For two years plus after Sandra's course, I immersed myself in the greeting card world, learning all I could, and sending out my verses--rhymed and prose. It didn't take up a lot of time. My words were published, and I got paid. The pay can range from $35 -$200.
One of the main pointers I learned was making the verse apply to as many people as possible. Generic, yet personable. Not always easy, but it can be done. I have found a lack of cards for men and boys. So many cards have flowers on them, and that's fine, but guys need something else on the cover. Also, there's a need for cards for teens and young adults. More trendy writing is needed there.
An exercise we did in the course was to read cards in stores. Sandra had us read the fronts only of lots of humorous cards. We were to stand there with the unopened card until we had come up with what we thought the inside message was. People looked at me rather strangely, but it was a good exercise.
Here are three of my greeting cards. Not every card company sends copies of your cards with the art work, but it's exciting when they do.
The first was a Sympathy card sold to Warner Press, a Christian company.
The last is a light-hearted birthday greeting I sold to Oatmeal. I actually saw this card in the pharmacy we use. Now, that was fun! I wanted to show everyone in there "my card."
Interested? Here are some card companies you might want to look into once you've honed your craft.
Blue Mountain Arts (sps.com) Check web site for payment.
Designer Greetings (designergreetings.com) Around $50 per idea.
Oatmeal Studios (oatmealstudios.com) Usually $75 per idea.
Calypso Cards (calypsocards.com)
Snafu Designs (snafucards.com) Click on Wholesale Information at the top of the page. Scroll to the bottom; in blue area you should see Writers' Guidelines. Click on that. Pay around $100 per idea.
Warner Press Cards. (warnerpress.org) $35 per idea.
As with any submission, be sure to send out your best work, keep good records, and be willing to make changes, if requested. If your own endless novel is giving you fits, why not give greeting cards a try? Believe me, there's nothing like seeing one of your own cards on the racks.
Sherri, sounds like a fun way to get your work out there an deb published. Love having th elist of companies that will accept work. Do you need an agent for this type of thing?
ReplyDeleteGreat post. Thanks for the links to the greet card companies.
ReplyDeleteDo you need to be adept at illustration, or did someone else illustrate these?
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun writing idea! Thanks, Sherri, for showing us how you got started.
ReplyDeleteThank you, Tina. It was a good experience, and I learned a lot.
DeleteSherri,
ReplyDeleteWhat fun to see your cards! Great post! I will stand in the card section and sometimes laugh til I cry at some of the writing😄
Thanks, all for your kind comments. To answer your questions: 1. No, you don't need an agent. 2. They match up your verse with an illustrator.
ReplyDeleteA neat thing happened while I was a member of an online greeting card group. I had a verse bought by Smart Alex, and one of the writer/illustrators I knew from the group was chosen to illustrate my verse. He would send me samples to see which elephant I liked best on the front of the card.
ReplyDeleteThis is so fun, Sherri! :)
ReplyDeleteThanks, Marcie. I'm a writer of short things!
DeleteI've always wondered about cards. I still love to buy cards. I think it also is very much like children's book writing where it looks simple, but involves a lot of work.
ReplyDeleteThis is a very useful post. Thanks. I will definitely look into this.
ReplyDeleteSherri, thank you for an informative post. As writers, it is great to know about opportunities to share our creative writing with greeting card companies. Your verses are both fun and lovely. ~Suzy
ReplyDeleteThanks, Suzy. Appreciate the kind words.
DeleteCool beans! And that last card is hilarious. :) I have sold a card to Blue Mountain Arts, too. They are lovely folks to work with!
ReplyDeleteGood for you, Donna. An online friend of mine, Debbie Burton-Peddle writes for them, too. I think they pay well.
DeleteWOW! Love your cards, Sherri...they are well-thought out and lovely! My mom always wrote little rhymes and made her own cards to give friends and family at special occasion times...and I have done that also. Maybe I should give it a whirl and try to be paid for it. I know it's more than just penning a rhyme...it's obvious you've put in a ton of hard work. Thanks for the resources to follow up on. :)
ReplyDeleteThank you, Vivian. It was a great learning experience-- how to turn a phrase, write short and pithy.
DeleteThis is such an interesting post! Something I've never thought about...
ReplyDeleteIt was a rewarding experience.
ReplyDeleteNice post! I had no idea the market would be so profitable. I tend to be long-winded but maybe this would be a good exercise in tightening up those words.
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ReplyDeleteGreat post, Sherri -- I'm going to look at Blue Mountain Arts! Thank you for sharing these writerly tips.
ReplyDeleteAn insider's view of part of writing we all experience with joy from the receiving end, but so few of us participate in the creation, except in making cards at home. I still make a lot of mine & our daughter does too. If I sent a card to you Sheri, I would have to write -
ReplyDeleteT H A N K S !
Your helpful idea may put gas in my tank!