# Writing Goal Calculator (Words per Day)

URL: https://speedycalculator.com/calculators/other/words-per-day/
Last updated: 2026-10-25

> The writing goal calculator tells you how many words to write each day to finish a novel, thesis or NaNoWriMo challenge by your deadline.

## Inputs

- Target word count
- Words written so far
- Deadline
- Rest days before deadline

## Results

- Writing days left
- Words per day
- Progress

## Formula

```
Words per day = (target − written) ÷ days left
```

## Explanation

Breaking a big writing project into a daily target makes it manageable. NaNoWriMo’s 50,000 words in November is 1,667 a day.

### How to use the Writing Goal Calculator

- **Target word count**
- **Words written so far**
- **Deadline**
- **Rest days before deadline**

Results update as you type, and every field accepts the units shown in its menu.

### How it works

The remaining words are divided by the days until the deadline.

### Inputs explained

FieldWhat to enterTarget word countA numberWords written so farA numberDeadlineA dateRest days before deadlineA number

### What each result means

- **Writing days left** = max([Deadline] - today() - [Rest days before deadline], 1)
- **Words per day** = ([Target word count] - [Words written so far])÷[Writing days left]
- **Progress** = [Words written so far]÷[Target word count]×100

### Example values

How the main result changes when **Target word count** changes and everything else stays at the example values above:

Target word countWords per day25,00040637,50079750,0001,18862,5001,57875,0001,969100,0002,750

## Worked example

Inputs — Target word count: 50,000; Words written so far: 12,000; Deadline: 2026-11-30; Rest days before deadline: 4.

Results — Writing days left = 32; **Words per day = 1,188**; Progress = 24 %.

## FAQ

**How long is a novel?**
Typically 70,000–100,000 words for adult fiction.

**What if I fall behind?**
The calculator recalculates the daily target each time you update it.

**What formula does the Writing Goal Calculator use?**
Words per day = (target − written) ÷ days left.