Detail Obsession: Four Ways to Take Control of Your Work

An old German proverb, “The devil is in the details,” was contradicted by the famous architect Ludwig Mies van der Rohe who said, “God is in the details.” I don’t know which saying is true, but I do know that freelancers are often caught in the middle of these two points of view.

Many freelancers like me are afflicted by an obsession with the details of their work. We fuss over the fine points until we lose track of the objective reasoning that tells us when to stop. I am a freelance illustrator, and for whatever reason – whether it’s my personality or a side-effect of my trade – I’m particularly vulnerable. I’ve seen writers, photographers, designers, accountants and other freelance professionals suffer, too. It can be devastating because if it’s not understood and controlled, the hours wasted sap our energy and erode our fees.

Details are the shelled pistachio nuts of our craft; once we’ve started in on them, there’s just no stopping. The problem is that, while there’s usually a finite supply of pistachios in a bag, when it comes to putting the finishing touches on our work, there may seem to be no finish at all.

Added details come in three varieties: those that are necessary to address the essential concept of the work, those that add a touch of elegance to it, and those that are there just to make you look good. Developing a keen awareness of which variety we’re dealing with is an on-going struggle for many freelancers like me. The key is honest self-examination of our motivations. Who or what purpose is being served? Who’s really in control of the process? Here are some important introspective examinations that will help you turn a weakness into strength – without blowing your fee.
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