Complaint Review: The International Library Of Poetry

I'd been writing poetry for a while. It was something that I truly loved, and wanted to pursue. Last year, while looking in an issue of Seventeen I found an ad about a poetry contest. The winner would recieve a publishing contract, and be rewarded 1,000 to 10,000 dollars. I saw it as a way of getting my work out there, and seeing if it really was good enough. A few weeks after entering the contest, I got a letter saying I had won. I was estatic!!

"The Day I Needed You To Listen" was an excellent poem, (quoted from my "winner's letter") and I had been one of the few to be picked for such an honor... (MY "poem would be published!!") Or at least that's what the letter said.

After reading a little further I found that in order to recieve a copy of my poem, PUBLISHED, I'd have to pay a special poet's- pre-introduction fee, but the reasons seemed ok. I had a little doubts, but I was going to be published! So foolishly, I over-looked my own thoughts.
Later, I found out that the convention, the rewards, the whole "International Library Of Poetry" was a scam. A news channel (ABC's 20/20 and NBC) had a class of 2nd graders enter the contest, every single one won!!!

Hopeful poets are so concentrated on getting published, and their dreams, that they forget that not everyone in this world is honest, and you can't trust everyone. I found out after I got my hopes too high. I hope this rip off report helps others to realizes that the International Libraby of Poetry is just a bunch of greedy, cruel people who like to make money off of others' dreams, and foolishness'.

Angela
Racine, Wisconsin
U.S.A.