The New Guy in Distraction-Free Writing

June 08, 2025 · By Josh

TypeSlate is a brand new piece of software . I set out to create something unique. I tried to approach writing from another angle. I didn't want to create a one-stop shop from editing to publishing. TypeSlate isn't trying to compete with Scrivener, Atticus, or Word.

TypeSlate is something else. Something fresh. A new approach to first drafts.

Those programs are great for organizing and editing your work. I use Scrivener, Obsidian, and Word. None of them are designed solely for the purpose of getting those words out of your mind.

Why I Built TypeSlate

That is what I created TypeSlate to be: a blank page. A void in which we hurl our . First drafts and journals are sacred. The universe flows from order to chaos, and yet we, writers, fight the current by forming order from chaos. The chaos of our mind.

The Problem: Attention is Under Siege

Speaking of the chaos of our mind — it is bombarded by the attention economy. Everyone on Earth is vying for your attention to try and sell you something.

I'm doing it. I am trying to sell you this software. I am writing this blog post in my program. I am selling it because I know its value.

It has unlocked hundreds of thousands of words from my mind, and I know it can do the same for you.

A Sacred Space to Just Write

There is something magical about a blank page for a writer. An empty slate beckoning words .

• No menus
• No squiggly spell-check lines
• No tabs or notifications

Just a blank page.

Features That Keep You Honest

TypeSlate is more than just a blank page.

• Auto-copies your session to your clipboard
• Works with plain text templates
• Counts only what you write
• Blocks pasting — no cheating

It stores every word you wrote and none that you didn't. How much time do you waste tracking word counts? You don’t need to anymore. Just write your drafts in TypeSlate and it will keep count of every word you write.

Templates? Yes. Cheating? No.

Do you want to work off a template? Load one before you start. They're just .txt files — you can make any template you want.

I have story outline templates, student list templates, and journal templates that I use regularly.

Note: Nothing loaded into the session is counted toward your word goals. You have to write for it to count.

No Shortcuts, No Excuses

You can't paste inside the program. There are no shortcuts to writing. It is hard. You can't cheat.

AI would like to convince you it can write for you, but AI is a flash in the pan. I can tell you two things with relative certainty:

• 100 years from now, books will still be popular
• AI will be something completely different than it is today

Writing is Work. TypeSlate Helps You Do It.

Writing is a timeless art that requires effort. TypeSlate is the tool that keeps you honest while doing the work.