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Help, Writing

Set a word target and a finish date

Give your book a length and, if you like, a date to finish by. Onwarder works out a fair number of words for today and keeps it steady all day.

For all devices. Checked 17 October 2026.

A target is a quiet promise to yourself. There are no streaks, no reminders and nothing red on the days you do not write.

Set your book’s target

  1. Open your book.
  2. In the scene list, under the book’s word count, choose Set a target. On a phone, open the Book tab and choose Target.
  3. In Target length, enter how many words you want the book to be, anywhere from 1,000 to 2,000,000.
  4. If you have a date in mind, fill in Finish by and choose whether you Write on Every day or Weekdays.
  5. If you would rather have a set amount each day and no date, use Or a fixed amount a day instead.
  6. Choose Save. You will see a confirmation such as Target saved: 1,000 words a day.

In the scene list you will then see how far along you are, for example 68% of 90,000 words, and, with a finish date, 1,000 a day to finish by 30 November.

How today’s number is worked out

At the start of each day, Onwarder takes the words still to write and shares them across the writing days left, counting today, rounded up to the nearest 10. That number then stays put for the whole day, whatever happens.

If you miss a day, the words are spread over the days that are left, so tomorrow’s number rises a little. If you write more than you need, the following days get easier.

What counts towards today

Today counts new words you type in this book.

  • Deleting does not take words away. Cutting a weak paragraph should never feel like going backwards.
  • Pasted text, imported text and changes you accept from your own AI do not add any.
  • The count starts again at midnight where you are.

Your progress shows at the foot of the page, for example 412 of 1,000 today. Select the count to see the scene, chapter and book totals. When you reach the day’s number, your target says Today’s target met.

Change or clear the target

Choose Change target in the scene list to change the numbers. To clear it, choose Change target, then Remove target. If your finish date has passed, Onwarder says The finish date has passed. Choose a new one? with Change target.