How to Find Legitimate Poetry Contests

There are advertisements all over the Internet for free poetry contests that offer great prizes. However, many of these contests are scams that will inform all entrants that they are winners and ask for the money needed to buy a poetry anthology or to place their poem on a plaque. With a little research, you can avoid these scams and find legitimate poetry contests.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Look online at the various Web sites that offer poetry contests. Check for reputable names that have been in business for a long time.

2. Find Web sites that offer a list of legitimate poetry contests. These sites will give you the basics of each contest, including the entrance fee and submission deadline.

3. Be careful of poetry contests that are free to enter. There are some legitimate companies that do not charge a fee, but most charge a modest reading fee.

4. Enter poetry contests that are held on an annual or semi-annual basis. Companies that hold contests year-round are not usually reputable.

5. Check for judges on the panel that are established poets with published works. If you have never heard of any of the judges, the contest is most likely a scam.

Tips & Warnings

• If an organization asks for money from its winners, that's a bad sign. If you have won a contest, they should be paying you, not the other way around.
• Receiving an overly gushing letter is another sign that the contest is not legitimate. Don't let yourself be moved by false flattery.