Young Writers con

LillythePink

Yep - had a similar experience - had a letter through about my daughter's poem - so, duly sent off the proof and a cheque for the book - proud parent etc

When it got delivered, I looked through and found that almost all of her class had a poem in there - it is a rip off and one mistake I won't be doing again.

whatmichaelsays

If she's looking for a career in writing, get used to it.

I worked years on local / special interest papers in my youth, earning three-fifths of nowt, and I still had to pay 30p for a copy of my own work from the news stand outside the front door.

binkadv

not a con i was published three times over 4 years by them (one was obviously a rejection) to be honest they probably dont get many kids interested in entering the written word anymore. they also contact you a couple of years down the line to see you if want to enter a young adults piece. im very proud of my three books holding my poems and they could be found in most of the book shops around here

binkadv

also i did get paid royalties when i got into it in school (about 8 years ago now) and you can choose to get them in a book voucher or donated to the school (donated to the school is a larger amount) my mum works at the school and the money was paid to them

Edit: by the way I dont work for them even though it does sound like it!

Zooxanthelle

When I was in year 8 or 9 at school we had to write a poem about the Future. Some of us (including me) got our poems put into one of these books. I think it was called 'Future Voices'. I was well chuffed at the time. But I can see now how it could be classed as a money making scam.....However I still have the book on my shelf.

trumpton

It may not be an out and out con - in that you do receive something (the book) at the end of it. The con though is that children are deceived into thinking that they have won a competition - what they have 'won' is the chance to part with a sum of money for a vanity publishing book.

It plays on kids' understandable thrill of 'winning' and being published, and on parents' heart-strings as many parents won't be able to resist the idea of a book with their child's poem/story in it.

The poems/story are always limited to a certain amount of words - so they can get more kids' poems in, of course. I think schools should take the stand of not entering pupils for these things to begin with.

jess1974

Just to bump this up, my son received this letter yesterday, of course being the proud mum i was going to order a copy of the book at £14.99 and £2.00 p+p, later in the evening he was on facebook chatting to friends, and lo and behold most of his year has also received the letter.
Needless to say i won't be buying the book, what a swizz......

mishkanorman

i wouldnt be happy at the school passing out my address without my consent either !!

lb364

I entered one of these 'competitions' and although I didn't win, got offered to be published. At first I was flattered but then I thought: why would I want to pay for them to publish something they are going to sell...

I told one of my writing friends and she said she had done the same but never received the books she paid for

no-oneknowsme

My Son came home recently with a letter from "Young writers - poetry matters" to say that a poem he had writtend had been submitted by his School and had been chosen for publication.

The letter asked me to sign a copy right form and enclosed a certificate for my Son.

Naturally I was over the moon and told everyone i could think of (bing the proud parent:D). I also took his certificate and had it laminated to protect it.....

Imagine how daft I felt after a few days when I reaslised that it was infact every child in my Sons class whose work had been "chosen" for publication.

I wasnt the only parent taken in though and most of us had forked
out for a copy of the book .

I think this company uses this as a way to make money from parents .Its a disgrace.