The Pros & Cons of Designing

Like most other jobs, designing has both positive and negative aspects. Following are some things to consider if you're thinking of entering the world of crochet design.

Learning To Run A Business
If you don't already know how to run a business, you will need to learn. I won't go into it here because there are already a lot of books on the market that can explain the basics. But be aware that you will have to comply with federal, state and local laws. Be sure to check with the appropriate government agencies to see what you need to do to meet the requirements. If you don't know what questions to ask, ask the agencies to tell you what you need to do. A little research now can save you a lot of grief later.

Setting Your Own Schedule
Being your own boss means that you can set your own schedule, taking into consideration your needs and your family's. It is also one of the main reasons I became a designer. As a young mother, I wanted to contribute to the family income while being able to stay at home with my children. There is a lot to be said for being able to arrange your schedule the way that best suits you, but there is a certain amount of responsibility that comes with it, as well.

Earnings
If you're looking for a get-rich-quick job, this isn't it. What you earn is directly tied to the quality and volume of your work and how your designs fit into the needs of your editors. The more you are in tune with your editors, the more you will publish and the more you will earn. Do your homework and find out what the editors need, then do your best to fulfill them.

Flexibility
One great thing about having a job doing what you love to do is being able to express yourself through your work. However, if you wish to publish consistently, you will need to remain flexible and make compromises with your editors. Remember that they always have the last word in accepting–or rejecting!–your work. While your design may be lovely just as you designed it, the editor has the job of making it fit into his or her publication which generally revolves around a theme. If you are not willing to make the changes your editor asks, you may find that he or she has to move on to another designer. Don’t make the mistake of getting so emotionally attached to your designs that you can’t let go of them in order to do as the editor asks or to move on to the next design.

Erratic Pay Checks
Most likely, you won't be under contract to a publisher so you will be paid by the project rather than drawing a regular pay check.

Publishers in general have different points at which they issue checks. Some pay on acceptance, some on publication and others at certain points during the publication process. Keeping as many projects in submission as possible at any given time will help increase your chances for sales and minimize the gaps between checks.

Deadlines
Meeting your deadlines is one of the single, most important responsibilities you will have as a designer. Your editor will assign a deadline for you and if you don't meet it, you place the editor in an uncomfortable position. He or she must fill the space your design was assigned to, and if you don't meet the deadline, the editor has to make a last-minute scramble to find something to fill the space, which is often difficult to do. It may also make your editor think twice about contacting you to work up further designs.

Balance
Learn to balance your work with a healthy dose of play. It is harder to leave your job at the office when your office happens to be in your home. But, not allowing job responsibilities to overlap into family time will help you to be more relaxed and focused during normal working hours.