“Soon after I began my freelance career, I discovered the benefits of keeping a project log for each new article or client. That way, I know exactly how much time I am spending on each assignment, and what my hourly rate is.

I soon learned that there are vast differences between, say, a 700-word artist profile and a 700-word round-up of the latest innovations in cataract surgery. While there is sophisticated time-management software you can buy, I just make a simple table in Word listing date, task, and time spent.

Now, when a client approaches me with an assignment, I can quickly calculate whether the rate is worth the time I’ll spend on it.”—Abigail Green, freelance writer and editor

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SHARE YOUR PRODUCTIVITY TIPS!

I feature tips from Productive Writers like you every Tuesday. If you have a great productivity tip, feel free to offer it in the comments below. I’ll repost some of my favorites in future Productivity Tip Tuesdays. I’ll also be tweeting tips every Tuesday via #prodtiptues (Productivity Tip Tuesdays); tweet along, won’t you?