From George R. R. Martin with WordStar 4.0 to the Notepad loyalists, there are many people out there who wish (or directly need) distraction-free environments to write some lines. We've also seen hardware projects that seek to eliminate as much as possible all secondary elements of a word processor, but today we return to one of the best software solutions, FocusWriter, which was recently updated.
A couple of days ago I came across a curious device called ZeroWriter. Essentially, it's a 40% keyboard connected to a Raspberry Pi Zero and an e-paper screen, all housed in a 3D-printed case. I admit it's not the best design in the world, but what matters here is its goal: to offer the user a distraction-free writing environment.
Of course, the idea is not new. Perhaps some of our readers remember the Hemingwrite (later turned into the Freewrite), but its price has always been absurd. The most effective and economical way to get a similar experience is through software, and so we arrive at the doors of FocusWriter.
How to Write Without Distractions with FocusWriter
In its default configuration, FocusWriter presents us with a wooden table and a sheet, that's all. There are no rulers, margins, assistants, or font controls, nothing. To access some of these functions (and I say "some" because not all are available), we must move the mouse cursor to the top of the screen. On the left side we have a list of scenes, and at the bottom a small bar appears with a word counter, a clock, and daily progress.
The plan is to write immediately, but the Preferences section within the Settings menu deserves our attention. There we can enable typewriter sounds while typing, choose the default save format (ODT by default), define daily goals (minutes or words), enable additional statistics (say, number of pages or paragraphs), calibrate spelling, and customize the toolbar. Outside that menu, the Themes section helps us completely change the appearance of the desktop. The "Old School" option is my favorite.
FocusWriter has received an update after six months, which fixes multiple bugs. It is compatible with Windows 10 and 11 (x64), and Linux, but since it's an open source project, I imagine anyone can create a port. It also has a portable build. Link below!
Official site and downloads: Click here
