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Praise for Winning Writers and Poetry Contest Insider

Winning Writers is thrilled to have been selected as one of the "101 Best Websites for Writers" for five years in a row by Writer's Digest (2005-2009). WD writes, "Gain access to 150 poetry contests by subscribing to its free e-newsletter (and more than 750 if you upgrade to its premium membership). Plus, enter its famous Wergle Flomp Humor Poetry Contest, which searches for the “best humor poem that has been sent to a ‘vanity poetry contest’ as a joke." (2008 citation) Thanks to our readers who nominated us!

Winning Writers is proud to receive the Truly Useful Site Award from Preditors & Editors (March 2006). "These sites have proven not only useful or entertaining. They have also set a standard for other sites to aim for. We congratulate them on their achievements."

Winning Writers was profiled in an interview (subscribers only) for Kay Day's online Poetry Beat column in The Writer (2/20/07):

Want first hand, detailed information about entering writing contests? The site Winning Writers is an increasingly popular resource.

Visitors may opt for a free registration to receive the e-newsletter, access to The Best Free Poetry Contests database, and a chance to submit poems for critique in the e-newsletter. A modest fee of $6.95 [now $7.95] for three months adds The Poetry Contest Insider database, in-depth editorial content like interviews with contest judges and links to poems that have won prizes, and guidelines for contests that charge fees.

The site also includes information about prose contests...

[Adam] Cohen: One of the major objectives of our contest database is to help give authors the information they need to decide which contests are right for them. To sift through 750+ contests can seem daunting. We try to make this process as speedy, painless and effective as possible through our search mechanism, our detailed contest profiles, our contest rankings and our links to the work of winners and judges. Besides helping authors pick contests, we also hope that our presenting a large array of prize-winning work—a feast of great contemporary writing—will be enjoyable and instructive in itself.

"...about a year ago I shifted my writing focus (novels, nonfiction) to poetry. I use your site exclusively to select contests. I’ve won, placed, and/or published 13 poems. The site is great. I can’t imagine how much time it would take to search contests out and qualify them one at a time."
Lee Whipple, Poetry Contest Insider Customer, Florida

"I love using winningwriters.com. I send poems and manuscripts out to probably 20 contests each month from your listings... I recommend it to all my writer friends and students, too. I don’t see how a writer can live without it. It’s like air or water."
Tom Lombardo, Poetry Contest Insider Customer, Georgia

"Your website is invaluable: definitely the best around. I have benefited greatly from the database of contests. Thank you and keep up the fantastic work!... Last year I received first prize in both the Dorothy Prizes and the Room of One's Own poetry competition—both of which I learned of through your database."
Vicki Duke, Poetry Contest Insider Customer, Alberta, Canada

"As a beginning writer, I had no idea where to send my work for submission or for contest entries... With guidance from your website, I was able to figure out which contests my poetry, short stories and essays might do well in. I've also used it to sign up to receive wonderful magazine and journal publications of contemporary poetry, short stories and nonfiction that I would never have found without your website.

"Since using your website in the summer this past year (just six short months ago), I won First Prize in the Margaret Reid Traditional Verse Contest, a short story of mine, "Magnolia", was a finalist for the 2006 New Letters Alexander Cappon Award for Fiction, my poem "The Blue Laptop" was long listed for the 2006 Bridport Prize, and now, I'm waiting to hear if my poem, "Tombstones", moves up from the short list of the Poetry at Work Challenge. That almost averages out to one placement or prize a month due to your website!

"...I've got a bunch of other pieces out for consideration. I'll keep you posted if anything else wonderful happens. This really has been a tremendous year for me and I truly couldn't have done it without your website."
Susan Keith, Poetry Contest Insider Customer, California

"...an outstanding site with valuable resources for poets and writers....straightforward information on dozens, perhaps, hundreds of poetry and writing contests that YOU could be winning."
CruelestMonth.com, The Poetry of HarperCollins Publishers

"I wasn't on top of the contest circuit until I subscribed to Winning Writers. Since I joined the site a year ago, I have won the top prize or placed in poetry contests 24 times and have had 11 publications. In the five years I wrote poetry prior to joining this site, I had only one publication. Clearly, Winning Writers has had a huge impact on my career. Thank you!"
Dr. Linda Dove, Poetry Contest Insider Customer, Arizona

"Thank you for a great service! This is the best source of information on the web for beginning and experienced writers."
Marcia Popp, Poetry Contest Insider Customer, Illinois

"Just a quick note to congratulate you on an excellent site. It is so well organized that I'm speechless. :) I find it very helpful, and I work with it almost every day. You've saved people a million hours of work! Poet's Market [not published by Winning Writers] is also good, but their Contests section merely scratches the surface...."
Norah Eastern, Poetry Contest Insider Customer, Ontario

"This is an exceptional site for writers, especially poets—THE BEST I've seen!"
Barbara Foote Colvert, Poetry Contest Insider Customer, Wyoming

"I love the website. I visit it often... The absolute best place to find competitions for poetry."
C. Hope Clark, Editor, FundsforWriters

"This is far and away the best site of its kind, anywhere on the Internet. As a result of submitting to some of the contests they have recommended, I've won various awards for my poetry and these, in turn, have led to other types of recognition. As well, the competitions directly associated with Winning Writers are of very high quality. The site administrator is always readily accessible by email and responds in a friendly and helpful manner. The newsletter is also very informative. I have recommended this site to many of my peers and as a senior high school teacher, have included it for reference in a list of writing resources for students. It is WELL worth numerous visits!"
Brenda Tate, Poetry Contest Insider Customer, Canada

"Poetry Contest Insider is a fabulous resource. It's easily accessible, well organized and fun.... This has already become one of my two Must-Have's, along with Poet's Market. Be sure I'll be renewing. Thanks for the wonderful resource!"
Bridget Cougar, Poetry Contest Insider Customer, California

"Thanks for your wonderful, informative newsletter. Thought you should know I was awarded First Prize in the Tiger's Eye Poetry Contest mentioned in the newsletter. Yea!... Your doing such an excellent job in researching, describing, and announcing the diverse contests enables me, and all other poets and writers, to do our jobs! It is a constant joy to know that Winning Writers is "top drawer", as they say."
Andrea Watson, Poetry Contest Insider Customer, Colorado

"Very friendly. Always responds promptly to emails. Offers great advice for writers. The product is an efficient time-saving and very informative tool...all for a tiny affordable price."
Karen Johnston, Poetry Contest Insider Customer, Australia

"For a really complete list of poetry competitions, including rankings and summaries, I'd suggest subscribing to Winning Writers, a very good service and quite inexpensive."
Jeffery Bahr, "Awards and Competitions for First-Time Authors"

"I have done business with this merchant many times this summer and am always treated with the utmost respect and courtesy. Their website and personal availability has helped me begin my writing journey."
Jon A. Taylor, Poetry Contest Insider Customer, Missouri

"As a working writer, I have explored a number of writer resources, including websites. Winning Writers is one of the very few that have proved itself to be truly useful, as well as a pleasure to read. Good job!"
Denise Dunne-DeVaney, Poetry Contest Insider Customer, Washington

"I have dealt with this merchant for about 3 years now. They are so informative, friendly and what great customer service. Always a prompt response on any questions or an address change. They are really a great tool for poets as well as writers of all kinds."
Erika Furno, Poetry Contest Insider Customer, California

"A very detailed insider bulletin on various writing contests. The editors have developed an easily accessible and useful tool for writers. Highly recommended to the beginning writer as well as the experienced one."
Tony Thompson, Founder, Gin Bender Poetry Review, and Poetry Contest Insider Customer

"Let me say how happy I am that I discovered you folks.... I have recently completed my first poetry manuscript and was laboring through Poet's Market to find contests to send it to. Your concise date-related information is invaluable to me and I am planning several entries. Your website is well done and exceptionally user friendly."
Alexandra Hill, Poetry Contest Insider Customer, New York

"I think that poets, especially aspiring poets like me, are much like the sea anemone. We are bound to expose our inner selves to the sea. Winning Writers is our great and nourishing reef."
Pasquale Bottiglieri, Poetry Contest Insider Customer, Virginia

"Just wanted to let you know what a great publication you offer and just how beneficial it's been to me.... This is an excellent product for poets and writers who want to publish their manuscript by means of a book prize and find quality writing contests to submit to. The newsletter always comes on time and has interesting articles as well as great information on contests. This is also good for the new writer, as they point out writing scams and rate contests so you can choose what's best for you. The people who produce Winning Writers are helpful, kind and professional. Highly recommend this to literary writers and poets.... I was a finalist for the Cherry Grove Collections Book Prize and they will be publishing my collection of poems entitled Small Knots in 2004. I learned about that contest through your newsletter."
Kelli Agodon, Winner of the 2003 Floating Bridge Press Chapbook Award and Poetry Contest Insider Customer, Washington

"Paid my money and right away I received the current newsletter and the supplement. I had immediate access to a wide array of poetry competitions, with links to work by the judges and previous winners. This service is invaluable, and the customer service has been prompt and helpful every time. It's far more convenient and personal than Poets & Writers magazine.... The immediacy and specificity of online information makes your service so efficient that I can make better use of my time—that is, I can spend more time writing poetry. :-)"
Leisha Wharfield, Poetry Contest Insider Customer, Oregon

"I paid for a subscription with Winning Writers with great skepticism. Usually what comes through the email about poetry is a scam or not on the professional level that I am looking for. But I just finished a chapbook and was on the lookout for chapbook contests, bumped into your website, saw the deal and thought, okay, it's worth a five buck try.
     I first was impressed by the listing of competitions, and then further reassured of your literary professionalism when I saw the rankings for each contest and saw that we agreed 100% on which ones were of the highest order. You've saved me a ton of work by sending these listings.... Thanks so much! I am going to spread the word to my poetry friends and students. (Now if I can just get this darn chapbook taken, you'll be the super champs!!!)"
Kathryn Winograd, Poetry Contest Insider Customer, Colorado

"I think it is a fabulous service—I use it a lot—well done! You should feel great satisfaction for such a low-cost service to writers that is so valuable."
Robert Carter, Poetry Contest Insider Customer, Australia

"I was a recent winner for a poetry contest, 'Art in the Air', an opportunity I learned about through Winning Writers.... I have been published in numerous journals, relying on the sources most people use, but I have found Poetry Contest Insider to offer a unique service, gleaning the best of legitimate sources for writers, providing submission information and rating contests."
Ron Howland, Poetry Contest Insider Customer, Massachusetts

"I am particularly pleased with the attitude and service.... I believe I have perhaps found the most useful and more than reasonably priced reference for poets and authors on the web."
Michele Leschi, Poetry Contest Insider Customer, California

"Customer service is wonderful at Winning Writers! I'm very pleased with how quickly they respond to my inquiries and requests."
Linda Boone, Poetry Contest Insider Customer, Georgia

"If you want to get your first poetry book published, your best bet is to win a contest. Poetry Contest Insider would be a good idea even if all it did was to publish detailed contest guidelines. After all, why should aspiring poets have to address SASEs to each venue? But PCI also rates the quality of the contests so novices can get oriented and established writers can keep tabs on which contests are rising in prestige. And you get examples of winning work, a terrific boon for contenders and a good way for the writing community to see who's winning what. The first issue does a fine job of filling this important little niche."
Jennifer Michael Hecht, Author and Award-Winning Poet

"Any poet with a manuscript and dreams of glory will welcome WinningWriters.com, a new website that provides complete information on contests—all the basics plus the little odds and ends that can drive you nuts: Is that deadline a postmark date or in their hands, do they want your name on it or not, etc. Better yet, because the site is run by experienced poet/editors, it doesn't just present the bare facts as though all contests were equal; it evaluates them so you can concentrate on the glittering prizes and avoid the sleazeballs and the dopes. A very valuable new service."
Robert Hershon, Co-Editor, Hanging Loose Press

"WinningWriters.com brings it all together: when, where, how to compete for prestigious prizes in today's poetry world. The site offers precise, essential info and savvy advice from seasoned contestants (and winners). The tone is upbeat and infectiously so. A real resource."
Beth Bosworth, Editor, The Saint Ann's Review

"I particularly recommend Jendi Reiter's Poetry Contest Insider, as I know she is scrupulous about the contests she lists."
Nathan Harms, Utmost Christian Writers, sponsor of the Utmost Christian Poetry Contest

"Each issue is filled with terrific contests, interviews, technique tips, etc.—with little (if any) repetition. It also offers a wide representation of legitimate poetry contests, which is uncommon. As President of Southwest Writers Club of Dallas, I use ideas from the Winning Writers website and newsletters to make our programs more interesting and engaging. They haven't let me down yet.... I'm already endorsing [WinningWriters.com] to my own club members, and I try to steer just about every writer I meet your way."
Sami Swan Thompson, President, Southwest Writers Club

"Just want to say that your newsletter is a real winner. It's short, readable, very well organized, and informative. I give you guys a AAA+ for your efforts.... I've passed it on to a 1/2 dozen friends and poets that I know already, and plan to sent it on to more. Keep up the good work!!"
Gene McParland, New York

"Sent it to about 30 poets I know. Great contest source."
Lynn Skapyak Harlin, senior editor, Closet Books

"Wow, thanks for all the info!"
Shelley Crockett

"I have enjoyed your newsletters for almost 4 years now and find them most informative."
Susan Cook-Jahme

"The Critique Corner is an invaluable service to unknown and unrecognized poets and I strongly encourage you to continue it."
Obed Dolo, Ghana

Carolina Sineni of hotmetalpress on the impact of advertising in the Winning Writers Newsletter:
"We advertised elsewhere but I know it was a startling jump from a few acceptable submissions in weeks to a few everyday. We went from perhaps less than a hundred hits in a month to over 3500 each month."

"We can tell by our data readings that Winning Writers is an economical and efficient way to advertise both the Anderbo Poetry Prize and The RRofihe Trophy/Open City Short Story Contest."
Rick Rofihe, Publisher & Editor-In-Chief, anderbo

"I'm very pleased with the variety of responses we've received, and I very much appreciate the care you took in adding links and generally improving the copy I sent you."
Mark Schorr, Executive Director, The Robert Frost Foundation

"The ads we have run in the Winning Writers newsletter have garnered more response and inquiry than any other ads we have run in 20 years of publication."
Ted O. Badger, Editor, Lucidity Poetry Journal

"Thanks for the great advertising value your service continues to offer. Your subscriber base continues to serve as the foundation for our submissions."
Robert Woerheide, Editor in Chief, Perigee

"I hear about WW all of the time from other poets, and on web sites. You've created quite a resource for poets. We're all very appreciative."
Colette Jonopulos, Tiger's Eye: A Journal of Poetry

"I'm happy to find a website enterprise that provides the reader with legit writer and poetry contest information, and all the resources you provide."
Janet Leigh Dowd

"Thanks so much for what you guys do at WinningWriters.com—it's a great site, not only for myself as a writer, but also as a journal editor trying to promote poetry."
Tim Green, Associate Editor, RATTLE

"If you're serious about writing poetry and entering competitions, this is an important site to know and explore. Winning Writers is the glorious sponsor to the Wergle Flomp Contest.... Best of all, it's free! Last year some 800 USD was at stake for the gawd-awfullest poem submitted.
     Winning Writers has a site that is crammed with information and resources regardless of whether you are into writing haiku and oriental verse or mastering formal meter. The site is exceptionally well-organized for you to find the resources that you need, including definitions and descriptions of different verse forms, publishers, contests and other excellent websites. The site provides information about literary scams and dubious POD's to help you keep from getting fleeced. Check it out for tips regarding scam detection.
      A section of the site is dedicated to essays on poetry and links for poets. Moreover, there are links for legal resources, literary journals, literary associations, poetry forums, poetry performances and other reference sites. Winning Writers has a freebie newsletter that informs you of freebie contests—so why wait? Subscribe."
WriteSuccess Newsletter, 8/14/04

"I don't recall how I found Winning Writers, but I have shared the web address with all of my friends and colleagues who are enamored with the written word. Winning Writers has been of immeasurable help in my early forays into writing poetry and fiction. The resource has provided expert advice (something difficult to come by in this business of jealously guarded secrets and impervious walls) and insightful commentary on the art, culture, and business of writing. It's not only the resources that the website and newsletters provide...the contest reviews, the critiques, the publishing advice. It's also the personal commitment of the two founders, Adam Cohen and especially Jendi Reiter. The willingness to offer advice and go above and beyond all reasonable expectations to help writers astounds me. What the organization has done for me is, despite my having chosen a career in the crafting of language, beyond words."
Geoffrey Clay, Honorable Mention, 2002 War Poetry Contest sponsored by Winning Writers

"Thanks for the WinningWriters website. It has been a BIG help to me in the beginning stage of my writing avocation!"
Elizabeth Dahlinghaus

"Thank you for making so much useful information available to aspiring poets like myself.... I can't tell you enough, how great it is to have the knowledge and support of a site like Winning Writers."
Nicole Soriano

"Your website is so involved and full and helpful and JUST RIGHT that I fear I could spend my life there!... MANY thanks and please know you are truly appreciated!"
Holly MacLain Pharmer, Illinois

"What a fabulous service. It's a brilliant idea to have all those resources and well-researched solutions at the ready, all in one place, clearly laid out, for writers to use."
Joan Barberich, events director, Food for Thought Books, Massachusetts

"I really appreciate the content of Winning Writers in general. As a poet who needs to evaluate publications and contests, I utilize your site almost continually, and I tell people about it weekly."
Ben Arnold, poetry/prose co-editor, Perigee: Online Publication for the Arts

"Best site I've seen; I'm using the information in a course for writing teachers, and am passing it on to friends."
Linda M. Hasselstrom, Windbreak House writing retreat for women

"Your website is beautiful and looks like a great resource..."
Alice Andrews, editor, entelechy

"The WinningWriters website is the net's premier literary instructional resource. It facilitates craft improvement, which stimulates enjoyment, confidence, and a greater sense of personal growth."
Dan Taylor for The Diamond Angle

"Great job you've been doing in exposing pathetic creatures such as [a certain vanity poetry contest]. I really enjoyed and was educated from all your exhaustive research. Thanks. Hard to believe that these slugs can operate for so long without penalty or prevention coming their way, eventually.... Rock on, WinningWriters.com. Keep up the informed, patient and relentless 'Good Fight' always, please."
William G. Taggart Jr., Ontario, on reading the Warning Signs and Scam Fighting pages

"A great site to find information about upcoming poetry contests."
The Hyper Texts

"I just wanted to take a minute to thank you for all the help you have given me. I am fifty seven years old and I had never written a poem before in my life till March 1st of this year (2002). Then after I started writing I had no idea what I was doing. I found your website and with your help I have had three poems published and I just now got word that three more will be in February. I was sixteen when I got married so needless to say I did not go through all my high school years. Also with your help I have sent a complete manuscript off, I can't believe what has happened to me, but none of it would have been possible without you."
Thelma Shutters, Missouri

"I think the site is a good resource for writers, and we certainly deal with a good many of them!"
Darlene Montonaro, Executive Director, Poets' & Writers' League of Greater Cleveland

"Thanks again for the work you do at winningwriters. It is such a wonderful service and a real help to so many people."
Laura Van Prooyen, Illinois

"Impressively comprehensive"
Janet Murch, Editor, Ragged Raven Press

"I visited your website and found the sample content excellent. The service you are providing is much needed and appreciated."
Marilyn Johnson, Editor/Publisher, Pearl Editions

"I want you to know that I appreciate the website very much. What a Godsend to poets and writers."
Elizabeth Price, Indianapolis, IN

"I really appreciate having access to such a helpful website as this one and I will be sure to visit quite frequently for contest info."
Tiffany Brown, Fort Lauderdale, FL

"Several things delighted me about your website: it is so thorough; it is GENEROUS. The second part is what moved me to write. Even though you definitely are in business and have products to sell, it is obvious by the way it is put together that you are not afraid to share what you know and how you've gotten things done. I assume you know this about what you are doing; but it really is pretty rare in many creative realms. Generosity of spirit to less experienced writers from writers who have figured out the ways of the world is a welcome beacon.
     Thank you for some useful information offered in a very accessible way. Hopefully, I'll put some of it to good use. Ironically, I have a friend who is a highly successful poet...who I would never dare bother for some of the necessary practicalities you have given! I also look forward to checking out your contest letter."
Lucy Cornwell, Amateur Poet

"I too fell victim to vanity. I entered a poem in [a certain bad contest] and thought it was the greatest thing ever when I became a finalist. I also unfortunately purchased the book my poem is going to be in. That was a $60.00 lesson I won't soon forget. But the damage that they did was to make me unsure about my work; I did email them and tell them what I thought. I'm sure that that keeps them up at night.... I should have known better to enter a contest where one of the entries was 'I like cheese, cheese is cool.' Anyway I just wanted to tell you that we are so grateful for a site that we feel we can trust."
Darlene L. Levrier, WinningWriters.com visitor

"Having recently been invited to the Poets convention by poetry.com, 'for my merit as a poet', I am glad now that I didn't fly over from Belfast to Florida and waste my time, after reading your first-hand account. Poetry.com has recently sent me another copyright sheet but your website has put me off replying to their letter with anything more than a two-fingered insult. I will not be sending poetry.com any more of my poetry, and your list of which competitions to avoid has helped. I thank you for your openness and honesty, we could do with more websites like yours."
Catriona Holmes, WinningWriters.com visitor

"My name is Jeff Mosley. I am a police officer, a martial arts instructor, and a poet. Considering my first two descriptions, you would think (as would I) that I would be a worldly, hardcore cynic and would not be susceptible to any scam of any fashion. But my third description leans to the romantic hopefulness that many of us have, so when I stumbled upon 'poetry.com' (aka—The International Library of Poetry—wow!) I immediately threw on some shoes and trekked up to the attic and dug out my stash of original, heartfelt poetry that I have written through the years. I picked one out and submitted it, already excited over the anticipated response and the prospect of picking up my pen again on my upcoming vacation.
     My next thought was 'Why stop there?' and I typed 'poetry contests' in my search engine. Much to my surprise, one of the most prominent returns was the 'poetry contest scams caution' by Wind Publications, which eventually led me to WinningWriters.com and to your email. I had no idea. I could have easily been sucked into buying a book or even taking a trip to see just how good my poetry really was! I have not spent a dime or received a letter (this is a mere 3 hours from my visit to poetry.com), but I still feel somewhat cheapened by the fact that my work and words are on their website.
     Anyway, I just wanted to say 'thanks' to you and those like you who protect the uninformed from being taken by this and other scam artists who prey on our dreams. If this email can help anyone else, you may reprint it or use it as you will. My pen is coming out again, but for reputable sites like yours. I will also compose some more poetry for the 'International Library'... look for it in the Wergle Flomp poetry contest (after I read 'Flubblebop', 'Nicky Nacky Noo', and 'Yew Gotta Larf' I laughed so hard I woke my wife up from across the house)."
Jeff Mosley, WinningWriters.com visitor

"It's a relief to see a website that actually cares about the people it's trying to reach. I too, like many others I assume, have been taken for a ride by [bad poetry contests]. Thank you for giving people what they are really looking for, honest advice."
Terry Johnson, WinningWriters.com visitor