Jim Howard

Writer for multiple occasions

With 27 years under his belt at Hallmark Cards, writing stylist Jim Howard has touched just about every card line Hallmark produces. But for his most recent work – on the new encouragement card line Journeys – Jim drew upon new sources of inspiration to guide his words.

“I've known a lot of people who have been through tough times. In my forties, I began to see my parents’ health decline; I lost a couple of friends, and watched a few more go through very difficult experiences,” Jim said. He kept these important people in mind as he considered how to address such moments with the right words.

In much of his writing for Journeys, Jim considered the mystery of hope – a theme in one of his favorite Journeys cards, which tells the recipient: Don’t give up hope, and it won’t give up on you.

“I asked, ‘Why can some people remain hopeful in the worst circumstances, and others lose hope at a mere whiff of misfortune?’” he said. “Maybe one thing that can help, in any case, is support. If nothing else, a card about hope can give people a moment just to sit and know that someone else is in their corner.”

Jim said writing a good first line and then trying to imagine where it might lead is his favorite part of the greeting card writing process. He also enjoys the collaborative nature of group brainstorms, and working with younger writers who put a spin on his 50-year-old point of view.

“I think there’s a widespread feeling that the world in general is worse off than it was a decade ago. There’s a lot of fear, distrust, depression, and despair. Cards that acknowledge the difficulties of life have a good chance of speaking to people authentically, meeting them where they are,” he explained.

As a father of three kids ranging in age from six to 28, Jim leads an active life, full of energy, alongside a wife he “adores.” Born in Sacramento, Jim loves to travel, and has a particular affinity for northern California. He has a degree in English and creative writing from the University of Missouri, Kansas City.

“I'm just trying to write something that feels true,” he said. “Then it has a chance of speaking to the truth – the real life – of someone else.”