Blog Post Title One
Writing Project User Manual
Welcome to Your Writing Project!
Your Writing Project is your personal writing headquarters - a place to set goals, track progress, and celebrate your achievements. Whether you're writing your first novel, working on academic papers, or journaling daily, this tool adapts to your needs.
Table of Contents
Getting Started
Project Details
Setting Your Goals
Using the Timer
Understanding Your Calendar
Logging Sessions Manually
Reading Your Progress
Tips for Success
Frequently Asked Questions
Getting Started
What You'll See
Your Writing Project page has four main sections stacked vertically:
Project Summary - Your project's name and type
Goal Settings - Your writing goals and current progress
Calendar - Visual representation of your writing activity
Timer - Tools to track your writing sessions in real-time
Everything updates automatically, so you always see your latest progress.
Project Details
Naming Your Project
Give your project a meaningful name that motivates you. Examples:
"My First Novel"
"Dissertation - Chapter 3"
"Daily Journal 2025"
"Poetry Collection"
To edit your project:
Click "Edit Project Details" button
Type your new project name
Select your project type from the dropdown
Click "Save Changes"
Project Types
Choose the category that best describes your work:
Fiction - Novels, short stories, fan fiction
Poetry - Poems, verses, spoken word
Nonfiction - Essays, how-to guides, true stories
Memoir / Life Writing - Autobiographies, personal histories
Journaling / Reflective Writing - Daily journals, reflection
Academic Writing - Dissertations, research papers, theses
Professional Writing - Business documents, reports
Journalism - Articles, features, opinion pieces
Scriptwriting / Playwriting - Screenplays, stage plays
Blogging / Digital Content - Blog posts, web content
Other - Everything else!
💡 Tip: Your project type is just for organization - it doesn't affect how the tool works.
Deleting Projects
You can delete any project except your default project. When you delete a project:
All sessions, goals, and progress are permanently removed
This action cannot be undone
You'll be redirected to your profile page
To delete a project:
Click "Edit Project Details"
Click "Delete Project" (red button)
Confirm you want to delete it
Setting Your Goals
Goals are completely optional, but they help you stay on track. You can set time goals, word goals, or both!
Understanding Goal Types
Time Goals - Track how long you write
Good for: Building a writing habit, focused practice, timed challenges
Example: "Write for 30 minutes every day"
Word Goals - Track how much you write
Good for: NaNoWriMo, completing drafts, measurable output
Example: "Write 1,000 words per week"
Both Together - Get the full picture
Example: "Write 500 words in 1 hour each day"
Setting Up Your First Goal
To set a time goal:
Click "Set Goals" or "Edit Goals"
Check the box next to "Enable time goals"
Choose your frequency: Daily, Weekly, or Monthly
Enter your target (in minutes or hours)
Set your start date (usually today)
Optionally set an end date
Click "Save Goals"
To set a word goal:
Click "Set Goals" or "Edit Goals"
Check the box next to "Enable word goals"
Choose your frequency: Daily, Weekly, or Monthly
Enter your target word count
Set your start date (usually today)
Optionally set an end date
Click "Save Goals"
How Frequency Works
The system automatically breaks down your goals:
Daily goals - Target applies to each day
Weekly goals - Target applies per week; calendar shows daily portion (divided by 7)
Monthly goals - Target applies per month; calendar shows daily portion (divided by 30-31)
Example: If you set a weekly goal of 7,000 words, the calendar shows 1,000 words per day (7,000 ÷ 7).
Start and End Dates
Start Date:
Set to today to start immediately
Set to a future date to schedule a goal
Future goals won't show progress until the start date
End Date (Optional):
Leave unchecked for ongoing goals
Set an end date for time-limited challenges (like NaNoWriMo)
Your goal stops tracking after this date
Changing Active Goals
If you need to adjust a goal that's already running:
For active goals (already started):
Changing the goal creates a NEW goal starting today
Your old goal ends yesterday
All your past progress is preserved - nothing is lost!
You can see your old progress in the calendar
For future goals (not started yet):
You can freely edit them
No new goal is created
💡 Tip: Don't worry about getting goals perfect! You can adjust them anytime without losing your progress.
Using the Timer
The timer section has two modes: Countdown Timer and Stopwatch. Both automatically save your writing session when you stop.
Countdown Timer
Best for focused writing sprints with a set duration.
To use the Countdown Timer:
Enter a duration (the number)
Select the unit (Hours, Minutes, or Seconds)
Click "Start Timer"
Write! The timer counts down
Click "Pause" if you need a break
Click "Resume" to continue
Click "Stop" when finished
What happens when you stop:
A popup appears asking about your session
The duration is already filled in (from the timer)
Add your word count (optional):
Paste your writing for automatic count, OR
Manually type the number of words
Add session notes (optional)
Click "Save Session"
Visual feedback:
The border around the timer fills as you write (showing progress)
In the last 10 seconds, the timer turns red and pulses
The time display is large and easy to read
💡 Tip: Common durations:
25 minutes (Pomodoro technique)
30 minutes (half-hour sprint)
1 hour (deep work session)
15 minutes (quick daily habit)
Stopwatch
Best for open-ended writing sessions.
To use the Stopwatch:
Switch to the "Stopwatch" tab
Click "Start Stopwatch"
Write! The stopwatch counts up
Click "Pause" if you need a break
Click "Resume" to continue
Click "Stop" when finished
Same session saving popup appears with duration pre-filled.
💡 Tip: Use stopwatch when you're in the flow and don't want a time limit.
Understanding Your Calendar
Your calendar is the heart of your Writing Project. It shows your writing activity and helps you spot patterns.
Three View Modes
Switch between views using the tabs at the top of the calendar.
Daily View (Default)
Shows a traditional monthly calendar with each day as a square.
Color meanings:
Gray/Empty - No writing activity
Blue (gradient) - Writing activity; gradient shows progress toward goal
Teal/Green - Goal achieved!
Light/Faded - Future dates (can't click yet)
What you can do:
Click any past or current day to see details
See at a glance which days you wrote
Identify your writing streaks
Watch the month fill up with activity
Progress indicators:
If you have a goal set, the blue fill shows your progress
A day that's 50% full means you're halfway to your goal
Fully filled teal days mean you hit your goal
Weekly View
Shows all weeks that overlap with the current month.
What each week card shows:
Date range (e.g., "Oct 1 - Oct 7")
Total words or time for that week
Number of active days (days with any writing)
Progress bar (if weekly goals set)
Average per week
Why use weekly view:
See weekly trends
Perfect for weekly goals
Compare week-to-week performance
Spot which weeks are most productive
Monthly View
Shows all 12 months of the current year in a grid.
What each month card shows:
Month name
Total words or time for that month
Number of active days
Progress bar (if monthly goals set)
Average per week within that month
Why use monthly view:
Year-at-a-glance overview
Long-term trend analysis
Great for annual reviews
See seasonal patterns in your writing
Focus Toggle: Time vs. Words
At the top of the calendar, you can switch between Time and Words focus.
Time Focus:
Shows minutes/hours written
Progress based on time goals
Colors based on time achievements
Words Focus:
Shows word counts
Progress based on word goals
Colors based on word achievements
💡 Tip: Switch between them to get different perspectives on your progress!
Navigation Controls
Left/Right Arrows - Go to previous/next month
"Today" Button - Jump back to current month
Month/Year Display - Shows which month you're viewing
Logging Sessions Manually
Sometimes you write outside the app (in Word, Google Docs, a notebook). You can add these sessions manually!
Adding a Session to a Past Day
Click the day on the calendar (Daily view)
A popup opens showing that day's details
Click "Add New Session"
Fill out the form:
Start time - When you started writing
Words written - How many words
Duration - Hours and minutes
Notes - Any thoughts about the session
Click "Save Session"
The calendar updates immediately!
Editing an Existing Session
Click the day on the calendar
Find the session in the list
Click the edit icon (pencil) next to it
Update any fields
Click "Save Changes"
Deleting a Session
Click the day on the calendar
Find the session in the list
Click the delete icon (trash) next to it
Confirm you want to delete it
⚠️ Warning: Deleted sessions cannot be recovered!
Reading Your Progress
Goal Progress Section
When you have goals set, you'll see progress displays:
Today's/This Week's/This Month's Progress:
Shows your current progress vs goal
Example: "500 Words / 1000 Word Goal"
Progress bar fills as you write
Turns teal when you achieve the goal
Percentage shown below the bar
What the titles mean:
"Today's Goal" - Daily goal progress
"This Week's Goal" - Weekly goal progress
"This Month's Goal" - Monthly goal progress
Day Details Modal
When you click a day on the calendar:
At the top:
Date display (e.g., "October 15, 2025")
Total words for that day
Total time for that day
Goal Progress section:
Your daily goals (if set)
Progress bars showing completion
Example: "250 Words / 500 Word Goal"
Sessions list:
All writing sessions for that day
Start and end times
Duration, words, notes
Edit/delete buttons
💡 Tip: This is your daily writing report card!
Understanding Streaks
A streak is consecutive days of writing activity. While the app doesn't explicitly count streaks, you can see them visually:
Look for chains of colored days in Daily view
Your longest streak is your motivation!
Missing a day breaks a streak, but you can always start a new one
Tips for Success
Goal-Setting Best Practices
✅ Start small: 15 minutes daily beats 2 hours weekly
✅ Be realistic: Set goals you can actually achieve
✅ Choose one metric: Focus on time OR words when starting
✅ Review weekly: Check your calendar every Sunday
✅ Adjust as needed: Life changes, goals should too
❌ Don't: Set impossible goals that make you feel bad
❌ Don't: Compare to others - this is YOUR journey
❌ Don't: Stress over perfect tracking
Building a Habit
Same time, same place - Write at the same time daily
Start tiny - Even 5 minutes counts
Track immediately - Use the timer or log sessions right away
Celebrate small wins - Each colored day is a victory
Don't break the chain - Visual streaks are powerful motivators
Using Notes Effectively
The notes field in each session is powerful. Use it to:
Capture what you wrote about
Note your energy level or mood
Record breakthroughs or struggles
Track which scenes/chapters you worked on
Remember ideas for next time
Example notes:
"Wrote the opening scene - felt great!"
"Struggled with dialogue but pushed through"
"Chapter 5 edits - character development"
"Low energy but showed up anyway"
Multiple Projects
You can create multiple projects for different works:
One for your novel, one for journaling
Separate projects for different books
Academic vs creative writing projects
Each project has its own:
Goals
Calendar
Progress tracking
Sessions
💡 Tip: Don't spread yourself too thin - focus on 1-2 active projects.
Frequently Asked Questions
About Goals
Q: Do I have to set goals?
A: No! Goals are optional. You can just use the timer and calendar to track your writing without any targets.
Q: What happens if I don't meet my goal?
A: Nothing bad! There are no penalties. The calendar shows your progress honestly. Not meeting a goal sometimes is normal.
Q: Can I change my goal mid-month?
A: Yes! When you change an active goal, the system creates a new goal starting today. Your previous progress is saved and visible in the calendar.
Q: Should I use daily, weekly, or monthly goals?
A:
Daily - Best for building habits and consistency
Weekly - Good for flexibility (some days busy, some free)
Monthly - Great for big-picture tracking and long projects
Q: What's better: time goals or word goals?
A: Both are valid!
Time goals - Emphasize showing up (good for beginners)
Word goals - Emphasize output (good for deadlines)
Try both and see what motivates you more
About the Calendar
Q: Why can't I click future dates?
A: You can only log sessions for dates that have already happened. This keeps your data accurate.
Q: Can I edit sessions from months ago?
A: Yes! Click any past date and edit or add sessions. Great for catching up on tracking.
Q: What if I wrote but can't remember the word count?
A: Make your best guess. It's better to track approximate data than no data.
Q: Why is a day showing progress but not "goal achieved"?
A: The gradient fill shows partial progress. You wrote some but haven't reached 100% of your goal yet.
About Sessions
Q: Can I log a session without using the timer?
A: Yes! Click any day on the calendar and click "Add New Session" to log manually.
Q: I forgot to stop the timer. What do I do?
A: When you stop it, you can edit the duration in the session save popup. Or save it and then click the day to edit that session.
Q: Do I have to enter words written?
A: No, it's optional. If you only want to track time, leave words empty.
Q: What's the difference between countdown and stopwatch?
A:
Countdown - Set a duration, timer counts down (great for sprints)
Stopwatch - Timer counts up until you stop (great for flow states)
About the Timer
Q: Can I use the timer on my phone?
A: Yes! The timer works on mobile browsers. The layout adapts to smaller screens.
Q: What if I get interrupted during a timer session?
A: Click Pause, handle the interruption, then click Resume. Your time pauses too.
Q: Will the timer keep running if I close the tab?
A: The timer uses your device's internal clock, so it tracks accurately even if the tab isn't visible.
About Projects
Q: How many projects can I create?
A: As many as you want! But we recommend focusing on a few active ones.
Q: Can I move a session from one project to another?
A: Not currently. Sessions are tied to the project where they were created.
Q: What's the "default project"?
A: Your default project is created automatically and can't be deleted. It's a safeguard so you always have at least one project.
Troubleshooting
My timer stopped working:
Refresh the page
Check your internet connection
Make sure you didn't pause it
My calendar isn't showing recent sessions:
Wait a few seconds - it updates automatically
Refresh the page
Check you're viewing the correct month
My progress bars look wrong:
Make sure you've set goals
Check you're viewing the right focus (Time vs Words)
Verify the date ranges on your goals
I can't save a session:
Make sure all required fields are filled
Check your internet connection
Try refreshing and attempting again
Quick Reference Card
Common Actions
ActionStepsStart timerSet duration → Start TimerEdit project nameEdit Project Details → Change name → SaveSet a goalSet/Edit Goals → Enable goal → Fill form → SaveLog yesterday's writingClick yesterday → Add New Session → Fill form → SaveView weekly progressClick "Weekly" tab on calendarSwitch to word trackingClick "Words" toggle above calendarDelete a sessionClick day → Click trash icon → Confirm
Color Guide (Daily Calendar)
🟦 Blue gradient = Writing activity (more blue = closer to goal)
🟩 Teal = Goal achieved
⬜ Gray/Light = No activity
🔲 Faded = Future date
Final Thoughts
Remember: This tool is here to help you, not judge you. Some days you'll crush your goals, other days you'll skip writing entirely. Both are okay. The calendar shows your journey honestly, and every colored square is something to be proud of.
The most important thing? Keep showing up. Even 5 minutes of writing tracked is better than zero. Over time, those colored days add up to a finished book, a completed dissertation, or simply a stronger writing habit.
Happy writing! 🎉✍️
Last updated: November 2025