when i was in middleschool there was a similar sort of 'contest.' everyone in my english class could submit a poem. they were all sent off somewhere and the best ones were published in some sort of book. the winners could purchase a copy for some unreasonable price. i can't even remember if i submitted a poem, but one friend had two poems chosen. she didn't buy the book, tho, because it cost more than her family made in a month (quite literally). i wonder if that contest was really a scam or if it was a bit more legitamite than this one.