Harvest
Time Tracking
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Time Tracking App for Writers

Harvest is a time tracking app designed for writers, helping them manage writing projects and boost productivity by identifying and recovering unbilled hours.

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What should you charge per hour?

Most freelancers and consultants dramatically undercharge. This calculator accounts for what most people miss: non-billable time, taxes, and overhead.

$
Accounting for vacation, holidays, sick days
60%
Most freelancers can bill 50-70% of their time. The rest goes to admin, marketing, proposals, and learning.
$
Software, insurance, equipment, accounting, taxes beyond income tax, etc.
Your break-even rate $0
Recommended rate (+20% buffer) $0
Billable hours per week 0h
Equivalent daily rate $0

Start tracking your billable hours

Walk through the entire flow below. Start a timer, check your reports, and create a real invoice — all in three clicks.

Go ahead — start tracking!

One click and you're timing. Try it right here: start a timer, add an entry, edit the details. This is exactly how it feels in Harvest.

  • One-click timer from browser, desktop & mobile
  • Works inside Jira, Asana, Trello, GitHub & 50+ tools
  • Duration or start/end — your call
  • Day, week & calendar views to stay on top of it all
  • Friendly reminders so no hour gets left behind
Acme Corp
Website Redesign
Homepage layout revisions
1:24:09
Content Strategy
Blog calendar planning
1:30:00
SEO Audit
Technical audit report
0:45:00
Brand Guidelines
Color system documentation
2:15:00
Logo Concepts
Initial sketches round 1
1:00:00
Today's total 6:54:09

The Power of Time Tracking: Boosting Writer Productivity and Earnings

Time tracking is an invaluable tool for writers aiming to boost productivity and increase earnings. On average, writers dedicate around 188 hours each year to creating content. Yet, many struggle to quantify how efficiently this time is used. Harvest helps writers identify actual work patterns, manage deadlines, and recover lost time, potentially increasing revenue by $600 to $2,400 monthly per writer. By tracking time spent on different tasks, writers can pinpoint distractions and optimize their schedules.

Incorporating time tracking into a writer’s workflow not only highlights inefficiencies but also aids in meeting project deadlines. Freelance writers, in particular, stand to benefit significantly by understanding their effective hourly rate, even when billing per piece or word. With Harvest, writers can ensure they capture every billable hour, enhancing their financial management and ensuring fair compensation for their efforts.

Essential Features for a Writer's Time Tracking Toolkit

When selecting a time tracking app, writers should prioritize features that cater to their specific needs. Harvest offers flexible tracking methods, including manual timers and automatic activity monitoring. This flexibility allows writers to choose between active tracking and passive data collection, depending on their workflow.

Effective tools should enable the categorization of writing tasks such as research, outlining, drafting, editing, and client communication. Harvest’s robust reporting and analytics provide valuable insights into productivity and time allocation, helping writers set and achieve word count goals, time spent, or project milestones. Additionally, integrations with existing writing software, project management tools, and invoicing systems streamline the workflow, allowing writers to focus more on creativity and less on administration.

Mastering Your Writing Schedule: Best Practices for Time Tracking

To maximize productivity, writers must master their schedules using time tracking best practices. Identifying and leveraging your "biological prime time"—the period when your energy and focus are highest—can significantly enhance output. Techniques like the Pomodoro Technique, which involves 25-minute work sessions followed by 5-minute breaks, can help maintain focus and prevent burnout.

Creating a distraction-free writing environment is crucial for maintaining productivity. Physical spaces devoid of interruptions, coupled with digital tools that minimize alerts, foster a conducive atmosphere for writing. Regularly reviewing time reports, such as those provided by Harvest, allows writers to refine workflows and optimize efficiency. Setting realistic, measurable goals and consistently tracking progress ensures continual improvement and sustainable writing habits.

Choosing the Right Time Tracking Solution for Your Writing Journey

Selecting the right time tracking app depends on individual needs and circumstances. Casual writers, professional freelancers, and teams each have unique requirements. Harvest caters to all by offering a range of features from simple time tracking to comprehensive project management.

Budget considerations are also crucial. While some apps offer free core functionalities, others like Harvest provide integrated platforms that combine time tracking with financial management features. Ease of use and minimal setup are essential for consistent adoption, and mobile accessibility ensures time tracking can be managed across devices. By evaluating these factors, writers can choose a solution that aligns with their writing journey and goals.

Time Tracking for Writers with Harvest

Discover how Harvest helps writers track time spent on writing tasks, manage deadlines, and boost productivity.

Screenshot of Harvest time tracking app for writers.

Time Tracking App for Writers FAQs

  • Time tracking apps help writers improve productivity by providing insights into time allocation, identifying distractions, and enabling goal setting. By understanding how time is spent, writers can optimize their schedules and focus on high-impact tasks.

  • Key features to look for include activity categorization, detailed reports, timers, offline tracking, and integrations with writing software. These features help writers manage their workflow and analyze productivity patterns effectively.

  • Yes, several time tracking apps offer free plans with core functionalities like unlimited tracking and basic reporting. These options are great for writers managing tight budgets while still needing effective time management tools.

  • Many time tracking apps, like Harvest, offer integrations with common writing tools, project management apps, and invoicing systems. This allows for a streamlined workflow and seamless management of writing projects.

  • Harvest helps writers manage their time by enabling the tracking of various writing tasks, setting project budgets and deadlines, and providing detailed reports. This helps writers visualize productivity trends and manage their workload effectively.

  • Yes, Harvest allows users to categorize and track time spent on different writing tasks such as drafting, editing, and research. This helps writers understand where their time is being invested and enables better project management.

  • For freelance writers, Harvest offers benefits such as accurate time tracking for billing, project management tools, and the ability to set writing goals. This ensures they capture every billable hour and manage their projects efficiently.