SHORT AND SWEET: THE FUN ART OF GREETING CARD WRITING -- by Sherri Jones Rivers

     About ten years ago, I was working on a biography that had me frustrated, disheartened, and doubtful it would ever be published. I decided to try a different kind of writing: Greeting Cards. I signed up for Sandra Miller-Louden's online greeting card course. It was great. Karen Moore has a book, YOU CAN WRITE GREETING CARDS, that should also be helpful in getting started.
    
     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.

 

This Father's Day Card sold to Design Design uses a twist on the letters V.I.P.

     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.