How to Make Money Writing Greeting Cards

Freelance writers often wonder how to make money writing greeting cards. Is this a lucrative writing venue? For many who have found success, the answer is "Yes!"

If you seriously want to know how to make money writing greeting cards, then you need to take a walk through the greeting card section of any store near you. Take note of the types of cards available. Read the greetings in a variety of cards, from sentimental to humorous, birthday classics to unique congratulations. The more familiar you become with the market, the better you'll be at determining what sells. Greeting cards can be slick and witty or sweet and sappy, and you may only excel at writing one particular type of card. However, you won't know until you try, so don't rule out a particular category until you've tried writing for it.

While of course, everyone knows there are general greeting card categories, such as birthday, anniversary, congratulations, sympathy, and thank you cards, there are actually more particular card genres that you need to familiarize yourself with.

• Sentimental cards-When you first think of greeting cards, this is probably the type of card that comes to mind. These sentimental cards have been around forever, and they are often filled with heartfelt rhymes that focus on expressing a syrupy message. These are often more generic in nature, and while they may not require quite as much imagination on your end, they still must be believable or companies just won't buy them. Sentimental greeting cards are typically on the lower end of the pay scale.
• Studio-The most lucrative greeting card category is the studio cards, which are the long, slim cards that are written for virtually any reason, be it friendship, apologies, holiday wishes, and more. These cards are usually shorter and to the point. Many are subtle in nature, although the majority of them are also humorous as well. Wording is often witty and imaginative. In other words, you want to pack a punch without being too wordy.
• Humorous-Humorous cards are very similar to studio cards, although they are usually shorter and wider in size. When you submit a humorous greeting card idea, the editor will decide whether it fits in the humorous or the studio category.

When you consider that hundreds, even thousands, of people submit greeting card ideas to companies throughout the year, getting a company to purchase your idea can be somewhat daunting. However, if you keep the following ideas in mind, you might just be successful, and although you may not be able to quit your day job, you may find that those small checks you receive begin to add up.

• Submission guidelines-Find out how each company prefers greeting card ideas to be submitted. In many cases, this involves writing the greeting on a 3X5 card, along with your name and address.
• Greeting Card Association-If you haven't already joined the Greeting Card Association, it's time to do so. Here you can find tips and advice on writing and submitting your ideas as well as a list of publishing companies.
• Writer's Market-If you consider yourself a freelance writer and you don't own a copy of or subscribe to the Writer's Market, you are missing out on one of the most valuable resources known to freelancers.
• Schedules and requirements-Once you've narrowed down the list of publishers you want to contact, find out if they have specific schedules and requirements regarding submissions, such as seasonal greetings, etc.
• Messages-As you write your greetings, pay attention to the message you want to send. In most cases, cards should be directed to the recipient, and those cards that could be sent from one or several people often work best. Focus on sending "to you", more than "from me". This way, a card could be purchased and sent with several people's names signed on the card if necessary.
• Focus-Focus on writing greetings that are new, not repeats from countless other cards. Funny doesn't mean ridiculing or insulting either.
• Payment-Finally, payment can vary significantly depending upon the size of the company and the type of greeting you are attempting to sell. Obviously, large companies like Hallmark usually pay better than smaller companies, but every card you sell adds to your portfolio and gets you another check in the mail. You can make as little as $10 to as much as $200 per greeting card idea, so this form of freelance writing could be a great venue for you to try!

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