FocusWriter is a distraction-free word processor designed to keep the interface out of the way while you write. Its controls remain hidden until the pointer is moved to the edges of the screen, leaving the document as the main focus.
The writing environment can be customised with themes that control fonts, colours and background images. FocusWriter also remembers the documents from your previous session and returns you to the position where you left off, making it convenient for regular writing sessions.
This is free and open source software.
Key Features
- Set daily writing goals based on word count or time spent writing.
- View live statistics covering words, pages, paragraphs and characters.
- Create timers and alarms for timed writing sessions and reminders.
- Manage multiple documents within the same writing session.
- Use a scene list to navigate sections of longer documents.
- Check spelling using Hunspell dictionaries.
- Automatically save documents at configurable intervals.
- Create and manage custom themes for different writing environments.
- Read and write TXT, basic RTF and ODT documents, with basic Office Open XML support.
- Enable optional typewriter sound effects while entering text.
- Run the application on Linux, macOS and Windows.
Website: gottcode.org/focuswriter
Support:
Developer: Graeme Gott
License: GNU General Public License v3.0
FocusWriter is written in C++. Learn C++ with our recommended free books and free tutorials.
Related Software
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|---|---|
| FocusWriter | Distraction-free writing environment with goals and statistics |
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Read our verdict in the software roundup.
| Distraction-Free Tools for Writers | |
|---|---|
| FocusWriter | Simple, distraction-free word processor |
| Mark Text | Simple and elegant Markdown editor |
| Zettlr | Markdown editor for the 21st Century |
| novelWriter | Plain text editor designed for writing novels |
| Apostrophe | Editor that stays out your way |
| Quoll Writer | Desktop writing application written in Java |
| Manuskript | Tool for those writer who like to organize and plan everything before writing |
| ghostwriter | Distraction-free writing experience offering a clean interface |
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| PanWriter | Distraction-free Markdown writing environment |
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Read our verdict in the software roundup.
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Good for short simple work, but useless for even a novella with three characters, unless the writer has a photographic memory. I’ll stick with Manuskript.