You can write poems and sell them to greeting card companies.
Selling your poetry to a greeting card company can be a challenge for beginners. After working through the arduous task of perfecting your poetry, the next step in getting your work published is to learn about the greeting card publishing world. A little bit of research and preparation can make the difference between getting your verses published and getting a rejection letter. Indeed, taking the time to learn about the basic requirements of various greeting card publishers is a wise investment of your time.
Instructions
1. Examine your poem. Figure out what type of poem it is and put it in a category. Some companies prefer rhymed verse while others only accept unrhymed poems. Other companies look specifically for humor or inspirational poems as opposed to holiday poetry or works that expresses sympathy.
2. Research the market. Publishers vary in what type of poetry they accept. Blue Mountain Arts, for example, only accepts unrhymed poetry or prose that focuses on friendship, love and other inspirational sentiments. Find a publisher that is looking for the type of poetry you write.
3. Choose a small publisher. For those just breaking in to the greeting card market, a smaller company is more likely to choose a well-written poem from a new author than a large established firm with a stable of writers. Companies like Papyrus, Portal Publication and Majestic Greetings might work as a starting point for your submissions.
4. Follow the guidelines. If a publisher asks you to submit by email, don't send postal mail. Examine the guidelines and follow them explicitly. Place contact information on each page of your submission.
5. Resubmit your work to other companies. If you find that a publisher does not want or need your submission, try other publishers to get your work out there. Be persistent and consider writing in other genres in order to expand your chances of success.
