Do you know you possibly can earn cash by discovering greeting card writing jobs? Listed here are 7 firms that pay freelancers.
Greeting playing cards, by their nature, are supposed to be displayed. A few of them function artwork so beautiful, you could possibly put them in a body and cling them in your wall.
So in case your visible arts skills are much less “Thomas Kinkade” and extra “juice-box-addled toddler who’s solely half taking note of what he’s doing,” then it might not even have occurred to you that there’s a spot on your abilities within the greeting card trade.
That’s the place you’d be mistaken.
Even for those who assume Adobe is a spice you purchase at Complete Meals, there are just a few greeting card firms that settle for work from freelance writers—no inventive abilities wanted.
Our information beneath covers all the things it is advisable find out about freelance greeting card writing jobs, together with how a lot you may make, which firms are searching for writers, tips on how to land the gigs, and extra.
How a lot do greeting card writing jobs pay?
Whereas the checklist of firms actively soliciting copy-only submissions is brief, the stack of greenback payments you’ve the potential to earn with these firms is pretty tall.
Among the many firms listed right here, pay could be $100 or extra for every accepted verse. So neglect in regards to the cents per phrase you would possibly earn from an article—how about $5 to 10 USD per phrase?
On the excessive finish of the spectrum, Blue Mountain Arts pays $300 for the primary accepted verse (and much more for subsequent verses), however their playing cards function multi-line poems versus one-liners.
This pay is even higher when you think about there’s little to not one of the analysis, interviews, outlines, and all the opposite behind-the-scenes work that another types of writing contain. You simply want to talk out of your coronary heart, or, in some circumstances, your snark organ.
Will you make an enormous earnings writing greeting playing cards? Most likely not, however it may be a enjoyable supplemental option to make money writing.
How do you develop into a greeting card author?
Top-of-the-line issues about greeting card writing jobs is that the majority firms don’t care whether or not you’ve simply been nominated for a Pulitzer Prize or your mother’s fridge is the one place your writing has ever been printed.
Simply present them your phrases. In the event that they like your verses, they’ll both put a number of of these precise verses of their playing cards or they’ll use your poetry as the premise to start out a working relationship, relying on the corporate.
If you wish to write greeting card verses, crucial factor to do is familiarize your self with the corporate’s work earlier than submitting.
You don’t need to ship jokes so filthy they’d make your grandma faint to an organization that publishes inspirational poems in regards to the nature of friendship. (Perhaps that earlier line ought to learn: “…jokes so filthy your grandma needs she’d considered them herself…” We don’t know your grandmother.)
Fortunately, getting a really feel for a corporation’s model couldn’t be simpler, as just about each vendor has their full catalog proper on their web site.
One other tip, from Amy Smyth, co-owner of A Smyth Co.: “Be prepared to edit, change and write a whole lot of strains to get to some good strains.”
Make sure to fastidiously comply with the submission pointers, which fluctuate wildly from one firm to a different. Some firms need you to allow them to know the way you think about the cardboard wanting, whereas others simply need the phrases, thanks, and so they’ll deal with the remainder in-house. A Smyth Co., for instance, desires submission concepts utilizing a Google Sheet.
As at all times, we additionally extremely suggest visiting the Freelance Writers Den, a wonderful useful resource for freelance writers who’re looking for methods to earn more money. The Den has over 300 hours of useful programs and coaching supplies that present you tips on how to run a hit writing enterprise.
Greeting card writing jobs you possibly can pitch proper now
1. Blue Mountain Arts
Based by Susan Polis Schutz and Stephen Schutz, this firm publishes not solely greeting playing cards however poetry anthologies, calendars, framed wall prints, inspirational books and extra.
What they’re searching for: In keeping with their submission pointers, the corporate is searching for 50-300-word works of “modern prose or poetry…that displays the ideas and emotions folks immediately need to talk to at least one one other, however don’t at all times know tips on how to put into phrases.”
Even relating to oft-used themes comparable to parent-child relationships, verses must be “refreshing and distinctive or…categorical age-old sentiments in new and alternative ways.” The corporate’s don’ts embody rhymed poetry, spiritual verse and one-liners.
In case your work is chosen for additional evaluate, you’ll hear from them inside eight weeks. As soon as a bit is chosen, it might be as much as two years earlier than you get closing phrase in your submission. In different phrases, don’t rely in your earnings from this firm to pay subsequent month’s hire.
In keeping with Ingrid Heffner from Blue Mountain Arts’ editorial division, they sometimes look by way of writings beneath market evaluate for his or her greeting playing cards to search out materials that may work for an anthology challenge comparable to a calendar or guide. In that case, they’d purchase one-time rights for the piece.
Full submission pointers could be discovered here.
Charges: In case your work is accepted for his or her greeting playing cards, you get $300 on your first accepted submission and much more for subsequent accepted work, as much as a most of $700; pay is $50 if accepted for an anthology challenge.
2. Oatmeal Studios
Should you lean extra towards the sarcastic than the sentimental, this firm may be extra your velocity.
What they’re searching for: Oatmeal Studios is searching for “humorous greeting card concepts that enchantment to a spread of ages and pursuits.” Whilst you don’t should be an artist to undergo this firm, their pointers ask that you simply describe the paintings you envision going along with your verse.
Their card classes are Birthday, Get Effectively, Retirement, Belated Birthday, Anniversary, Thanks, and Congratulations, however editor Daybreak Abraham says they use only a few from the final two classes.
“At prime political moments we think about political concepts that can be utilized for these events, particularly birthday,” she says, including, “we’re at all times wanting probably the most for birthday concepts, particularly ones that poke enjoyable at getting older.”
Oatmeal Studios’ author’s pointers could be discovered here.
Charges: $100 per accepted verse.
3. Calypso Cards, Inc.
What they’re searching for: In keeping with their submission pointers, Calypso’s greeting playing cards are “subtle, modern and progressive.” They need, “recent, authentic paintings that approaches the greeting card from a unique approach.”
Their submission pointers could be discovered here.
Charges: Calypso Playing cards, Inc.’s web site doesn’t point out how a lot they pay, and the corporate didn’t return emails in search of remark, however that is one other firm that in all probability received’t be providing you with subsequent week’s grocery cash. “We evaluate a number of instances a yr, however a number of months can go by between evaluations,” their web site states.
4. NobleWorks Cards
Should you make “that’s what she mentioned jokes” so usually that the phrase is embroidered on a throw pillow in your sofa…really, you would possibly nonetheless be too tame for a few of this firm’s choices. “Though we inventory our share of conventional greeting playing cards appropriate for any event and even probably the most puritanical folks in your checklist,” the corporate’s web site says, “NobleWorks actually stands out for humor playing cards that flaunt the boundaries of fine style and civility.”
What they’re searching for: In keeping with their author’s pointers, which you may get by filling out a form on their website (your title and e-mail handle are all that’s required), the corporate appears for “recent textual content and humorous, intelligent writing. We choose textual content that’s versatile sufficient for use with quite a lot of photos.”
NobleWorks publishes playing cards for all kinds of events, together with Christmas, Hannukah, Mom’s/Father’s Day, Anniversary, St. Patrick’s Day and extra, all listed on an annual schedule included with the submissions pointers. They ask for not more than 20 submissions per introduction.
Charges: In keeping with senior editor Kathy Krassner, “If we do choose and publish a card with a verse submitted from an outdoor author, we pay a flat charge of $150 for that verse/idea.” There’s additionally the potential for a longer-term working relationship: “In case your writing model suits with ours, we could select so as to add you to our writers’ e-mail checklist,” their submission pointers state. “We periodically e-mail photos to writers and ask for copy to be written.”
5. Papyrus
What they’re searching for: With a slogan of “Categorical Fantastically” and an internet site that advertises that “you’ll at all times have subtle sentiments to share with those who carry pleasure to your life,” you would possibly need to save that soiled one-liner on your partner’s boss. (Nope. Nope. Don’t do this, both.)
Info on the submissions course of could be discovered throughout the firm’s FAQ part. Papyrus accepts portfolios for evaluate through snail-mail. They ask for not more than 12 copy submissions at a time, together with a self-addressed, stamped envelope if you’d like your work again. Ship them to:
Papyrus Portfolio Assessment
240 Gateway Rd
West Napa, CA
94558
They ask that you simply permit a minimal of eight weeks for a response.
Charges: Their web site doesn’t checklist fee info, and so they didn’t reply to emails in search of remark, so in the event that they like what they see from you, be ready to barter a charge.
6. Avanti
To be thought of by Avanti, snail-mail samples of your writing to their editorial department.
7. Greeting Card Association
If you’re up for some cold-contacting, the Greeting Card Affiliation is the place to be for card makers—company behemoths and impartial, one-man/girl operations alike. Their member directory lists dozens of firms together with hyperlinks to their web sites, however most of them don’t actively search writers’ submissions through their web sites (therefore the cold-contacting).
Why write for greeting playing cards?
As a result of the market is so small, particularly amongst firms that actively solicit copy submissions, it’s unlikely you possibly can feed your loved ones solely by writing greeting card verses. Simply as with poetry writing jobs, consider it as one option to make cash as a author, however not your solely method.
However we predict it’s nonetheless value it to present it a shot.
Why?
For brand new freelancers, it’s a good way to follow making contact with potential properties on your writing in an surroundings that might show rather less nerve-wracking than the normal pitching course of (with many of the firms listed above, you’ve already been invited to submit your closing product—no want to fret about whether or not your pitch can be accepted).
For established freelancers, greeting playing cards is usually a change of surroundings…a option to follow tightening your writing (while you solely have a 5×7 area, each phrase has to rely)…and a potential house for that joke that may have slayed at your buddy’s celebration final week—for those who’d have considered it, , through the social gathering as a substitute of on the best way house.
By the best way, Should you’re a multi-talented inventive sort who’s assured in your visible paintings (think about Napoleon Dynamite’s voice saying, “Fortunate!”), many of the above-mentioned firms work with visible artists independently of their writing arm. Additionally take a look at Amber Lotus publishing, Leanin’ Tree, Great Arrow Graphics, Greetings Card Company, and Design House Greetings, in addition to wanting by way of the Greeting Card Affiliation’s Member Listing.
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Andrea Davis has spent a lot of her employment within the newspaper trade but in addition works as a contract author. She lives in a small Ohio city alongside Lake Erie together with her husband and two kids.
