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
| Field | What to enter |
|---|---|
| Target word count | A number |
| Words written so far | A number |
| Deadline | A date |
| Rest days before deadline | A 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 count | Words per day |
|---|---|
| 25,000 | 406 |
| 37,500 | 797 |
| 50,000 | 1,188 |
| 62,500 | 1,578 |
| 75,000 | 1,969 |
| 100,000 | 2,750 |
Formula
Words per day = (target − written) ÷ days leftWorked 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 %.
Frequently asked questions
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.