Saturday, 10 February 2018

DD1'S a winner....isn't She?


 DD1 skipped proudly out of school yesterday clutching an envelope close to her chest and looking very excited. Her short story, she'd written in school had been entered into a competition and had won!
 The whole way home she gushed about being a winner, about being published in a book of winners, how she wanted to tell everyone we'd ever met about how good her story was.
  Naturally I was thrilled, I even got a touch teary in my pregnant state.  My clever little daughter winning writing comps aged 7. Amazing!

 But then I read the winners letter properly and the world began to crash down.
 The company running the "competition" have been running this scam for years. Every child in DD1's class, probably year group has received this letter. Out of the 25,000 entries into the competition her class won 30 winner places. What are the chances eh?
 In order to have your child's winning entry published you must send off a form giving permission to have it printed. AND agree to buy a copy of the printed book for the bargain price of £15.99 + £2 postage. There's offers to tempted you into buying more. 3 for 2, 10 for 7.
 Surely the winners get a free copy I thought. As a prize of their achievement? No. There is no achievement here. Every entry in that book paid £17 (minimum) to be there. If you don't pay you don't get entered.  Hardly a compltion is it.

 Apparently it's called vanity press, and thousands are duped into it every single school term.

 I'm fuming. And will not be buying a copy and will be warning others about it!

 X x X
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15 comments:

  1. Darwin Girl10 February 2018 at 01:22

    God, that sucks!

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  2. Hard up Hester10 February 2018 at 01:51

    Appalling, and to target children too. What were the school thinking of, probably their cut of the profits!

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  3. Ali10 February 2018 at 01:57

    Of course she's a winner!! Keep encouraging her to write :-)

    However, I am very surprised the school allowed this to happen. We get loads of these 'competitions' sent to us and about 99% of them get binned before they make it into class. I'd contact your school and let them know your feelings on this xxx

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  4. Sooze10 February 2018 at 02:07

    That's disgusting, emotional pulling at your heart strings blackmail. I'm surprised the school allow it to go on!

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  5. Sue10 February 2018 at 02:57

    That is terrible. I would write a letter of complaint to the school for taking part in this ... I wonder if they get a kick back?

    Why not get your daughter to neatly write out her story on A4 paper, draw a picture to illustrate it and buy a nice frame that you can hang on the wall somewhere in your house, to show her that in your eyes she really is a winner :-)

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  6. Fat Dormouse10 February 2018 at 05:50

    I can't make a proper book, but if you'd like to send me her story, I would happily type it out and illustrate it for you - it's not quite the same as a published book, but it wouild be something (Not that I'm a great illustrator, or anything - I just feel sorry for her!)

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  7. Country cottage life10 February 2018 at 08:16

    Our old primary school ran this comp but it was for art work, I ended up paying for the book as my son was so excited, I blame the school. I should have made a complaint at the time but as a young mother didn't have the confidence, believe me I would kick up a fuss now I'm older and wiser.

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  8. Moira10 February 2018 at 10:19

    Congratulations to your daughter. Now send a letter to the board of governors this is not good, I am watching what I say.

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  9. Jean10 February 2018 at 11:24

    I wouldn't have thought that would be allowed in a school. Can you complain to them? That is a lovely idea of Sue's to frame her story.

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  10. margaret10 February 2018 at 12:20

    I remember something like this when my girls were in school. This discourages the children and puts the parents in a tough spot. I really enjoy your blog. I am in the US and probably as old as your mother lol but I love all the sweet and creative things you do with your
    children�� Love from the USA
    Margaret

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  11. Chris West10 February 2018 at 15:34

    A similar thing happened to me over 30 years ago.This was for a poetry book.I am sad to hear it still goes on.
    Your daughter is a winner in your eyes and that's all that matters :)

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  12. Gill - That British Woman10 February 2018 at 15:50

    I agree with the others, that is cruel, but your daughter is indeed a winner, Sue's idea is a good one.

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  13. Angela10 February 2018 at 23:37

    I think you should get together with a few other Mums and express your concern to the school. This sort of thing is WRONG and misleading the children.

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  14. ravylesley11 February 2018 at 04:42

    Last year my Daughter entered one of these competitions and hey surprisingly she won and I too got the letter about the book and also like you I realised it was a scam but the look of pride on my Daughters face about being a published author was such that despite knowing the score I succumbed and paid the money. After several months wait and many emails from them asking if family and friends wanted a copy too, I finally received a copy. my Daughter is delighted with it and will never part with it. Yes its a scam but also it can be a beautiful thing and bring such joy so for me I am glad I paid the money and got the book but I agree with the above comment that the School should never have put Parents in that position in the first place

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  15. Gretchen Weaver14 February 2018 at 05:50

    This scam has been going around for years and years in varying forms. I remember a cousin getting sucked into buying a cookbook she submitted recipes to 50 years ago. Vanity books for sure.

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