I'm afraid I have several problems with this. The cost? Well, to each his own. Some will pay it--others would not. I would not, shrug.
My main problem with the contest, and the reason I twittered it all day yesterday is this (bold addition mine):
*All submissions become sole property of Sponsor and will not be acknowledged or returned. By submitting an entry, all entrants grant Sponsor the absolute and unconditional right and authority to copy, edit, publish, promote, broadcast, or otherwise use, in whole or in part, their entries, in perpetuity, in any manner without further permission, notice or compensation. Entries that contain copyrighted material must include a release from the copyright holder. Prizes are nontransferable. No substitutions or cash redemptions, except by Sponsor in the event of prize unavailability.
Sponsor reserves the right to its sole discretion to not publish the winning entry for any reason whatsoever.
So, once we send you our 50k book--we no longer have any rights to it whatsoever. We are, in effect, paying you $149 to be able to use our book--and sell it--without even paying us for it?
And, though the prize IS publication, along with the 5k, you reserve the right to not publish it
for any reason So, you're in essence, saying you can NOT award the winning prize--the entrant has paid $149 to win--and don't even have to have a reason?
What's the point of the contest, then? If you're not looking for good work to publish and contract--why give yourself the out? Why not let the potential contestant see the contract they will be agreeing to? WAIT--I forgot--we get no compensation once the entry is in your hands.
Cited from Plagiarism.com
According to the Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary, to "plagiarize" means
- to steal and pass off (the ideas or words of another) as one's own
- to use (another's production) without crediting the source
- to commit literary theft
- to present as new and original an idea or product derived from an existing source.
In other words, plagiarism is an act of fraud. It involves both stealing someone else's work and lying about it afterward.
But can words and ideas really be stolen?
According to U.S. law, the answer is yes. The expression of original ideas is considered intellectual property, and is protected by copyright laws, just like original inventions. Almost all forms of expression fall under copyright protection as long as they are recorded in some way (such as a book or a computer file).
As to the comments re self-publishing. Here are a few facts for you. Smashwords is FREE. Lulu is FREE and Create Space is $39.00---all less than the $149 fee you're charging.
A "big publisher" with 5-10 titles. You can produce 5 titles via Create Space for around $200. Listing on the various e-book and print sites is free. Not a huge investment for a company. Now, if you're distributing via the big name b&m distributors--tell us.
Please look at the wording in your contest. It's easy to find sample 'rules' for about anything on the Internet. I'd suggest an attorney personally.
Most of us that are on the Internet know not to give our real information out. In a world of cyber-stalking, theft identity and other assorted hazards--it would be silly to do so.
Unlike most of the responses here, I'll admit I found this site via a blog comment I found elsewhere--and felt I wanted to interject my thoughts.
But, maybe I'm being too suspicious. Though, your own site says you "IN ADDITION, FOP DOES NOT REPRESENT OR WARRANT THAT THE INFORMATION ACCESSIBLE VIA THIS SITE IS ACCURATE, COMPLETE OR CURRENT."
As to your belief that 'bad writers' won't pay the fees--I literally just rolled my eyes. I hate to be the one to say this--but it's the bad ones that 'will' pay it.
Those of us that are either published elsewhere (who are not allowed to enter anyway) or professional writers (who are not allowed to enter) know better.
Do we assume that if our entry is not accepted that our money is to be refunded?
There are a lot of questions--but your answers haven't really answered any of them.
Of course we are going to go by the rules you've posted--they are the only ones available! It doesn't matter if it's 'started' yet. It's posted for everyone to read.
I did try to comment on your site--but found no email address anywhere--which is likely just my not searching long enough.