Don’t forget to budget for “thinking time” when estimating
I’ve written several times about how I estimate how much time a project will take when I’m writing a proposal. I’ve been fortunate to come pretty close to the right number in most of my projects.
But those numbers rarely count my “thinking time.” I think about projects all the time. When I’m driving to the post office, I try to come up with a theme for a new eNewsletter. When I’m drinking coffee at my favorite coffee shop in the morning, I mentally run through the resources I have to rewrite a brochure for someone. Most of the time when I actually sit down to write something, I’ve already got a pretty good idea of where the piece needs to go because I’ve been ruminating for days.
I think “thinking time” is the toughest concept to get paid for. My former company will ask me to compose something, and the email will have the instructions, “Spend an hour on this.” But for every hour I spend in front of the computer actually writing, I’m sure I spend at least 30 minutes thinking about writing. And I haven’t quite figured out how to convert that time into a paycheck.
Another post on estimating.
The original post on estimating.
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CuriousC on 15 Nov 2007 at 10:26 am #
So when they say ’spend an hour on this’, they mean that they will only pay you one hour’s rate? Heck, I’d add THINKIN’ time to your estimate… Eventually, your rates will go up with the demand which will come because you are such a great talent and it’ll all happen and you won’t have to be so anal with it, right??
Gloria on 01 Aug 2008 at 10:18 am #
You are so right about this, I find it difficult to quantify that thinking time, and feel guilty adding time I spent in the shower having ideas for my clients to their bills. I’m glad you mentioned this!
Claire on 05 Aug 2008 at 8:00 am #
I think it’s absolutely critical to add thinking time to an estimate or budget. Who of us can fire off the perfect headline on demand? It takes time to study and wrap your head around a new subject, or a new client. To really write the best content, you have to know your client’s audience almost as well as you know your client, and you have to come up to speed quickly. This takes think time.
There’s also research time. Some of this you can build into the project, some you have to use as your own personal continuing education time.
Beth on 05 Aug 2008 at 8:51 am #
It’s funny that this conversation picked up again. I was just talking to one of my clients yesterday, giving him an update on the number of hours I’ve clocked on his project. He said that he knows I’ve spent more time than I’ve clocked, by way of the “thinking time,” which is unavoidable when one is a writer. He’s right. I’m always contemplating my projects, but I don’t bill anyone for thoughts that run through my head while I’m falling asleep or running. Now that I charge by the hour, it’s harder to quantify those numbers.