS get the name of the company, not just the contest.
Copyright, ©2002-2005, Laurawrites.net. All rights reserved.