I subscribe to several free on-line writer's websites such as WinningWriters.com. In addition to advice, poetry, essays and prose these websites feature writing contests, most of which have monetary prizes for winners. I have entered very few of these contests, but I have noticed that at least 80% of writing contests have a mandatory "reading fee". For those who offer these contests I'm sure that these reading fees add up. If a contest requires a $5 fee, if one thousand people enter that's one thousand dollars. If a contest requires a $10 fee that's ten thousand dollars if 1000 people enter. If anyone is foolish enough to pay a $20 fee, if one thousand people enter that's an easy $20,000 for those who put on the contest. Anyway, I refuse to enter any writing contest that requires a fee of any kind. Some of these contests offer several thousand dollars in prizes, but if there is a fee I don't want to be scammed, manipulated or exploited. Who knows if these contests are legit? Another thing to be wary of is if a poetry contest requires or recommends that poets who enter contests purchase an anthology of winning poetry. I made that mistake a decade or two ago and wasted about forty dollars. To their credit, WinningWriters.com does offer free writing contests, but to access all of the 750 some-odd free to enter contests you have to pay a quarterly free. It is hard to say if that fee is a worthwhile investment.
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