How this word count planner works
Plan your novel. Set a deadline. Know exactly how much you need to write each day. Enter your target length, start date, deadline, and the days you do not write. The planner shows how many words you need on each remaining writing day and updates that number when you log progress or take rest days.
Set up your plan
- Name your project and choose a word goal (presets or custom).
- Add words you have already written, if any.
- Pick start and completion dates, weekly days off, and one-off rest days.
- Start tracking. Log each writing day; the daily target rebalance keeps you on pace.
Rest days and rebalancing
Rest days remove a date from your writing schedule without changing your overall goal. When you log fewer words than the daily target, or skip a writing day, the planner spreads the remaining words across future writing days. When you exceed the target, the per-day number drops so you can see when you are ahead of schedule.
Further reading on Folian
FAQ
- How does the daily word target work?
- The planner divides your remaining words by the number of writing days left in your schedule. Each time you log words, or skip a day, the daily target recalculates so your deadline stays honest.
- What happens if I miss a day?
- Missed writing days do not remove words from your goal. The remaining words are spread across the writing days you still have before your deadline, so your per-day target rises until you catch up or adjust the plan.
- How many words per day do I need for a novel?
- It depends on your target length, start date, deadline, and how many days you take off. A common 80,000 word novel with 90 writing days needs about 890 words per writing day before any logs. This tool calculates your number from your own dates.
- How long does it take to write a novel?
- At 1,000 words per writing day, an 80,000 word draft needs about 80 writing days. At 500 words per day, the same draft needs about 160 writing days. Use your real schedule, including rest days, rather than a generic average.
- What word counts do novels usually have?
- Many adult novels land between 70,000 and 100,000 words. Young adult titles are often shorter. Epic fantasy and some non-fiction run longer. Pick a target that fits your genre, then let the planner show the daily pace.
- Where is my plan stored?
- By default your plan stays in this browser only. If you choose email delivery, Folian stores your email, consent timestamps, and a copy of the plan so you can open it again from your inbox.