Three Reasons You Should Track Your Hours- And Why You Probably Don't!
Monday September 22, 2008
So, I figured out from this post about my writing schedule that many writers don't track the hours they spend on their craft. I think you should, and here's why:
- In order to watch your bottom hourly rate.
- To analyze how much time you're actually working/writing versus Twittering, blogging, playing, paying bills, creating bills and other administrative tasks.
- Help you determine rates for future jobs (if one web copy makeover takes you 2 hours, chances are that the next project will be similar).
As for the why, I want to send that back to you. Why don't you track your writing hours? Or, if you do, how? (I use a simple Excel spreadsheet). Thanks for commenting!
Comments
Hi Allena,
Before accepting an assignment, I figure out how long it will take me and whether it’s worth it. My estimates are usually accurate. But when I’m wrong, I learn from the experience. For example, medical professionals often cancel interviews at the last minute (because of emergencies; their patients come first, as they should). Or, they refuse to schedule interviews at all, expecting the reporter to take their call at any time of day. Those stories have not been money-makers for me and I usually decline them.
Valerie
I have one client for whom I’m obligated to track my hours. At first it was a major pain (most writers are not good administrators) but now I’m enjoying the process and finding it helpful.
I’ll admit that I only track my hours for this one particular client though I may start doing it for all of them.
I don’t track my time on every project because that is just another non-income producing task. I do track my time occasionally in order to use the data in a decision-making process (like setting rates, etc.) I just use a steno pad and the clock on my computer. I know that is an “old-fashioned” way to do it and it isn’t precise, but it works well for me.