Complaint Review: International Society Of Poets Poetry.com - Owings Mills Maryland

i like you am  disabled and was very proud of my poems . also became very upset when i could not attend

convention in las vegas and have been concerned on what to do about how strongly i feel reguarding my

ablity to have been named poet of the year if i hand been given the chance to attend and perform my poem in person. TILL NOW AFTER READING YOUR COMPLAINT I REALISE IT IS NOT A SCAM WHICH I KNEW ALL ALONG. THIS IS WHY? I HAD ENTER MY POEMS BEFORE AND HAD NO RESPONES AT ALL THEN ONE NIGHT I WAS CONCERN OVER MY LIFE AND KNEW I NEED TO DO SOMETHING SO I ENTER A VERY SPECIAL POEM I WROTE I AM VERY PROTECTIVE OVER KNOWIN ITS GREATNESS SO I WASNT SURPRIZED WHEN I WAS CONTACTED ABOUT MY BEING A FINALIST I WAS A BIT UPSET ABOUT SIGNING OVER PERRMISSION TO USE MY POEM IN A BOOK THAT I HAVE TO BUY IF I WANTED IT BUT WHAT EVER THEN MONTHS PASS AND I BECAME HOMELESS AND REALISED I HAD TO JOIN AND PAY FEES TO ATTEND THE FINAL CONTEST. I WROTE E-MAILS ABOUT MY CONCERNS AND DID GET KIND REPLIES WITH DISCOUNTED RATES IN HOPES I COULD ATTEND SADLY NO ONE IN MY LIFE CARE OR BELIEVED IN ME OR MY POEMS TO SO I WAS UN ABLE TO ATTEND. SAD ABOUT THIS I COMPLAINED AGAIN IN HOPES I COULD BE MAILED MY AWARD FOR BEING NOMINATED FOR POET OF THE YEAR! WITH ONLY A OFFER TO EXTEND MY NAMINATION THE NEXT YEAR GIVING ME ANOTHER CHANCE TO ATTEND SADLY I HAD BECAME DISCOURGED BY THEN AND DIDNT EVEN TRY



SO, MY POINT IS I HAVENT READ YOUR POEMS BUT I AM SURE YOU MUST HAVE GREAT TALENT AND YOU SHOULD FEEL LUCKY YOU EVEN GOT TO ATTEND AND RECIEVED YOUR AWARD TROPY BECAUSE I WISH I HAD. TRUST ME AND THANK YOU FOR SHARIN BECAUSE NOW I KNOW ITS NOT A SCAM AND MY SPECIAL POEM IS IN SAFE HANDS I HOPE YOU REALISE ITS A GREAT CREATIVE PROCESS  AND YOU JUST HAVE TO EXCEPT YOU CAN LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT IT TAKES TO WIN IF YOU TRUELY WANT THIS DREAM

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Like many other aspiring poets I too submitted several poems and received the subsequent 'sales pitch', in the form of publishing offers, flattering letters and invitations to the symposiums/conventions. I realized immediately that it was simply a business ploy and that if I were not careful I would be paying for my work to be published. However, in January 2004 I had the pleasure of seeing one of my poems, 'Egypt' win $1000 on the web-site. Later that year I decided to accept the invitation to go to the annual convention to be held in Philadelphia. (August 2004). There were thousands of people there - over 1000 'poets' and a further 2 -3000 of their supporters. There were many useful/interesting workshops on offer. There were also a couple of Gala Dinners with entertainment provided by top-class singers all included in the cost - around $500. I had flown to the US from the UK and added to this cost was the hotel - available to members of the IPS at a reduced price. All in I guess it cost around $1000 but I fugured this had been paid for already by my earlier prize.
Much to my amazement and delight I WON the competition - $20,000 and the cheque was promptly presented. Sadly, I was unable to personally collect the award as I had fallen ill in the hotle and was in the emergency room! Fortuntely, only for two days - and I recovered completely. The IPS never promised anything that wasn't true and you just have to read the literature carefully and beware of vanity!
If it wasn't so far to travel I'd definitely go again. If your work is good enough it will get appreciation but try sending it to agents first to try the conventional route to publishing. My poem was called 'Dark Land of Light' .

Everyone gets those letters that submits a poem. I am so glad I never spent a dime on that crap. I am sorry you got taken.