Breaking into the Greeting Card Writing Market

Article and resources for greeting card writers.

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~ Books on Writing Card Sentiments ~

You Can Write Greeting Cards This hands-on guide features practical instruction and exercises that teach beginners how to survey the market, find their niche, and write greetings cards that say just the right thing.

A Guide to Greeting Card Writing All forms are discussed in detail: conventional verse and prose, personal relationship cards, humor, juvenile, inspirational, etc. Detailed info on how to submit and sell your work to greeting card markets. All the nuts and bolts of both the creative art and the publishing market.

Write Greeting Cards Like a Pro Moore knows the ins and outs of the greeting card business. In this hands-on guide, she offers practical instruction, idea joggers, and exercises that will teach you how to survey the market, find your niche, and write greeting cards that say just the right thing. From humor to inspirational writing, Moore profiles the special needs of each greeting card category and also shows you how to spot new trends, so you can write the cards publishers are seeking today.

The Freelance Writing for Greeting Card Companies This book targets important areas a writer needs to know in regards to being self-employed, as well as, how to own a small greeting card business. It covers Internet to explore the technology which has opened the door for freelance writers and artists. You will find web sites that will offer a variety of freelance writers opportunities never before known or unreachable outside the Internet world such as: chat rooms, bulletin boards, or forums so writers can communicate with other writers. This type of networking is ideal for finding answers or obtaining valuable information about a company, organizations, writing groups, and available resources.

How to Write and Sell Greeting Cards, Bumper Stickers, T-Shirts and Other Fun Stuff A successful freelancer shares her years of experience and advice in writing for the "social expression market".

Thinking of You: A Card Greeting for Every Occasion This little books helps to jump start your thinking to make messages for cards.

Finding the Right Words: Perfect Phrases to Personalize Your Greeting Cards More than three dozen ways to say "Happy Birthday” for new family members...even pets. Includes thoughtful condolences for personalizing sympathy cards and congratulatory wishes for weddings and anniversaries. There are helpful hints to simplify card-sending and a monthly calendar for birthdays and anniversaries. This is a book of phrases for all occasions.

Ebook by Kate Harper

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7 Mistakes Greeting Card Writers is a booklet that explains what to avoid when submitting greeting card verse to publishers. Learn how to create a trendy card that reflects the contemporary world we live in, and how to use your own personal experience to create card verse. Topics include: how to avoid limiting your market, when to use adjectives, not creating card for enemies, write like people talk and a list of why card sentiment submissions are often rejected. You can increase your odds of success by 60% just by doing a few simple things. Includes a list of card publishers and their guidelines, links to writer interviews, and writing exercises for how to create good verse.

About This Blog

Editor

Kate Harper is a professional greeting card designer and has written for Lark Books, San Francisco Examiner, and National Public Radio, along with several independent publications. Kate cards designs have been published by Recycled Paper Greetings, American Greetings, Leanin' Tree, and Design House Greetings. She has designed hundreds of gift sold in Target, Cost Plus, Trader Joe's, Bed Bath & Beyond, Fedex, along with hundreds of independent retailers.


Guest Writers 

Kathy Krassner former editor-in-chief of Greetings etc. magazine, is the owner of Krassner Communications, a writing-services firm specializing in the stationery and gift industries, based in Ringoes, NJ. krascom@yahoo.com

Meryl Hooker is a manufacturers representative, writer, speaker, sales coach and all around Sales Rockstar. She is the writer of “Road Rage”, a blog about repping and selling and co-author of the forthcoming book, Pushing The Envelope: The Small Greeting Card Manufacturer’s Guide to Working with Sales Reps (Center Aisle Press, May 2010). She lives in Washington, DC and can be reached via www.merylhookersales.com

Mike Hartnett Creative Leisure News, serving professionals in the arts & crafts industry.

Tara Reed is very active online and using new internet tools in her business, Tara has also created a resource for artists looking for recommendations for learning and implementing their creative businesses online. You can see what she has discovered at www.ArtMarketingWithTara.com

Jim Marcotte and his wife, artist and author Ronnie Walter, founded Two Town Studios in 2000. Two Town Studios is a successful art licensing and brand development agency representing 8 experienced artists.

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10 More Days to Enter Free book Raffle

Submit your favorite Card Design Tip to be posted on this blog. Whoever sends the most unusual tip will receive a copy of the Greeting Card Book By the Batch by Judi Kauffman. Afterward, tips will be posted here. Deadline June 10th. Submit a many as you want. (All emails will be kept private) Email Submission Here.

New Art Licensing Info

Art of Licensing Magazine has new information on updates of Art Licensing Trends.

Greeting Card Award Winner Interview

What it's like to win the Louie Greeting Card Award

There's nothing more important in the greeting card business than winning a "Louie" Award, the academy awards for greeting cards. The annual Louie competition, which is sponsored by the Greeting Card Association, is open to all greeting card publishers, and each year the competition receives hundreds and hundreds of entries from all over the world.

This year, the National Stationery show was certainly more exciting for Mary Beth Cryan than shows in past. This year she won a Louie Award for her seasonal card she designed for the Museum of Modern Art.

I asked her what it was like. She said:

"The Museum of Modern Art nominated two cards that I conceptualized, illustrated, and engineered for them. When I found out that both of the cards were finalists for the Louie Award, I decided to book a ticket to the Award Gala.

The night of the award ceremony was very exciting. It was at Capitale which is a beautiful, historic, repurposed bank. The food was great and I had some very nice conversation with my table mates before the awards were announced.

My categories were among the last announced which was a bit torturous. As they presented my category a large picture of my card and the competition's graced the large screen above the presenters. As they announced the winner, time stood still. It sounded like, "And the winner is The MMMMMMMMMMUUUUUUUUUSSSSSSSEEEEEEEUUUUUM of Modern Art". That was my card!

The spotlights swirled around and stopped on my table. I stood up as everyone clapped. It was a very exciting moment. One I will not forget. After the rest of the awards were announced I collected my Louie, and it is now sitting in a prominent spot in my living room. It is wonderful to be recognized for my hard work in the field. I am so thankful to the MoMA and the greeting card industry for appreciating my work."

Go Mary Beth! An inspiration to us all.

Interview with an Art Agent Lilla Rogers

Interview on whether to work with an art agent, protecting art on the web, contract rights.

Greeting Card Statistics

• Most American households purchase 35 greeting cards each year.

• The average American receives 20 cards, of which one third are birthday cards.

• Women purchase more than 80% of all greeting cards.

• Of the total greeting cards purchased annually, roughly half are seasonal, and the remaining half are for everyday card-sending occasions.

• Christmas is the most popular card-sending holiday; sales of Christmas cards account for over 60% of all seasonal card purchases.

• Sales of Valentine’s Day cards (the next most popular seasonal occasion) account for 25% of seasonal card sales.

• Birthday cards account for 60% of the sales volume of everyday card purchases, with anniversary cards following at a distant 8%.

• There are over 2,000 greeting card publishers in America, ranging from small family businesses to major corporations, many of which license designs from freelance artists. (stats: Greeting Card Association)

(photo: Kate Harper Designs)