Writing Sprint Timer
A free timer for word sprints. It opens at 20:00 — press play, write without stopping or editing until the chime, then take a short breather. Works for novels, essays, theses, blog posts and NaNoWriMo alike. No ads, no account.
How a writing sprint works
- Set a target. Note your word count before you start; count again at the chime.
- Don't edit. Sprints are for getting words down. Fix them in a later pass.
- Keep the clock in sight. Pop the timer into an always-on-top window beside your editor.
- Rest between rounds. A few minutes with the break timer keeps the next sprint fresh.
Hitting 1,667 words a day
NaNoWriMo asks for 50,000 words in November, about 1,667 a day. Most writers manage 500 to 1,000 words in a focused 20 minute sprint, so two or three sprints can cover the day. Prefer longer rounds? Use the 30 minute timer or the classic 25 minute Pomodoro.
Frequently asked questions
How long should a writing sprint be?
Twenty to thirty minutes suits most people. If starting is the hard part, try the 10 minute sprint first. Any length from 1 to 90 minutes can be set in the app.
Can I write with friends in a word war?
Yes. Open the gear menu, click Copy invite link and send it to your writing group: everyone who opens it runs the same sprint, to the second. To schedule a word war for later, use the study-together link builder.