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Author
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Comment
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alina
Registered User
(3/2/02 5:07:40 pm)
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I'm being published! Should I be excited?
I have been writing children's poetry for a long time, intending to try to get all of my poems published as a collection when I had enought of them to make a substantial book. I recently decided to submit one of my poems in the poetry.com monthly poetry contest. Yesterday, I recieved a letter saying that I was a semi-finalist in the contest for this month, and that they were going to publish my poem in a poetry anthology.
Is that a good thing? If a poem is published in an anthology will it make it harder for me to sell it to another publisher in my own collection? Poetry.com does not own the poem. It will be listed as copyrighted by me. I know that many of you are very familiar with the publishing industry so I'm just wondering what you think.
If anybody would like to read my poem just go to poetry.com and
enter my name, Alina. The poem is called: Its Lonely Being a Werewolf.
Any editing advice you have would be great too! Since it is going
to be published, I want to make sure it's in tip-top shape!
I know that this posting is not about fairy tales, though they are inspirational to me in my poetry. I really respect the opinions of the people who post on this sight. I hope that you all don't mind my straying from the topic at hand!
Thanks and cheers to all,
Alina
Edited by: alina at: 3/2/02 5:16:09 pm
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GoldenNokomis
Registered User
(3/2/02 5:12:12 pm)
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Re: I'm being published! Should I be excited?
Congratulations!
And the werewolf bit sounds like a fit, here.
JaNell
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MelindaKimberly
Registered User
(3/3/02 12:05:24 am)
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Re: I'm being published! Should I be excited?
HI!
Hon, you're caught in a scam. Poetry.com will send you information
offering you the chance to buy an "anthology" which includes
your work. You will never be compensated. Poetry.com is currently
under investigation and may be being sued for preying on young writers'
hopes and dreams. Check Preditors and Editors www.sfwa.org/prededitors/
for a list of reputable and non-reputable publishers. Also, if you're
working in the SF/F genre as I am, try looking at Ralan.com for
a reliable and reputable list of places to submit: www.ralan.com/.
I've fallen into the same trap. It won't hurt you in the long run, but take down your work from the site. It's not a credit you want, as it counts as a vanity press. (Vanity press = any publisher who makes you buy the right to be published.) Remember, in publishing the money should flow TO the writer. Get published, get paid, and keep subbing.
GOOD LUCK!
Edited by: MelindaKimberly at: 3/3/02 12:11:13 am
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alina
Registered User
(3/3/02 11:56:11 am)
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Re: I'm being published! Should I be excited?
Thanks for your support JaNell!
And Melinda, thank you for the info and the website links!
That was exactly what I was afraid of when I got that letter the other day. When I submitted the poem I don't remember it saying anywhere that I was giving them permission to print it in a book. But I guess it is some sort of implied consent thing since I posted it on their site. Do you know if there is anything that I can do at this point? If I remove it from the website before the date that the winners are announced will they still print it?
I was looking at poetry.com yesterday and clicking through different poems and they all had links at the bottom saying: Buy this poem in an anthology for only 49.95! They're obviously very choosy about what they publish, I feel so very special.
I really feel silly that I didn't research this competition more carefully before submitting. I learned my lesson!
Alina
Edited by: alina at: 3/3/02 9:20:41 pm
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Gregor9
Registered User
(3/4/02 1:01:49 pm)
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Re: I'm being published! Should I be excited?
Alina,
Don't feel silly--there are lots of sharks out there, and the internet has bred them. Some are well-meaning but have no understanding of copyright laws much less fair compensation. Others are just plain maggots using your talent to promote themselves, and often try to disguise that they are reproducing non-public-domain work without permission. Everyone probably gets burned sooner or later. Sooner is better.
GF
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alina
Registered User
(3/5/02 7:11:16 pm)
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Re: I'm being published! Should I be excited?
Thanks Gregor! I will definitely be much more careful in the future. Actually, there was no harm done after all. I removed my poem from poetry.com today and it will not be printed in their anthology. I don't suppose that anybody got a chance to look at it before I removed it? I would love to hear what you thought of it if you did get a chance to read it. I can always use constructive criticism!
Cheers!
Alina
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JaNell
Unregistered User
(3/8/02 7:02:56 am)
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AD
Sorry I wasn't paying better attention, I was just excited for you.
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Nova
Unregistered User
(4/16/02 10:48:05 am)
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RE: poetry.com
I did this my junior year in high school (five years ago) as my English teacher had all students from her classes (about 200) submit poems to the site. I was one of the only three people from my school who were selected. So they DID think your work was good-- they just want to make a buck while they're at it. I did have my story published in Above the Clouds. My understanding is that they publish at least one (maybe more) poetry anthologies every year, with 1,000 or so poems by various authors in them. Even after I politely declined to shell out $50.00 for their book, I was still published. My library gets this series of books every year, and that year was no exception. (I believe that they are donated by a gran, because it doesnt' seem like the sort of thing that my library would waste money on. Its poetry section is VERY unused.) I went to see if it had been published or not, and it was. You can see my poem by typing in Aradia Diane Willard if you're interested. Heck, I can even analyze it if you're interested!
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alina
Registered User
(4/16/02 12:03:51 pm)
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Re: RE: poetry.com
Aradia,
I really liked your poem. The man in the moon has always been one of my favorite fantasy beings. I would love to hear your analysis. It's nice to know that they don't send "You are a finalist" letters out to everyone that contributes. Thanks for sharing.
Cheers,
Alina
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alina
Registered User
(4/18/02 1:58:52 pm)
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New problem
Help! I am very confused! When I checked my mail today there was a letter from poetry.com. They said that I was one of only 33 poets chosen to have my poem recorded on a CD. I don't know what to think. My poem is not even listed on poetry.com anymore. Can they just record my poem without my permission? And should I let them?
Thanks for your help,
Alina
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Richard
Parks
Registered User
(4/18/02 8:03:06 pm)
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Reprint Question
I'm assuming there's a contract for your original publication, and what rights they have depends mostly on what sort of contract you signed with Poetry.com in the first place, and that's rather hard for us to judge. There's often(not always) an option for non-exclusive reprint rights in the original contract, which would cover this if the clause exists.
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alina
Registered User
(4/19/02 6:32:33 am)
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Re: Reprint Question
Thanks Richard,
Actually I didn't sign a contract at all. I entered a poetry contest at poetry.com but withdrew my poem from the site, and from consideration, before the judging, based on the information I had discovered here and elsewhere. That is why I was so surprised to recieve that letter yesterday. I think that they are asking for permission but it is hard to tell. They were closed yesterday when I tried to contact them. I'm going to try again today.
thanks again,
Alina
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mhallman
Unregistered User
(7/15/02 11:33:32 am)
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print or vanity,it's still publishing
hello my name is michael hallman. I to have seveal poems in poetry.com they also want to place my poems in an anthrology book they also want to put my poems on a cd with music they did not ask me to pay to publish my work like you I would like to find a place to submit my work that is going to look at my work . it will sell itself please feel free to contact me at mhallman@web-wired.net to help each other with leads goodluck
michael
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mhallman
Unregistered User
(7/15/02 11:56:45 am)
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what's wrong
I don't understand,why should you not think that it is a good thing to have your work published I to have won poet of the year. and all my work to be in the anthrology series, also my poems are to be placed on a cd with other authers, now since I have read some of the comments, I am wondering is it worth letting them publish my poems even though I am not getting paid. I am being acknnowled for my work by allowing them to print my work for the public to read and enjoy. And who knows maybe something can come from this.read my poems if you can and tell me what you think.michael hallman ishow it is listed in poetry.com
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Barbara
Fisher
Registered User
(7/15/02 12:03:51 pm)
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You might want to read the fine print
You might want to read the fine print at poetry.com, and see if you forfeit rights to your poem by submitting it to a contest. A lot of contests have in thier rules that "all entries become property of the sponsor of the contest."
I am sad to say, you got taken, which happens to a lot of people. I know a person who is an editorial assistant at poetry.com, and she says its a scam, and lots of writers, particularly new ones, get taken advantage of by the company.
The mere fact that the company is being investigated is a bad sign.
If you are looking for legitimate print markets (I have a mistrust of internet markets), try the Writer's Market books; they have one specifically for poetry markets. Also, do some searches online, for markets not listed by the Writer's Market.
Good luck, and I am sorry you got sucked in by piratical, poetic predators.
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Carolyn
Dunn
Registered User
(7/15/02 8:05:01 pm)
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Re: You might want to read the fine print
Hi there!
Thanks all for the info on poetry.com. I know as a struggling poet it can be easy to get caught up in a scam. Get to know the industry (Barbara's suggestion of Poet's Market is an excellent source) and I do think $50.00 is quite excessive for an anthology price! I have in the past encouraged my students to stay away from that site because it doesn't feel legitimate.
I found that Poets and Writers magazine (and their website pw.org) was and is a very valuable asset to my work as a poet. They have an extensive resource in the back pages of calls for submission, as well as industry news.
Hope this helps!
Carolyn
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SweetGaMelon
Registered User
(8/20/02 9:42:22 pm)
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I HAVE BEEN TAKEN BY POETRY.COM TOO!!!
I have been taken by poetry.com too!! i put a poem on line and they say was going to published it too and put it on a CD. back up in Feb. of this year. And now they sent me a letter saying enter in something that going on for December of this year
asking me enter a new poem for them, but i have been gotten once not again.
as of tonight i am going in and take my poem off of their site . thanks for the infor on them .
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