Famous Poets Society Scam
Poetry Contest that's no contest 

My letter from Hollywood's Famous Poets Society says:
"It is extraordinary what you have done in the field of poetry, contributing as you have to the poetic beauty of our world, and I want to thank you for it--not only in words but deeds, thus the enclosed Award of Recognition. . .



"In honor of your greatness, we are recognizing you as a Famous Poet of 1998. As such, you are invited to send a poem for free inclusion in our most prestigious anthology of the year, Best Famous Poems of 1998. The book comprises the poetry of the best poets we have ever run across."
And I suppose the poem below is one of the best they've ever run across?

"P.S Our Diamond Homer Trophy, presented in honor of our Famous Poets for 1998 at our convention in Disneyland, is now available to those who could not be there in person. By special arrangement with the manufacturer the trophy is available wholesale. . . ."
Wholesale? Let me see if I have this straight--I have won the trophy, but I have to buy it to get it? For $69.00 wholesale? Yes, I either have to buy it to get it, or attend their annual convention costing a hefty $595 registration fee, not including meals, lodging, and travel. Read on---

How bad can a poem be? Here's my best worst effort,
with intentional misspellings and grammatical errors,
which I jotted down in two minutes.
-- Can you believe it? --

This drivel (a poem, if you will) was entered in the Famous Poets contest and not only received the above certificate but has also qualified me to appear in Best Famous Poems of 1998. Here's my contribution to the "poetic beauty of the world."  

Anniversary 

Dear you are the only one
I care to share my life
You are my sweet hon
My darling wife.

You have given love
To me eager
Like an angel above
You'll alwals be my sugar.

You'll always be there for me
So sweet and so true
It's plain for all to see
I'll always be their for you.  

Yep, a national "semi-finalist" eligible for publication, along with many other "literary gems," in their "beautiful anthology" Cherished Poems of the Western World.

So, while my poem is "eligible" for publication, there is no guarantee
it will be published, that is unless I buy their book.
 

How The Scam Works 

Like many other bogus poetry contest sponsors, Hollywood's Famous Poets Society misrepresents the truth to those entering their so-called contests. They say that only a "handful" of the thousands of poems entered in their contests are selected for publication. But it appears that virtually everyone who enters becomes a semi-finalist, regardless of the quality of the poem that is submitted, provided it is less than 21 lines. Every poem is a prize-winner and every poet is deserving of great honor for their artistry. Such false compliments are their method of worming their way into the purses and wallets of those amateur poets who are unwary and trusting enough (and maybe vain enough) to purchase their "luxurious," hardbound, poetry anthology and shell out money for their other opportunities. 

THEY WANT YOUR MONEY
"Four exciting publishing options" were offered to me by Famous Poets: 
1. Have a special dedication printed with my poem, $10.00. 
2. Include a photograph of myself, $15.00. 
3. Have my poem illustrated to highlight its artistry (have they read it?), $20.00. 
4. Include additional poems, $20.00 each, plus a nominal fee for additional typesetting, $1.00 per line. And a small fee for postage and handling, $6.00.   And of course, if I wanted to see the book I'd have to purchase it, $39.95  

In addition, in a subsequent mailing I was offered the opportunity to purchase my own award trophy for only $69.00. They awarded it to me but I have to buy it to receive it.  Gee, thanks a lot. 

This year (1998) Hollywood's Famous Poets sponsored a poetry convention at the Disneyland Hotel in Anaheim, the inflated registration fees ($595 not including meals, lodging, and travel) being another way to extract money from amateur poets. I was invited to attend and be "honored" as a Famous Poet and receive the Diamond Homer Trophy for my ridiculously awful doggerel (the poem above). Featured on the program was famous poet Phyllis Diller and actors from such TV hits as Love Boat and As The World Turns. It's at the annual convention that the year's Famous Poet Laureate is crowned with a golden diadem by actor Ted Lange. The poet then ascends to the throne with a gloden scepter in hand, all the while attended by his/her court. Can you believe it? I couldn't make up a story like this if I tried. 

Don't be a victim, click here for information on literary scams.  

How to submit your work to legitimate organizations. 

More about the Famous Poets Society Scam

• Care little about literature, its audience, or authors -- and care least of all about encouraging quality work. 
• Require or seduce downstream publication fees.
• Have self-interested commercial tie-ins with no literary significance.
• Impose extraordinary entry requirements almost always designed to extract yet more money from the poet. 
• Do not publish truthful submission guidelines (if at all). 
• Make false and misleading claims designed solely to covert an entrant from a literary participant to a customer for shoddy goods and services. 
• Harvest information from entrants and use it to publicize undocumented endorsements, junk snail mail, and now spam. 
• Collect entrance fees for no purpose other than commercial advantage, seeking profits for the sponsors. 
• Have a special interest in coercing minors, the disabled, and the elderly. 

Adopted from Dennis Gaughan's Opposition to Poetry Contest Scams 

Page sponsored by Wind Publications  
as a service to all writers and poets.
Copyright 1998 Wind Publications