One way to break into the publishing side of crafts is to enter some of the challenges put out by craft magazines. Somerset, which puts out magazine like Art Doll, Somerset Memories, Belle Armoire (just to name a few), has a web page where it publishes a list of up-coming craft challenges.

The first thing to check when you start reading the guidelines is the due date on some of these things. I have noticed sometimes that publishers in general will post call for entries (CFE) and leave them up even after the date comes and goes. So, before you get all excited about a particular CFE, check the data ASAP.

Also, be aware that while you aren’t always signing over the rights to your design, more than likely you are signing over the rights to the image of your work, and if you write any text to go with it, that as well. So, that means the publisher can use it over again (and again) without any kind of compensation to you other than (hopefully) a by-line.

Why even consider something like this if you aren’t getting paid? Well, think of it as sort of a student internship. You learn the ropes a little and have something to add to your resume. Normally, these sorts of things require a certain procedure to follow, and just learning how to read through these and follow them is something that can come in handy at a later date when you decide to try to get paid for your work. Then, you will have credits to add to your artist bio when you send in your query as well.