A writer workflow on a Mac: writing sprints, notes and research
A writer can use three NotchStar tools without leaving the document: Timers for sprints, Quick Note for stray ideas, and Clipboard for research. None of them writes for you. They protect your attention while you write.
Sprints
- Open Timers, choose Pomodoro.
- Pick a block length. 25 and 5 is the classic. 50 and 10 gives more room for a section. 15 and 3 helps when starting is the hard part.
- Set the next action in one sentence, such as “rewrite the opening paragraph”. Press play.
- Close the notch. The timer keeps running, and you hover over the notch to read it.
- At the sound, stop at a sentence boundary and write the next action down. The timer moves to the break by itself.
The Pomodoro guide explains the method. No block length is proven best for everyone.
Catch stray ideas
An idea for chapter six does not belong in chapter two. Open Quick Note, type it in a few words and go back. It saves as you type and is there next time. Move the contents into your notes app at the end of the day, since there is only one note and it is plain text.
Gather research
Copy each quote, link and fact as you read. The Clipboard tab keeps the last 50, searchable by a few words. Click one to put it back on the clipboard, then paste. Text is stored plain, so italics and footnote numbers are lost and you need to check titles. See collecting citations.
Check what is next
The Home tab shows your next events and reminders, so you know when a deadline or call is coming. Add the due date in Reminders and NotchStar lists it.
Honest limits
- Timers reset when NotchStar quits, and there is no history of sprints or word counts.
- The finish alert is a sound only.
- Quick Note has no title, formatting or multiple notes.
- Clipboard history is cleared on quit and holds 50 items.
- NotchStar does not block distracting sites or apps.
- Nothing syncs to other devices.
If you want a gentle record, write your word count in Quick Note after each sprint and copy it out at the end. The Quick Notes page lists the controls, and the Timers page describes the modes.
