THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE TRULY UGLY: 

SCAMS, SHAMS, AND SLAM-DUNKS 

IN THE WORLD OF CREATING BOOKS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE!

Smartwriters: This mega-site, devoted to profiting from inexperienced authors, runs contests aimed at the gullible, new writer and contains heavy advertising mixed into the content--a stellar example of the truly ugly! For the site surfer, it is difficult to know, sometimes, what is advertising and what is not on this site--or what information, if any, is reputable and reliable here! Their contest winners are not judged by the only folks who can buy manuscripts--acquiring editors working for reputable publishers--or by those who can sell manuscripts--reputable literary agents. The contests do not have blind judging, either, because the entries are "screened" before judging, and screening criteria are not delineated. Their contest judges have all been mid-list, "award-winning," published writers with clear needs and/or desires to supplement their own writing incomes.

Since Smartwriter contests were started, contest fees on the site have slowly but aggressively increased, contest by contest. Now, extra fees are being charged for optional, "additional" manuscript or artwork critiques for each entry! Most folks entering these contests lose their money and lose ALL of their money.  Even the critiques cannot be trusted to be reliable, coming, as they do, from the individuals participating in such a self-profiting site. Winners don't win much either--a modest cash award and the title of "winner," with publicity rights to their names and their contest entries being handed over in perpetuity to the owners of the site--something winners may regret later in their careers! Sadly, the site owners have not restrained themselves from using photographs and the name of their young daughter to promote their online endeavors.  

Writers and illustrators of books for young people should evaluate and research any information on this site. You should also be aware that there is much reliable information elsewhere on the Internet (spend some time in careful research) if you need free help in self-marketing your work. Copyright theft and plagiarism are rampant on the Internet now, and these problems are more serious and more widespread than they have ever been before in the publishing world. It is in your best interest then to consider very carefully the reputations, online conduct, and experience of those to whom you entrust your best work. Contests sponsored by reputable publishing houses with a clear focus on buying winning manuscripts charge no entry fees, for example! All you pay are postage costs, and even with constantly rising prices of paper and stamps, that's still a bargain! Rating: Scam.

Writers Digest: Clearly the great mother of and the model for all online writing contests, the contests on this enormously profitable site (if you study the site well) are run solely for the benefit of those running the contests. The Writers Digest organization has made huge profits for many, many years from their  their writing contests--and the bulk of the profit only flows one way--to the owners of this company!
  
A simple request from me to Writers Digest that inquired what, specifically, happened to all of their contest entry monies was flatly refused. Perhaps the very few winners of these contests feel good, with prizes that include paid trips to see editors and agents or free writing conferences and free books and cash, but, assuredly, the losing contestants will not! Some good writing books have been published by the owners of this site, but all information in their books and on their site, particularly all marketing information, should be carefully evaluated in light of the knowledge that this company is a for-profit company that has, very aggressively and successfully, over many years, managed to separate new writers from lots and lots and lots of money...

If you a new writer, you should know that telling a reputable agent or editor that you have won in a contest like this may hurt not help you! Some excellent publishers run their own writing contests, with no entry fees. Try entering one of those. Or try a local or national contest run by a reputable, nonprofit arts organization. If you lose in one of those contests, at least your fee monies will go towards supporting the arts in your own community, and you can certainly feel good about that! Or try investing your writing money instead into a new computer, a website of your own, publishers' catalogs, writing marketing guides, and/or reputable writing organizations--or, better yet--postage! Rating: Scam.

rv6/18/08

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