Why am I not being paid for the poems I write and submit? I entered a poem abo

Question:

Why am I not being paid for the poems I write and submit? I entered a poem about a ladybug...Haven't heard .

I have written and sent in my Haiku poems; but Poetry.com never tells me how good they are. I write poems to make money; as I cannot work and I DO NOT collect disability. If Poetry.com would pay me for my poetry; then I wouldn't mind allowing them to be submitted for publication! But all they want is my permission for publishing my poem(s); THEN they expect me to PURCHASE the book of poetry! My poem was not even considered to win because I didn't have the $$$$ to attend the Poetry.com conference!!! I sent them letters stating this; but got back an electronic answer...thanking me for replying, that was all! I think Poetry.com takes advantage of ppl that submit poems. I cannot even find ANY of my Haiku poems that I submitted. I feel that the poem I submitted titled: "My Grandchildren" was good enough to win! Laura Lee Spearman - lauralee1955@yahoo.ca

Best Answer - Chosen by Asker: It never ceases to amaze me how many people are willing to post their poem on a site like poetry.com for free and then when someone offers them a chance to be published, the poet just falls off the banana boat and signs on, and in a lot of cases (that's why poetry.com keeps doing it) they get the poet to spend and spend and spend to see that one poem published.

Word to the wise: it doesn't matter who it is, as the author you should get some kind of payment for your work even if all it is are contributor copies of the issue your work appears in. AND you should know that up front, before any contracts are signed. And if you even have an inkling of a doubt that the offer is not legit, then you should do a search on the publisher with the word "scam".

And really READ the contract before you sign one.