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Last updated on
25 August, 2008

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Greeting Card Writing:
Still the Best Writing Money-Maker Around!
with Sandra Louden

REGISTRATION:

COST, LENGTH, PREREQUISITES:

No prerequisites.

Standard course: $150 / 6 weeks. Click here to register

Extended schedule: $188 / 12 weeks. Click here to register
Extended course gives you two weeks to do each lesson but contains NO additional material.

For questions about this COURSE, e-mail Sandra Louden at

Have you ever picked up a greeting card, read its verse, and thought: "I could do this."? Do you have a flair for words? Could you use extra money by writing in a field that's still largely untapped and undiscovered? If so, this course is for you. With a pay rate that can reach as high as $75/word, writing verses for greeting cards and other products (Post-Its, mugs, calendars, etc.) is the perfect creative answer for people long on talent, but short on time. Students will be taken step-by-step through the process of creating and submitting their work to card companies.

“ Hi Sandy—Sold a Valentine to Renaissance today making my total sales-to-date since finishing your class: $10,005.00! It was cool to reach the $10K mark. I've sold about 165 verses so far ... I never would have done this without you. Thank you SO much.”—Robin

" Through [Sandra], I started writing greeting cards, which is where I made my first sale. Since then, I've written and sold short fiction, many other greeting cards and a play. I credit Sandra and her incredible attitude/mentoring abilities for lighting a fire for writing in my heart.” –Denice

“ This course has been such an eye-opener! I've enjoyed each and every lesson because you are such a caring teacher, giving such important constructive critiques. And each lesson dove-tails into the next with hardly a ripple." –Lynne

" Thank you for everything! This course has been a real hoot, and I've certainly learned an incredible amount of information." – Cathi

Hi Sandra, Yikes - I can't believe how quickly time flew! I've really enjoyed this course - it far exceeded my expectations for my first online class. It was truly superbly done. I feel informed, prepared... well-taught! I'm recommending it to all of my friends. Thank you for offering it and thank you for being an excellent mentor. --Sasha

"I am very grateful to you for your mentoring through this process. I truly enjoyed it and felt challenged and creative. I also felt cared for and nurtured by you; it was as though you were here in the room with me. You have a special way about you. Someday I would like to thank you in person. I plan on visiting your website and getting your book. Thanks again. Take care and stay well." — M.L

"I just want to let to know this has been a very fun class. I’ve learned so much; it would have taken me years to learn what you taught in a few weeks. I’m so glad I took this class." — Shawnte

Week 1: Laying The Groundwork: Introductory Lecture. Occasions. Company Address List (This is a detailed list of leads!) Guidelines, Market & Needs Lists. How To Judge Good vs. Bad Companies. Information Sheet: Die-Cut From A Deckle Edge.

Week 2: Getting Started: Sending in a "batch" of ideas. Submitting mock-ups, dummies, visuals, mechanicals. Setting up a home office. Keeping accurate records & files. Why ideas don't sell. Mistakes beginners make. Dividing verses into outside/inside format for maximum comedic/poignant effect.

Week 3: Thinking As A Card Writer Must To Sell: The 3 Types of Thinking: Broadly, Visually, Literally and how they relate to today's successful selling.

Week 4: Writing/Thinking Tricks Of The Trade: Substitution of Key Words In Expressions. Verbs That Evoke. Those 3 Little Words. "Initially Yours." Discovering "Real Life" In A Card Verse.

Week 5: Traditional Forms of Greeting Card Expression: Information Sheet: Types of Rhyme & Meter. Traditional Verse: Writing It/Editing It. Writing For Children's Cards. Contemporary Prose: What is it? How to write it. Rewriting - A Vital Part Of The Creative Process.

Week 6: Tying It All Together: Writing Inside Verse Given The Outside Line. Writing Outside Verse Given The Punchline. Alternate Products. Sources For Ideas. Networking, Professional Organizations, Publications, Trade Shows.

Sandra Miller-Louden has been a professional greeting card writer since 1986. She won a Louie—the industry's highest writing award in 1991 and was nominated again in 1992. Featured on such programs as Live! With Regis And Kathie Lee!,

Sandra’s work has also been found on cards by celebrities Stefanie Powers and Bernie Kosar. In addition, Sandra appeared on NBC-TV's The John Walsh Show in October 2002, where John interviewed her on her work in greeting card writing.

Recently, Sandra has been interviewed in such prestigious places as The Washington Post Sunday Magazine, BBC's Radio Five (the Dotun Adebayo Show), BBC’S Radio Four (Shop Talk), Christian Science Monitor, the National Examiner, the Philadelphia Inquirer’s Sunday Magazine, Staples.com, Attaché (U.S. Air), SPAWN.org, Talk Magazine, International Radio’s Voice of America, Glamour and Ferguson's Careers In Focus: Entrepreneurs.

Sandra is the author of two books and an upcoming greeting card writing workbook and her website: www.greetingcardwriting.com is the only site totally dedicated to the subject of writing greeting cards. Sandra’s students continue to earn money in this field and go on to start their own card companies, as well as writing and selling their verses.