A Writer’s Guide to Reasonable Project Deadlines
Learn how to give yourself ample time for quality work without spreading your pay (or your client’s patience) too thin.
Knowing how to set the right deadlines for your writing projects is really important. Yet, if you’re just starting out, you may not find much information to help you.
In this article, let’s discuss tips on how to set project deadlines. In order for you to be profitable, you need to give yourself enough time for great quality writing, but you also want to keep the project moving. (Perfectionists, I’m talking to you!)
Otherwise, long deadlines may cost you the job, frustrate your client or spread your paycheck too thin.
8 Tips for Setting Writing Project Deadlines
In some cases, you’ll have the ability to set your own project deadlines. In other cases, the client will have a set date in their mind. Regardless, here are 8 tips to make sure the project deadlines are reasonable so you can determine if the job is worth it for you.
#1 Talk About Deadlines Upfront
I used to wait until well into a discovery call before I asked about deadlines. Or, sometimes I’d forget to ask at all. Then I’d send out my project quote, and a prospect would say, “And can this be done by the end of the week?” Whoa, whoa, whoa!
So now, deadlines are one of the most important components in generating my quote. I ask about deadlines right away. That means, before you give a project price!
#2 Give Yourself More Time than You Think
Life gets in the way, and the last thing you want is to scramble the night before your project is due. Or worse, miss the deadline completely.
For me, I used to have pretty quick turnarounds. But now that I’m a mom, no way! I’ve doubled my standard turnaround time, and no one really seemed to care.
Aside from life, you’ll also have to consider other projects that need to get done during that same timeframe.
#3 Give an Estimate, Not a Standard
I don’t mean to give your clients a wishy washy date by which you’ll “probably” have it done. If you set a deadline, that’s set.
What I’m talking about is that you can always give potential clients an idea of how long a certain project would take. For example, writing an email series is usually a 2-week project for me. Am I working on it for 40 hours for 2 weeks? No. Does it give me some cushion? Yes.
However, once you get all the information from your client, then you can give them a set deadline in your quote. Every project has its own nuances that can affect how long it will take. So, don’t automatically assume one email project will take the same amount of time as the last.
Always give an estimate and then solidify it once the scope is hashed out.
#4 Make Bank with Rush Fees
I’m not saying to price gouge your clients with rush fees, but you need to be compensated for rush work.
For example, if an email series would normally be a 2-week turnaround, and a client wants it done in 1 week, I charge a 50% rush fee. Some of my long term clients consistently pay rush fees without issue.
While I used to bundle all rush fees into a project price, I now separate the standard project fee and rush fees. This way, the client knows what they’re paying for and they can weigh the cost of getting it done sooner.
#5 Allow Time for Editing
Sure, it may take you 4 hours to write a 1000-word article, but make sure to account for editing. This will affect both your pricing and deadline.
Plus, if you like to take breaks or come back to your work the next day, make sure you give yourself enough time to feel good about our writing.
#6 Take Revisions into Account
When I set a deadline, I set it for when the “first draft” will be due. This first draft is always top-notch with no errors, but it’s still the first draft a client will see.
While I personally don't set dates for revisions, you may want to establish revision deadlines for clients. Occasionally, you may run into a client who doesn’t review the work until days later, delaying project completion and your payday.
#7 Work Back from the Big Day
If a client comes to you with a big launch or publication date, work back from that date. This is especially important if your writing is just one piece of the bigger picture.
For example, a client who wants to launch a sales page on Jan 1 will need you to write the copy, someone to do the design and someone else to put it on the website. Not to mention, revisions!
So, work with your client to establish when the writing needs to be done so that design and web development have ample time too. Again, work back from Jan 1 through the process until you get to your tasks.
#8 Don’t Make It a Friday
Unless I’m doing rush orders, I rarely work on weekends, but sometimes it has to be done. While you may crave to close out a project on a Friday, closing it on a Monday allows you the weekend to work and edit if needed.
Just something to consider if you have any concern that you can’t get the project done.
Want to Know More About the Writing Process?
If you’re new to the professional writing world, you may be confused about how it all works. Sure, you may know how to write, but what about pricing and finding clients? How do you start a project with a client?
All these questions (and more) inspired the creation of Ambitious Writer Society. Explore this site for information, education and resources to transform your love for writing into a fulfilling, comfortable career!
