Writing Greeting Cards

by Terri Rimmer

How many times have you gone on the endless search for the perfect greeting card only to say to yourself, “I could write a better one than some of these?”

As many greeting card lines as there are, just as many tips and pointers are available for those scribes who aspire to showcase their talents on the covers of birthday, get well, friendship, sympathy, support and encouragement, inspirational, and other occasion cards.

Whether the sending situation is traditional or non-traditional it’s safe to say most companies prefer a personal, conversational style message rather than a verse of rhyme. Another ingredient many companies are looking for is humor. Companies looking for humorous card ideas are usually emphatic and clear about the kinds of humor they will accept. In general most greeting card companies are looking for cards appropriate for traditional sending occasions as well as cards for newer situations such as new jobs, promotions, or raise in salary.

The main thing a writer should remember is that greeting card companies are all looking for fresh ideas and messages, not time-worn clichés and sappy sentiment. Most lines have their own specific guidelines for submitting editorial, verse, and artwork.

When you submit your query letter it does not need to be addressed to a specific person at the company but instead request a copy of the writers’ guidelines. In order to send your letters you will, of course, need a list of greeting card company addresses which you can get from the Writer’s Market from Writer’s Digest Books in Cincinnati, OH or The Writer’s Handbook published by The Writer, Inc. in Boston, MA.

Trade magazines such as Greetings, published by Mackay Publishing Corporation of New York also offer specific greeting card company information and information about the latest trends, trade shows, and seminars. And, of course, there is always research to be had on the internet.

While submission guidelines may vary from company to company there are some generalizations that can be made such as each message should be typed on a separate piece of paper, in most cases you will be required to use only one side of the submission card or paper, most companies will allow from 5-15 separate card ideas from each submission, and each one should be accompanied by a brief cover letter. If you make a lot of submissions you’ll need to keep organized.

It’s not necessary for freelance writers to furnish artwork as well as the editorial for card ideas.

Since greeting cards are a multi-billion dollar industry there is good potential for substantial earnings.

Kate Harper Designs is looking for slogans and original quotes for their greeting card line, both from adults and children. They are looking for “quotations” that are humorous and talk straight about modern day life. They also want submissions by children for their “kid quotes” line and are always in need of birthday quotes.

They suggest writers make the first four to five words enticing, bold, and unusual so they’ll want to read more, and eliminate 99 percent of all adjectives. The company doesn’t publish rhymes, poems, similes, and quotes about PMS, sex, chocolate, diets or anything that might be insulting to the recipient of a card such as being told you are ugly or overweight.

Kate Harper specializes in edgy and humorous cards with quotes less than 20 words, and all work must be original and written by the author. Entries should be for the front of the card only and the company does not buy artistic images. The company accepts submissions from authors living outside the U.S.

Writers should submit their quotes to kateharp@aol.com and write in the subject line “Quote Submission.” Children’s submissions should include the words “Kid Quotes” in the subject line and all entries should be sent in the body of the email and not as an attached file. The limit is one to ten quotes per email and each should be separated by one to two lines of blank spaces and ideally large fonts. Kid quotes are those written or said by children. The odds of getting published are high since the company always has a shortage of submissions. For guidelines by email, contact kateharp@aol.com and write in the subject line “Kid guid/ws.”

Include name, address, and phone numbers in your email so the company can contact you.

Quotes are chosen in March, July, and November and if a quote is selected the author will receive payment of $25.00 per quote depending on the type of quote and whether there is a name credit. The chosen writer will also receive six greeting cards (a $35 value); the name of stores buying the company cards in the author’s local area and in some cases a name credit.

For Kid Quotes press releases will be sent to the child’s local school, newspaper and/or t.v. stations.

Kate Harper uses recycled papers, soy inks, and makes their cards in the U.S.

For more information, access the company website at hometown.aol.com/kateharp/myhomepage/personal.html.

Terri Rimmer has 19 years of journalism experience, having worked for nine newspapers. This year her life story was published online at Adoption Week E-Magazine's website and last year she received a grant from the PEN American Writer's Fund in New York City. In 2001 her adoption journal was published online at adoption.about.com and in 1991 she won a Florida Press Association Award for a series of articles she wrote regarding prayer and Bible reading in the schools. She has also written for magazines, has experience in public relations, and in 1987 earned a journalism scholarship while attending West Georgia College as a Mass Communications major.
You can read more of Terri’s work at adoption.about.com or contact her at wordtrix@hotmail.com or wordtrix@yahoo.com.