Howdy, fellow word nerds! Welcome back to the Notion for Writing series. This collection walks you through how to set up a "second brain" for your creative writing life in Notion. The series covers everything from linked character sheets, settings, and worldbuilding pages to project tracking, writing tasks, and creative exercises. Today, I'll show you how to set up a Notion word count tracker template. Let's dig in!
Your word count tracker is where you log your daily writing sessions. It lets you see your daily word count goals and totals at a glance. Ideally, your word count tracker is a database with relevant fields like:
Sure, you could set this up yourself. Or, you could save yourself an hour or two with the free Notion word count tracker template pictured above!
You might be thinking, "Sure, this all looks cool. But is Notion really the best solution for tracking word counts? Why not use a spreadsheet or just view the history on my writing software?"
Totally fair (if hypothetical) point. Here are a few reasons why tracking word counts in Notion works better than other methods like spreadsheets and paper trackers.
I created a word count tracker spreadsheet for 2020 and abandoned it by spring. As robust as it was, the process was too clunky. I created sheets for each month with rows and columns for the dates, projects, word counts, and notes. Then, I set up multiple formulas on each of those sheets. Once I had the monthly totals, I copied and pasted those onto my main yearly tracker sheet... It got cumbersome fast. (And back then, I wasn't as savvy with spreadsheets as I am now.)
Notion filled in all the pieces I felt were missing from my process — no spreadsheet-savvy required. It’s easy to create and duplicate filtered views with all the information you need in a couple of clicks.
Here are a few custom views I use regularly:
Because you can duplicate and edit filtered views, it's super easy to set up new ones or update existing ones whenever you need to.
If you want your word count tracker to double as a reflection journal, Notion templates are a lifesaver. Create a new template with reflection questions for each session so you don’t have to type them each time. (I'll show you how to do that shortly!)
Here are a few sample questions sourced from my own Notion word count tracker templates:
Do you have to include reflection questions? Absolutely not! Which handily leads me to my next point.
You have tons of customization options at your disposal when you use Notion to track your word counts. What works best for me: a daily writing log database embedded on a writing progress page. Here's a sneak peek of my setup:
Note: I use the Notion Enhancer mod loader for desktop — your page might look slightly different.
I recommend one of two setups for your writing progress page:
Whichever you choose, you'll likely want a space where you can add other elements, like:
You can't add any text or blocks to the white space within full-page databases. That's why I recommend having a separate page to get the most out of your Notion word count tracker template.
Sure, if you're just working on one project at a time, you can probably get away with using your existing writing software for word count tracking. But, if you're like me, you're working on multiple creative and professional projects at a time across several apps.
I prefer tracking all my writing progress in one place. This lets me see how much time and energy I spend on client work compared to creative work. Plus, it cuts down on tab-switching and app overload.
Notion's filtered views offer a seamless, hassle-free way to track multiple projects. Trust me — I've tried just about every method under the sun for tracking word counts across multiple projects, and Notion is the fastest and easiest.
Now, it's time for the fun part — the tutorial! Here's a step-by-step guide to creating your own Notion word count tracker template. (It's easy peasy — there are only 4 steps, and one of them is optional.)
For this step, you have two options:
It really doesn't matter which option you choose. (You can still open inline databases as full pages in Notion if you'd ever like a full-page view.)
Once you've created your database, it's time to add properties. Here are a few ideas:
Tip: When you set up your number properties, scroll down to the bottom of the table and click "Calculate," then "Sum" to see your totals!
Setting up a formula property to calculate the difference between your word count goal and your word count totals is easy. This is the formula I've used in my free Notion word count tracker template:
prop("Goal") - prop("Words")Replace "Goal" and "Words" with whatever you've titled your number properties, and voila! Notion will automatically calculate the difference for you in a separate column.
Here's an example:
You can easily create new entries from templates with pertinent information already filled out. Here's how to create templates for your word count tracker:
Ideas for your daily writing session template:
Your Notion experience is entirely customizable. Set up a simple word count tracker using the walkthrough above. Or, go all in and create a robust writing dashboard in Notion that covers every element of your writing life.
If you're new to Notion and you're hesitant about investing a lot of time in the app, grab a free word count tracker and start experimenting!
Consider yourself a Notion nerd? (Join the club!) Discover how Notion can level up your writing life with a sneak peek at my Notion Writing Dashboard template pack!
All the databases in this template pack are linked to show you every element of your story in context. All your characters, settings, story worlds, individual writing sessions, and more are at your fingertips.
Welp, that's it from me! Go forth and start tinkering with your Notion word count tracker template. Got questions, comments, suggestions? Drop a comment below or hit me up on the socials.
Happy Notioning!
