In an advice column for Chronicle of Higher Ed, Rebecca Schuman addresses how to realistically set goals for an academic writing task. Schuman writes that unrealistic goals are often created when a writer does not want to face the actual number of hours that it will take to finish the work. The author shares a formula that academics can tailor to their own writing situations to determine a reasonable estimate for how long a project will take to finish, and advises multiplying this number by a factor of 1.75 to “account for magical thinking.” Schuman writes that using this formula will result in a timeline that is based on an academic’s actual work habits and available time, rather than one that is based on wishful thinking.
Chronicle of Higher Ed (Acct. Req.)
