I went on a hunt for word processing programs as a way to procrastinate actually writing, and figured I’d make a post for my own reference, and in case anyone else needs a new sleek editor.
A note: I have a Mac, so all of these work on Mac. Some work on other platforms too – I’ll make a note of that.
Another note: I was looking for some pretty specific things, so I haven’t included some pretty sweet ones I found, because they didn’t have some features I wanted. Check out this page for more, plus programs for other operating systems.
A final note: These are all free.
FocusWriter – I actually downloaded FocusWriter several months ago, and it’s served me well. I probably won’t stop using it. Try these on for size: 1. It’s got a sweet customizable interface. You can change the font to any font stored on your computer, change the text and background color, import an image as the background, and more. Check it out:
This is the theme I’m using currently. It’s very encouraging. Plus, you can share themes with your friends! 2. All the toolbars hide themselves while you’re typing, but they’re also pretty customizable. You can set daily word goals, show a word count and a page count, and set timers or alarms for yourself. Plus, it automatically opens all the documents you had open last time you used it and keeps them in tabs, so it’s easy to access all your stuff. 3. You can download it for Mac, Linux, or Windows!
OmPad – OmPad isn’t really a program, per se. Rather, it’s a nice typing environment with several great themes. It’s good to know a little HTML, since that’s how you do formatting, but if you’re just looking for a place to do words, it’s great. (Plus, if you need HTML help, check out W3Schools!) 1. It saves your text as you type, so you don’t have to worry about it. Browser crashed? Got you covered. 2. It’s entirely web-based, so it works on any platform – including your phone (or my phone, at any rate)!
JDarkRoom – JDarkRoom is a pretty exciting find, for me. It’s really simple, but has a variety of nice options. 1. Color options for background, text, highlighting, etcetera. 2. Word goals! The word goals here simply count how many words are in the program at the moment. 3. Will not allow you to bring another program to the front while it’s open. “Excuse me? I thought you came here to write. Why are you trying to do something that’s not writing? Hello? Not cool, dude.” (I don’t know if it does this for everyone – it feels like a glitch, so that may just be me, or it may just be Macs.) 4. Available for Linux, Mac, and Windows!
Quabel – This is for people who love Google Drive, but don’t like the way Google Drive looks. It’s basically Google Drive with only the documents, but it looks way better and is much more user-friendly. It uses markup language for formatting. 1. Has a pleasant white and green theme that can be inverted to a black and green theme. 2. You can set goals by words, characters, pages, speaking time, or reading time (excellent if you’re writing a speech or something). The speaking time and reading time also have options. 3. You can organize your documents with labels! 4. Entirely web-based, so it works on all operating systems (not recommended for phone use, though).
TextRoom – TextRoom is probably my most exciting find during the search. It’s a bit glitchy, but I still like it. 1. You can change the text color and background color, or set an image as the background. (This only seems to work in fullscreen mode.) 2. Word counts, goals, deadlines, and timers. Do I need to say anything else? 3. The website said to press F1 for options, but the actual key for that (for Mac) is F2. Sometimes when you set an option you have to quit the program and then restart it before it applies. Sometimes when you open the program your interface settings don’t show up, but going into options, sticking your cursor in the image box, and then pressing Enter usually fixes that issue. 4. Linux, Windows, or Mac!
FountainPen – This one took forever to download, fair warning. All the others downloaded pretty quickly. However, the product is very rewarding. Only for Mac, though. 1. Loads of customizable! Font, background color, everything. Uses an optional backdrop, which is an image in the background. You can pull other programs up over it, however, such as an outlining program or iTunes:
2. It organizes your files in the program so you can locate and open them easily. 3. It is completely customizable with images and everything, but it comes with several sweet default settings in case you’re a bit overwhelmed by all that.
Writed – Writed is good if you want to just keep both hands on the keyboard and type. It uses markdown formatting and the free version exports to PDF fully formatted. 1. Several great themes. 2. Really easy markdown user guide. 3. You can export to PDF or HTML with the free version. Paid versions add a few other export options.
Koi Writer – Last but not least, another online one! It’s a bit confusing at first, but nice once you figure it out. 1. Several nice themes and such. 2. You can save your work. 3. Online works on everything basically except the phone. My phone is very confused by all this.
Anyway, I hope y’all enjoyed this rambly guid to several writing programs. Now it looks like I’m out of excuses to write… Oh look! It’s sleeping time! JK I’m’a write. Have a nice night/day/morning, whatever.
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