The day after a break-up, he was assigned to write a ValentineвЂ™s Day card.В вЂњNeedless to say, I was feeling less than romantic,вЂќ he recalls. Sometimes you need to step outside your own head, Jackson says. вЂњItвЂ™s about getting to the joke fast,вЂќ says Jackson, вЂњor if itвЂ™s a heartwarming card, getting to that emotional вЂawwвЂ™ moment as quickly as possible.вЂќ What he says is the biggest challenge The ability to write concise copy is also key.

вЂњItвЂ™s about being creative and finding a new way to spin sentiments have been expressing for thousands of years.вЂќ Innovation is crucial: вЂњYou need to find a way to turn a phrase that will surprise and delight people.вЂќ вЂњItвЂ™s not just about saying вЂHappy Birthday,вЂ™вЂќ says Jackson. ItвЂ™s important for the writer to have an individual voice, says Jackson. The goal is to write a message thatвЂ™s so funny or heartwarming that it gets accepted into HallmarkвЂ™s writing database, where it might be selected to go on a card and eventually be sold in stores. вЂњIf the feedback is not so good, I try harder and hope something resonates.вЂќ Sometimes, though, itвЂ™s back to the drawing board. Then, the writing begins.В The trick to keeping the creative juices flowing? вЂњI write and snack and snack and write,вЂќ says Jackson.В Once he completes a draft, he submits the work to his editor.В вЂњIf the feedback is good, I celebrate,вЂќ he says. вЂњIf IвЂ™m on a parenting project, I need to know what the trends are.В What values do todayвЂ™s parents want to instill in their children?В Is parent-child communication different than it was five years ago?вЂќ вЂњItвЂ™s important to be aware of whatвЂ™s happening culturally,вЂќ says Jackson. Once Jackson finds out his topic, whether itвЂ™s a holiday or a consumer need (e.g., a вЂњget wellвЂќ card), he begins researching the subject. Writing assignments typically trickle in on Mondays. He later studied mass media arts at Clark Atlanta University, where he honed his ability to create condense content and write copy that appeals to a broad audience-skills that directly translated into becoming a greeting card writer.ДЄ post-graduate internship at Hallmark led to a full-time job at the company in September 2008. Jackson began writing poetry, short stories, plays and song lyrics in second grade, andВ it was a passion that stuck with him. (Hint: itвЂ™s a little different than Joseph Gordon-LevittвЂ™s characterвЂ™s job in 500 Days of Summer.) How he got into the field We caught up with Jackson to find out what the greeting card business is really like.

вЂњEmpathy is a big part of being a greeting card writer,вЂќ he says.В вЂњItвЂ™s important to see the humanity in other people, respect their life experiences and write to their reality.вЂќДЇor aspiring greeting card writers, the $8 billion industry offers various points of entry, from having your own small Etsy shop and working at a boutique greeting card company to joining a large card manufacturer, like Hallmark or American Greetings.В Compensation varies from publisher to publisher, according to the Greeting Card Association, but in general, writers can expect to receive anywhere between $25 and $150 for a submission thatвЂ™s accepted. PatrickвЂ™s Day, his goal is to stir the emotions of the cardвЂ™s recipient. Whether JacksonвЂ™s focus is on birthdays, weddings, Christmas, FatherвЂ™s and MotherвЂ™s Day, or even St. Jackson, 29, is now a senior writer at Hallmark Cards in Kansas City, Missouri, where he spends his days writing copy for greeting cards. And thatвЂ™s exactly what made him a perfect fit for the greeting card industry. вЂњI started to hear the messages differently,вЂќ says Jackson, adding that cards from his mom-which heвЂ™s saved-began to resonate on an emotional level. His perspective changed around the age of 12. вЂњWhen I was little, I assumed all greeting cards had money in them,вЂќ says Jackson, вЂњmoney that would support my Hot Wheels habit.вЂќ Growing up, Keion Jackson always looked forward to opening birthday and holiday cards-although he wasnвЂ™t necessarily captivated by the messages inside. Keion Jackson, 29, says empathy is a big part of being a greeting card writer.

Hallmark card writer salary