Many novel-writing software programs and apps include word count tracking as a feature, with varying levels of customization, and other writers use good old spreadsheets, but if you want more detailed stats or fancier graphs, or if you’re interested in tracking multiple projects at once, a dedicated word count tracker might be the best choice for you.
Here are a few of the options:
TrackBear
Currently, the most popular word tracking apps is TrackBear. TrackBear is web-based, free (donation-supported), and rich in useful features. It allows you to track multiple projects at once, and to track by words, chapters, pages, scenes, lines, or time. You can track different things for the same project. For example, you can track by words while drafting your project, and by chapters while editing your project. You can set goals for individual projects, or across all projects, and set up leaderboards to challenge your friends or support each other as you work towards your goals. TrackBear can also be used to build a writing habit by tracking writing streaks.
WriteTrack
WriteTrack is another interesting option with some cool features to plan and track your progress towards your writing goals. For example, you can “weight” days when calculating how many words you need to reach your goal and automatically adjust your daily word count goals to write more or less on weekends, holidays, and even just days when you have a doctor appointment or a child’s sports tournament to attend that you know will affect your ability to write on that day. Like TrackBear, WriteTrack is web-based and free (donation-supported).
Pacemaker Planner
Pacemaker Planner is a web-based service that offers free and paid plans for writers wishing to plan and track their progress towards their writing goals. It offers different options to help plan your writing schedule, including dividing the word count equally between days, starting small and working towards larger counts, starting intense and working towards a more relaxed pace, and even randomized.
Additional Options
- MyWriteClub is a simple and free online tracker that allows you to track word count and join word sprints with friends or with the MyWriteClub community.
- WriterStreak motivates you to build a daily writing habit by tracking your writing streak and word count goals.
- 4thewords is a web app with free and paid plans that offers word count and writing streak tracking features while gamifying your writing habit by turning word sprints into RPG-style monster battles, among many other features.
Did I miss your favorite word count tracking tool? Tell me about it in comments below!
Image credit: Towfiqu barbhuiya