Guest blogger Suzan L. Wiener has had many greetings accepted by Andrew McMeal, Gallant Greetings, Peaceable Kingdom Press, Yippie Cards, etc. Many of her tips on writing, short stories, poems, and other short works have appeared in major publications.

Do you wonder how some poets and writers manage to sell their greeting card verses while others miss the mark completely or only get an acceptance on a rare occasion? This Q & A will give you the information you need to see your writing in the greeting card aisle (and help you make a little money at the same time!).

Q. Where do you find companies who will buy your greeting card verses?

A. I look in market books for writers or online at www.google.com. Then search for "paying greeting card markets."

Q. How do I know what type of greetings to send to each company?

A. Always request the company's guidelines. Follow them to the letter. If you don't, your ideas may be disqualified just for that reason.

Q. If I only write rhyming verses, should I try to write unrhymed verses or one-liners?

A. Definitely. Why limit what you are writing? Who knows, you may have a flair for writing unrhymed verses. If you don't give it a try, you will never know. You could be losing out on sales. I find it is a lot of fun to write different types of greetings rather than limiting myself to one form.

Q. When should I give up on a company if I keep getting rejections?

A. Only you can decide that. If submissions have been rejected for a year, it's time to rethink what you are sending to the company. Something obviously isn't meshing. Either you can sell your greeting card verses to another company, or you can rework them and try again. I always find it is best to send my ideas to another company, wait a few months, and then send other ideas to the first company. An editor might move on to another greeting card outfit, and the new editor might love your work. This has happened to me.

Q. What if I'm not an artist? Can I still get my verses published?

A. In fact, unless you are a professional artist, publishers prefer you send submissions without artwork. They have in-house artists to do the illustrations. You can, of course, suggest a visual for your text directly on the card you are sending. Editors even appreciate stick figures. If you cannot draw, just give them an idea of what you are trying to convey.

Q. What rights do greeting card companies acquire?

A. Each company is different. Some will ask for all rights, others will ask for first-time rights, etc. Some will send you a contract and others just an acceptance letter. Giving away all rights isn't the best way to go, but if you want to write for that particular company, you will have to relinquish them, unfortunately. That means you cannot resell your card ideas at all. When acquiring all rights is their policy, they don't normally negotiate different terms.

Q. Do greeting card companies send you free copies of your cards?

A. Usually they do. It's a great feeling to see the greeting that you wrote on the card itself. Some companies will even include your name on the card!

Q. Is there any way to guarantee that a card idea you wrote will sell?

A. The answer, in a nutshell, is no. But if you keep practicing your verse writing, gear your ideas to what editors prefer, make them a me-to-you message—which greeting card enthusiasts refer to as "sendable"—you will have a much higher rate of sales.

Q. How much can I get paid for writing greeting cards?

A. Greeting card payments vary from company to company—anywhere from $50 to $300 per card. These rates can change, and it's best to check each publisher's writers' guidelines.

* * If you’re not already subscribing to our FREE Writers’ Newsflash, you’re missing out on regular publishing leads like this one. Get time-saving tips and important industry etiquette information delivered to your inbox monthly. Just visit this link!

Imagine yourself in a secluded cabin overlooking a peaceful lake. With laptop in, well, lap, you gaze out at the local wildlife as you work, uninterrupted, on your novel. The only other people around occupy the cabins nearby, but they are also quietly pursuing their writing projects. Sounds ideal? This is the beauty of writers’ colonies.

The demands of everyday life often leave little time for the actual craft of writing. Between day jobs, errands, family, and the never-ending submission process, it’s hard to carve out time each day for creativity. This is why many writers seek residencies or writers’ colonies. They offer a place for writers to live in a community of fellow writers and artists for a specific period of time. They offer instructors, discussion groups, and direction for those who want it; best of all, it’s a place where writers can set their own schedule and concentrate on craft. Personal space and free time for creative writing—who wouldn’t jump at the chance?

Here’s how to begin the search for the perfect retreat:

There are hundreds of writers’ retreats and residencies to choose from. Would your muse take flight in a cabin in Alaska or in the southwest desert regions? Perhaps even overseas? Keeping transportation costs in mind, narrow your choices to those areas that appeal to you. Search the Internet for “writers colonies,” “writers retreats,” or “writers residencies,” and you’ll be amazed by the diversity of choices. The Alliance of Artists Communities (www.ArtistCommunities.org) maintains a comprehensive database for a small yearly fee. Also check out www.writing.ShawGuides.com.

Start the application process early, as spaces are highly coveted and limited. Be prepared to go through the application process, which can be lengthy. You’ll provide samples of your work and a mission statement outlining your goals and/or projects. You may be asked to submit details on a specific project, although some colonies are more flexible and writers can work on whatever they choose. You’ll also submit professional references and, of course, an application fee. Some programs offer scholarships as well.

Your work will be judged by a panel of professionals who will choose the most outstanding candidates. There will also be a short list to replace candidates who are unable to take their spots.

Apply for residencies that pertain to your genre or area of interest, and make note of what they’ll require once you’re there. If you work best in total and utter silence, do not choose a residency in which you will be sharing a house with six other people. Some people are stimulated by urban settings, while others flourish in the mountains. Some programs offer more amenities than others, and some can be more like camping trips. Are you prepared to hike your food in to a remote area, or do you require Internet access and close proximity to a Starbucks? Are you looking to network with other writers or simply hoping for total seclusion?

If you want to work with writing gurus and have your writing critiqued, look for programs where this type of interaction is available. You should also be aware of any expectations—will you be expected to lead a group, teach a class, or share your work with others?

To improve your chances of acceptance, apply to as many programs as you can afford. Summer residencies are the most popular, and you might have more luck applying for spring, fall, and winter programs. Include a few high-end residencies in your application process, plus a few that might be easier to get into. It’s a competitive venture, but one well worth investigating…especially when the cat is throwing up on the carpet, the plumbing’s on the fritz, the car won’t start, and the kids want dinner.

The gift of free, uninterrupted time is yours if you want it.

REMEMBER TO CHECK OUT OUR LIST OF WRITING CONTESTS and ANTHOLOGIES! You won’t find a better list anywhere (AND IT’S FREE!) of upcoming anthologies, special-themed journals, and contests. Find it by visiting:
http://www.writersreliefblog.com/post/Anthologies-Contests.aspx 

1. Get the look. If you want people to take you seriously, you’ve got to present yourself in a serious way. When making your submissions to agents and editors, skip the bright-colored paper, the “clever” query letter intros (editors get sick of them fast), the thumbnail image of your face on the manuscript. Just be brief, straightforward, and businesslike. Also, follow industry standard formatting and have your work proofread. Interestingly enough, it’s often the veteran writers who are more inclined to appreciate proofreading than the newbies—but that’s probably why they earn veteran status to begin with.

2. Write to the right people. The first mistake of making submissions is taking the “blanket” approach: wallpapering the whole country with your query and cover letters. A few well-placed and specific queries truly mean much more than 50 that are almost well-placed. Queries that are almost well-targeted will almost get you published. Do the research (or hire someone who will) to make your submissions matter. (NOTE: We’ve found that writers who take this seriously tend to be more successful. Submitting selectively is a sign of a writer who knows what she or he is about. Selective writers put so much love into their manuscripts that they won’t submit to just anyone. Selectiveness is a very good sign because it demonstrates the right attitude for success.)

3. Be the tortoise, not the hare. Make submissions part of your writing habit. Submitting your work in dribbles and drabs is NOT a strategy; it’s a crapshoot. Sustainable and steady wins the race. To a certain extent, submissions are a numbers game. When you submit more regularly, it’s likely you’ll get published more often and more regularly. And the more you build up your bio, the more likely you’ll be well-received. Don’t give up on a story just because twenty places rejected it. Plan to submit to at least 100 markets. AND create a schedule to lock yourself into making submissions. When you create a calendar for your submissions (and deadlines for your writing so that you can make submissions) you will see your publication rate increase.

4. Organization is your friend. Some people are naturally well-organized but others are not. To truly make the most of your submissions, you need to keep track of who read what, who liked what (and why), who rejected what (and why), who wants to see more work from you, and who acquired what rights. It is a TON of work (that’s why Writer’s Relief takes on this burden for our clients). When the acceptance letters start coming in, you’ll thank yourself for the extra effort.

5. Chin up! Last but not least, work to maintain a good attitude. Negative thinking, getting glum about rejections, and believing yourself less than worthy... It’s easy to fall into those traps. Positive thinking takes real work when you’re getting bombarded by rejections (and you WILL get bombarded—it’s part of the process). Start looking at your rejection letters as proof of your dedication, devotion, and all-around awesomeness. Attitude is often the only difference between a nobody and a rising star. Every rejection brings you closer to acceptance, so submit regularly and chip away at those numbers. If you’d like to stay positive and motivated, we’re willing to give you a free E-book, Rejoice in Rejection (details here). We know it will help!

If you’re not able to develop a submission strategy on your own, or you just don’t have the time and patience for it, do yourself a real favor and check out Writer’s Relief. We can take on as much or as little of the submission process as you like so that you can focus on what you love: writing.

At Writer’s Relief it’s our business to work with our clients to develop a submission strategy that 1) keeps them focused on writing, 2) eases the stress and frustration of the submission process, 3) circulates manuscripts regularly (with no spamming) to generate interest, and 4) targets the BEST literary agents and editors (those most likely to enjoy the writing in question).

For more tips on making strong submissions, visit:

How To Write Cover and Query Letters That Get Attention 

Why Length Matters When Submitting Your Stories And Poems For Publication

How To Build Up Your Writing Bio Super Fast

Seven Techniques You Must Know To Make Editors Notice Your Poetry

As many of you know, our proofreaders at Writer’s Relief are the best in the business (we only accept two percent of our applicants each year). And as a result our clients often wind up with quite a bit of red pen on their manuscripts (though we DO save them lots of time because WE prepare the master, the final document for submission).

Regardless of your political proclivities, we think that all writers who have ever been on the receiving end of an editor or proofreader’s red pen will appreciate this link to the Vanity Fair blog. Take a look at how one editor critiques and revises Sarah Palin’s resignation speech.

We're not content editors (like the Vanity Fair editors are), and we make no claims to encourage (or discourage) this kind of heavy-handed editing. But we did want to share this with you because it brings up interesting questions about the role of an editor.  

What do you think? Too much editing? Or too little? Have a look at the Vanity Fair site:
http://www.vanityfair.com/politics/features/2009/07/palin-speech-edit-200907.

Well, you wowed us. We laughed until we cried. The metaphors that you all submitted to our bad metaphor contest were real stinkers! And we loved them all.

As you know, there can only be one winner to receive an awesome Writer’s Relief T-shirt. But in this case, we couldn’t break the tie, so we’re announcing TWO winners! And of all the metaphors and similes, the ones we loved (hated?) most were sent to us by Chuck White and Patricia Harrington.

Here they are:

Chuck White’s Winning Entry: Her two front teeth looked like a couple of Chiclets that weren’t on speaking terms.

Patricia Harrington’s Winning Entry: He sat down heavily, like a Mack truck dumping a load.

To read the rest of the bad metaphors, click this link and read all of the comments below: http://www.WritersReliefBlog.com/post/Funny-Metaphor-And-Simile-Contest3b-So-Bad2c-Theyre-Good!.aspx.

Thanks to everyone who played!

If you’re a foodie and a bookworm, you’re going to love this list of French food idioms that we recently found on the Internet. It’s hilarious.

For example: Ça ne mange pas de pain means “it doesn’t eat bread.” In other words, whatever it is, it won’t be a pain in the neck (like a houseguest who loafs around, raids your refrigerator, and eats all your food/bread).

Read more at http://chocolateandzucchini.com/archives/cat_french_idioms.php.

If you have an interesting article that pertains to an aspect of creative writing, you may be able to see it published in our Newsflash! We’re always looking for articles that make grammar easy and fun, that inspire or motivate creativity, or that clear up frustrating aspects of the writing life.

Here’s what you need to know:

Previously published work is acceptable, but you must tell us the details of the prior publication.

We acquire first-time rights or one-time rights (you can publish your article elsewhere after we post it).

Articles should be no more than 500 words.

To get ideas of our tone, style, and interests, please read through the articles posted on our blog.

Before you write your article, make sure that we haven’t already written about your topic. Use the search tools on our blog.

Our pay rate is $25 per article.

E-mail your completed article AND a short bio to Lisa@wrelief.com. No attachments, please.

We’re looking forward to reading your work!

If your dream is to land a publishing contract with Random House and see your book in stores across the country, we recommend that you consider building your publication credits by submitting shorter pieces to journals and magazines.

Some folks believe that it’s not important to have published any short works before approaching an agent. If you’ve written a fantastic book that can stand on its own, you may well be able to find an agent without any publication credentials at all. But getting shorter pieces published before querying an agent is a strategy that gets your foot in the door, and based on our experiences in preparing submissions since 1994, writers who can boast publication of shorter works tend to have an easier time getting agent interest.

There are a number of reasons publishing your individual poems, essays, and short stories can help you get ahead.

1. Being published shows agents that you can manage submission deadlines and guidelines and that you are a serious writer with serious goals. You establish yourself as savvy and in-touch by being published in smaller markets, and you lay the groundwork for a career in lengthier fiction.

2. If editors like publishing your short works, it means they believe that their readers will enjoy your writing. When an agent sees that other people are getting excited about your writing, he or she will be more likely to want in on the action.

3. Having credentials in the small press market may help you get a leg up on the competition. Most agents are aware of how difficult it is to secure one single publishing credit. It may be enough to sway an agent into representing you. If an agent is offered two books of equal merit—with the only difference being that one author has a history of publishing short works and the other doesn’t—you can guess which book will get the contract.

4. Not only will publishing your shorter works make you a more interesting prospect, having those publications is emotionally rewarding. Acceptance letters from literary magazines go a long way toward keeping you motivated as you write your book. A short story can be written in less than a week, whereas the novel can take years. Keep your dream alive with smaller publications of short fiction.

5. Also, publishing in literary magazines might help you directly with getting an agent. A number of our clients have been approached by big New York agencies because an agent read a story in a literary magazine. Getting your work, your name, and your bio out there can get you noticed in the same way that a model might get noticed simply by hanging around at the hottest nightclubs. Add a blurb to your bio that you are “currently working on a novel,” and those who have enjoyed your work can be on the lookout for future projects.

6. Collections are especially difficult to place for writers who have not published any of the works within the collection. Because collections are generally not considered as lucrative as other book-length forms, agents and editors like to be assured of an author's potential for "popularity" by seeing some selections from the longer work published.  

At Writer’s Relief we help our clients build their portfolios as they work toward publishing a book. Some of our clients publish stand-alone works from within a larger book in order to show that their book is marketable. Others write stories that are entirely separate from their books.

There are literally thousands of journals and literary magazines out there, and it should not be an impossible task to find a home for one of your short stories or poems—provided your writing is strong and your submissions are targeted and professional. We have an up-to-date database containing detailed information on hundreds of nationwide publications, their editors, and their guidelines, and we’ve helped hundreds of writers reach their publication goals.

Here are some general tips for submission.

Research carefully. Find the perfect home for your work by submitting to magazines and journals that publish work like yours. Don’t waste your time (or an editor’s) by not doing your homework or blindly submitting to any old publication.

Start small and work your way up. Naturally, if you’re confident, feel free to go straight for the big guns, but most writers start with the smaller markets. You may have to forgo paying markets at this time in order to get your foot in the door.

Follow guidelines to the tee. If the magazine is looking for work under 4,000 words, do not submit 5,000 and hope that your work is good enough to be accepted despite the length or assume that the editor will be willing to cut it down to size for you. Pay attention to submission dates, submission formats, seasonal themes, the genre and style the magazine accepts, and any other rules they set forth. Follow them carefully.

Submit to the proper person. Again, do your homework and make sure you have the most current editor’s name for your submission. Details like this go a long way in impressing an editor and can increase your chance of being noticed.

Call Writer’s Relief (or e-mail us at info@wrelief.com) if you’d like us to help you build up your publication credits. We’ve helped writers fine-tune their personal submission strategies since 1994. We’re looking forward to hearing from you!

Obama at a book signing      Photo by \Ryan

Political issues aside, there’s something noteworthy going on in the White House these days. Pundits agree that our President, Barack Obama, has brought a valuable skill to the White House; even before he ran for office, he was an accomplished writer. 

Obama joins a number of other Presidents who can list “writer” on their resumes next to “President.” Abraham Lincoln set the bar impossibly high during his presidency, and his two-minute speech at Gettysburg is regarded as a classic example of concise writing—every word packed with meaning and subtleties.

Theodore Roosevelt was a professional writer before taking on the nation’s leadership. He churned out books from the time he was a senior at Harvard up until his death. And Jimmy Carter wrote An Hour Before Daylight, a memoir about growing up in the Great Depression, which became a best seller during the 1976 election year. It’s said to have helped him win the election against Gerald Ford. He also wrote his own campaign biography—a highly unusual practice. Many other former Presidents penned memoirs, but the majority of them were filtered through a professional ghostwriter. Most of our modern politicians rely heavily on speechwriters and staff to do the writing for them, which is not surprising—politicians and writers are usually quite different characters based on their chosen professions—one in the public eye, the other private.

Barack Obama is a rare combination of politician and writer. He published his first book, Dreams From My Father, in 1996, while he was a state senator, and it was not coauthored by a ghostwriter. His second book, The Audacity of Hope, was also a success, and in a review Michiko Kakutani from The New York Times called Obama “that rare politician who can write…and write movingly and genuinely about himself.”

He now comes equipped with his own team of writers, including the talented, young Jon Favreau, and there’s no doubt that writing Obama’s own material will have to take a backseat to more pressing issues, like the economy and the war in Iraq. Still, writers all over the world can look forward to a riveting presidential memoir after he’s served his term.

The New Republic’s David Samuels has this to say: “My own belief is that Barack Obama has the makings of an unusual and unusually effective President, because he might combine a writer’s sense of the dramatic moment, and of how language helps to shape reality, with the brain—and perhaps the soul—of a Harvard-educated technocrat.”

President Obama’s open letter to his daughters was published in Parade magazine last month, and in it he explains why he decided to “take our family on this journey” to the presidency. In his beautifully written and heartfelt letter, Obama describes his vision for the country and what he wants for the children of the nation in terms of education and opportunity—not just for his own two children.

“These are the things I want for you—to grow up in a world with no limits on your dreams and no achievements beyond your reach, and to grow into compassionate, committed women who will help build that world. And I want every child to have the same chances to learn and dream and grow and thrive that you girls have. That’s why I’ve taken our family on this great adventure.”

You can read the letter in its entirety here: http://www.parade.com/export/sites/default/news/2009/01/barack-obama-letter-to-my-daughters.html. And then check out this month’s writing prompt.

UPDATE: Deadline has passed. Winners will be announced on or around March 15th!

Hear Ye! Hear Ye! In honor of Writer’s Relief’s 15th anniversary, we are having a special contest. To win the grand prize of 25+ targeted submissions of your writing, submit a poem, short story, or essay of exactly 15 words for our 15th anniversary!

There will be two (2) first-prize winners!

For our active, Full-Service clients, the first-prize winner will receive $106 off of his or her February to April 2009 invoice.

For all other writers the first-prize winner will be awarded one round of A La Carte submissions (Monetary value: $106). More information at: http://WritersReliefBlog.com/post/Our-A-La-Carte-Service.aspx. 

Any honorable mentions will receive one of our T-shirts. You can see what they look like here: http://www.WritersRelief.com/Products.asp#shirts.

The information you need to know:

Deadline: 02/28/09.

Submit to: Writer’s Relief’s 15th Anniversary. E-mail via RTF or DOC attachment to: contest@wrelief.com. Please put “Contest Submission” in the subject line. Or mail to: “Contest Submission,” 409 South River Street, Hackensack, NJ 07601. NOTE: Your entry must be postmarked by 2/28/09.

Entry fee: NONE!

Type: Poems, short shorts, and short essays (15 words EXACTLY). 

1. We will read entries anonymously, but YOU MUST include ALL of your contact information (name, mailing address, phone number, and e-mail address) with your submission.
2. Do NOT post your entry as a comment on this blog; it will be disqualified.
3. If your piece is under OR over 15 words, the submission will also be disqualified.
4. Do NOT include a title. We want the work to be strong enough to stand on its own.
5. Only ONE (1) entry per person.
6. Winning entries will be posted on our blog; we will acquire one-time rights.
7. Winners will be announced for our anniversary, which is March 15.

Get those contest submissions to our inbox or in the mail TODAY!