How we compare to other writing tools
There's no single "best" writing app—different tools work for different people and different projects. WriteForward joins a family of focused writing tools, each with its own philosophy about how to help writers finish their drafts.
This page explains how WriteForward's approach compares to other popular writing tools, so you can choose what works best for you.
Core principle: Your previous paragraphs progressively move out of view as you write more, leaving only your most recent 2 paragraphs visible.
This creates forward momentum without anxiety. Your text is never deleted or locked—it's simply hidden from view to prevent endless editing. You can pause anytime, and everything you've written is preserved and accessible when you complete your goal.
TMDWA uses a "write or die" method: if you stop typing for 5 seconds, all your text is deleted. This creates intense urgency and forces continuous writing.
WriteForward hides previous paragraphs but never deletes anything. Your work is auto-saved continuously, and you can pause anytime without losing progress.
| Feature | Most Dangerous Writing App | WriteForward |
|---|---|---|
| Consequence of stopping | Text is deleted after 5 seconds | Nothing happens—pause anytime |
| Pressure level | High (fear of deletion) | Low (gentle momentum) |
| Access to previous text | Fully visible while writing | Last 2 paragraphs visible |
| Can pause & resume | No (must complete in one session) | Yes (export/import session files) |
| Auto-save | No (by design) | Yes (continuous) |
Try TMDWA if: You respond well to high-pressure deadlines, need an adrenaline rush to write, and work best in short, intense bursts.
Try WriteForward if: You prefer calm focus, want to prevent perfectionist editing without deletion anxiety, or need flexibility to pause and resume.
Cold Turkey Writer locks you into a full-screen writing mode and can block you from leaving until you reach your word count or time goal. It's a commitment-based tool.
WriteForward doesn't lock you in. It hides previous paragraphs to maintain focus, but you're always free to pause, export your session, and step away.
| Feature | Cold Turkey Writer | WriteForward |
|---|---|---|
| Can exit before goal | No (optional lockdown mode) | Yes (always free to leave) |
| Platform | Desktop app (Windows/Mac) | Web browser (any device) |
| Editing prevention | Blocks app switching | Hides previous paragraphs |
| Price | $30 (one-time) | Free |
| Installation required | Yes | No |
Try Cold Turkey Writer if: You need forced accountability, benefit from lockdown commitment, and want a desktop app with advanced blocking features.
Try WriteForward if: You want browser-based flexibility, prefer gentle focus over forced commitment, and need to write across multiple devices.
These tools give you complete access to your entire document at all times, with full editing capabilities and formatting options.
WriteForward intentionally limits what you can see (only last 2 paragraphs) and what you can do (draft only—no formatting) during the writing phase. Once you complete your goal, you get the full text to edit elsewhere.
Use traditional tools for: Final editing, formatting, collaboration, research-heavy writing with lots of references.
Use WriteForward for: First draft generation, overcoming writer's block, breaking perfectionist habits, timed writing sprints.
Many writers use both: You can use WriteForward for initial drafting, then paste the finished draft into their preferred editor for revision.
The "best" writing tool depends on your personality, project, and what challenges you face:
You might even use different tools for different projects or moods. The goal isn't to find one perfect app—it's to find what helps you actually finish your writing.
Free. No sign-up. See if progressive paragraph hiding works for your writing style.
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