Technical Writing ToolBox

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5 Free Online Tools for Distraction-Free Writing

7 Comments Posted by Gurpreet Singh on May 8, 2012

Last week I talked about the importance of distraction free writing and suggested five free desktop tools for distraction free writing. However, some of us cannot install any software in a workplace computer due to the mighty-IT department restrictions or often work on shared computers. If you find yourself in either of these scenarios then you can use an online version of a distraction free software.

An online distraction free tool allows you to write without any distraction. There is no installation required and it can work with any modern browser. Let’s look at five such online distraction free tools:

Update (19 Feb 2014): A reader comment pointed out that QuiteWrite, LightWrite and Writer are inaccessible.

1. Koi-Writer

Online Access: http://www.koi-writer.com

Koi-Writer is a simple online tool for distraction free writing and has a striking resemblance to the interface of OmmWriter. Its developer describe Koi-Writer as “Literary, subject-specific or personal text writing – as easy as using paper and pen. The user-friendly Koi Kriter application requires a short settling in period, allowing you to fully concentrate on your topic.”

2. QuietWrite

Online Access: http://www.quietwrite.com

Developers of QuietWrite talks describes the benefit of distraction free writing and portray QuietWrite as an online writing space. Some of its interesting features are:

Option to export your writing to WordPress
Automatic saving of writing
It even works on IPad

From QuietWrite website:

“Finding a peaceful place to write online is challenging. Most interfaces are too cluttered and too crammed full of the unnecessary. QuietWrite is different. It’s your peaceful online editor: a place where you can be alone with your words and thoughts.Focus is necessary for good writing. And, in order to focus, you need a quiet place to think, to ponder, and to dream.

Think of QuietWrite as your online writing workspace. A place where you can do your best writing.

Try it now. We’re sure you’ll be delighted.”

3. DarkCopy

Online Access: http://darkcopy.com

DarkCopy is an online clone of the famous Mac application WriteRoom (a popular distraction free tool). It is simple, dark, and can expand to full-screen to enable distraction free writing.

DarkCopy developers describes DarkCopy “as a simple, full-screen text editor for distraction free writing.

DarkCopy is for anyone who enjoys the simplicity of a typewriter, and wants to increase productivity by focusing only on writing.It was created as a free, web-based clone of WriteRoom.

Go ahead and try it! Simply start typing and toggle to full-screen editing mode to clear your mind.”

4. LightWrite

Online Access: http://gun.io/w/ktni8g4u5

LightWrite is also an online clone of the famous Mac application WriteRoom (a popular distraction free tool). However, compared to DarkCopy, it has a white writing background (Darkcopy has a dark writing background). One of the simplest text editor, it shows almost no text editing control and is very easy to use. Once you launch it, you may not even notice that it is an editor as it hides much of the controls and enables you to write without any distraction.

5. Writer

Online Access: http://www.ytbryan.com/writer

If you prefer a distraction free online text editor with no controls (such as LightWrite) but prefer a dark background then use the Writer. It displays the word count and enables you to print your work. Simple and easy to use.

Have you ever used any online distraction-free writing software? Do you plan to use a distraction-free writing software? Leave a comment and let me know.

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