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Word counts: manuscript / reference / total
Last updated June 10, 2026 · 4 min read
The 500 words you typed today don't all count toward "today's progress" — it depends which file they went into.
Three dimensions
| Count | Scope | Counts toward goal? |
|---|---|---|
| Manuscript | Files tagged manuscript (chapters, main body) | ✅ |
| Reference | Files tagged reference (notes, research, world-building) | ❌ |
| Total | Sum of both | — |
Each file is independently tagged manuscript or reference — you control which folders count. See Manuscript vs Reference.
How "today's count" is calculated
The Writing Stats page shows "Today +N words", calculated as:
- Words written into manuscript or reference files → both count toward "Today +"
- The Today card splits the day's words into a Manuscript / Reference breakdown, but both are included in the "Today +" total
- Deleted words → subtracted (net)
- Resets at midnight in your local time zone
Note: only manuscript words count toward a book's goal / progress bar / Overview ring; "Today +" is the sum of manuscript and reference.
Example:
- Morning, manuscript: +800
- Midday, manuscript: −200 (deleted)
- Afternoon, manuscript: +400
- Today = 1,000 (net)
If 200 of those words went into a reference file instead → Today +1,000 (Manuscript 800 + Reference 200); only the 800 manuscript words count toward a book's goal progress.
Where to see it
Writing Stats page (chart icon in the left sidebar → "Writing Stats") gives you four views at once:
| Card | Shows |
|---|---|
| Today | +N words (Manuscript / Reference split), vs yesterday, streak |
| Overview | All works or per-book / Target / progress % / Manuscript vs Reference ratio |
| Writing Heatmap | Past 16 weeks daily word count, toggle Total / Manuscript / Reference |
| Writing Rhythm | Current streak, average daily words, active days |
The book card on the bookshelf also shows "Manuscript N / Target X%" in real time.
"I wrote 500 but it only shows 300"
Possible reasons:
- 200 were deleted — netted out, leaving 300
- You're looking at a book's goal progress — the goal / progress bar only counts manuscript words, so 200 words written into a reference file don't count toward the goal (though they still count toward "Today +")
- Time-zone shift — crossing midnight in a new zone offsets the daily reset
Related
Open the app and do this with your own book. Free to start, no credit card.