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Protowords

An immersive writing app for rough drafts. · By protowords

I'm in love

A topic by giseledute created Dec 17, 2025 Views: 63 Replies: 6
Viewing posts 1 to 4
(+1)

I just discovered the software and downloaded it for testing. I can honestly say that I’m in love. It’s so calm and great for focus—you should be proud. 

 I saw on YouTube and on the roadmap that you accept feedback, so I have a few comments. 

 First, I want to praise how smooth the software is; I didn’t have any issues while typing. I also want to compliment the autosave feature because it’s essential. 

 Now, a criticism: even though the letters/phrases get blurred, I don’t really like that one draft/note appears below or above another. For me, it gets a bit confusing. 

 Another criticism is about the word count. I understand that it counts even if I delete a word, but I think it would be great to have an option to count ONLY what actually remains written, excluding deleted words. 

Regarding the roadmap: I’m very interested in the Beach, Noir, and Fireplace themes. And as for features, a Timer would be wonderful. 

 Anyway, I really loved the software, and even though it’s a bit expensive for me (I’m a real user from Brazil), I will buy it when the trial period ends.

(+1)

Hey, I appreciate the kind words and feedback.  I think both of your criticisms are very reasonable and also relatively easy to add.  I already planned on having different editor views, one of them being just a single draft view.  For the word count, I can add the option.  I'm working on Fireplace and Ice Planet themes as well.

The issue for me at the moment is that because there hasn't been a lot of interest yet (which may just be an issue of reach / awareness), it's difficult to justify spending as much time as I'd like.  I wish I could work on it full time and just make the best writing app that exists.  But I can't promise a ton of updates at the moment.

I also want to get your opinion on something.  It seems people like the design and themes, but not really how limited it is and how it's just for rough drafts.  I get the impression that most people don't want to use multiple apps in their process, even if Protowords is better for writing, and will just stick with all-in-1 apps unless Protowords becomes that as well.  What do you think about that? What if it also had worldbuilding tools, rich text (bold/italics), theme customization, etc? Does it lose something in your eyes to be less minimalist?

(+1)

Hello! 

 I think maybe the promotion didn’t go very far because I happened to see it here on itch when I clicked on “typing.” Maybe, besides itch and the Windows Store, you should also try Steam. But, I understand the frustration, especially because the writing community tends to focus on the more well-known programs. 

And that brings me to the second answer: I personally don’t mind having several programs for different things. But I know many prefer something complete, where you can do both outlining and worldbuilding together. If it has that, I would love it, but if not, it wouldn’t be something that would stop me from continuing to use it. As for the outline, I solved it with “reference notes” that I placed on the side. But again, it’s not something that would make me abandon the program. 

Anyway, I am loving the program and using it nonstop.

(+1)

I loved the new themes!

(1 edit) (+1)

Thank you!  

I also added one of the things you mentioned, at least what I thought you meant about the daily word count.  Did you have something else in mind for that? It's a setting at the bottom for either Net Change (subtracts on delete) or Add Only.

For the focus / single draft view, it'll have to be in a future update, because I'm still working out how views should work.  But for now, there's a kind of workaround; you can filter by the name of the draft and have only that one show up, if it has a unique name at least.  It's dumb, but it works temporarily.

Oh my god, I hadn’t noticed because I saw the new themes and went to write hahaha it turned out reaaally good, that was exactly what I had asked for! 

 Thanks for the tip about the filter, I’ll use it! ♥

Still the best! I use everyday!