Google Docs - Tip For You

[ChromedOutCortex]

So I've been using Google Docs for my writing; I've tried one other tool (yWriter7) but don't like it very much (though I haven't used it a lot - so maybe I just need to get used to it).

I was looking for an easier way to do word counts from Google Docs. I know you can get word counts for the full document, but what I do is create two "chapters" for each chapter I'm working on.

So one is "original" and one is "rewrite" and to get a count of the "rewrite" (what I will publish) I end up highlighting that section to determine the word count. It was a pain.

I came across this extension called Word Counter Max for Google Docs and it's pretty good!

I can keep this on the screen all the time:

You can also have this floating, instead of "permanently" attached to the right side of the screen. There is also a minimal setting.

Floating doesn't work as the box with word count shows up in the middle of the screen; and minimal only shows the top half of what I've shown above (everything below "Advanced" is not shown).

I found the power to be in the Generate report option. Click that and after a few seconds you will see:

I LOVE this! Lets me know if a chapter I'm working on is too short/long then I can adjust accordingly.

If you click on the arrow beside the number, it gives you a breakdown by paragraph. Not something I need/use, but you never know when it might come handy.

There are options available on how it should count:

Another neat feature was "Generate reading time estimate":

You can change the WPM to any number, and it will tell you how long it would take to read that entire document. Might not be particularly useful, but I thought it was a neat feature.

If you are using Google Docs you an download this from the Google Workspace Marketplace.

There might be other tools to help writers, but I was specifically looking for something like this and happy I found something useful.

Hope this may help someone else using Google Docs.

Enjoy!

 

[Jeff Burton]

I’m actually going to try using this because I use google docs as well. Plus I’m stuck in a quagmire when it comes to writing in general before my readers start poking me with sticks to see if I have a pulse.

Maybe if I use it as a goal to set I can actually get something done.  
 

Of  course that totally depends on me actually getting out of bed to even try. 😂