Define work you can count
- Choose the actual submission deadline.
- Enter a measurable workload such as words, pages, or tasks.
- Reserve buffer days for revision and submission problems.
How buffer days change the plan
A 2,400-word essay with six workdays needs about 400 words per day.
Breaking up a draft before it is due
Work the number does not include
- Counting the deadline day when submission is due early.
- Using a word target as the entire workload.
- Leaving no proofreading or technical buffer.
Use the pace as a checkpoint
The daily pace uses effective workdays after the buffer. Research and revision may need separate time beyond a word target.
Reviewed September 2026.