For Writers
A focus timer that lets you finish the sentence
Writing is one of the most fragile cognitive states there is. A timer bell at 25 minutes is a bucket of cold water on the page. TimerDuel runs as long as you're writing and only counts the minutes you were actually in it.
A simple writing-day structure
- First session, morning: 90 focus / 20 break. Cold, hard, no internet. Get the day's words.
- Second session, afternoon: 60 focus / 15 break. Revision, research, anything not first-draft.
- Audit the rate. Below 75%? Phone is the leak. Above 85%? You earned the rest of the day.
FAQ
What's the best timer for writing?
One that lets the sentence finish. A 25-minute bell going off mid-paragraph kills the rhythm. The chess-clock lets the writing session run as long as it's flowing and only ends when you choose.
How long should a writing session be?
Most working novelists land between 90 minutes and 3 hours per session — long enough to hit flow, short enough to keep coming back tomorrow. Try 90 focus / 15 break to start.
Does Pomodoro work for fiction writing?
Some writers love it for fighting the blank page — a 25-minute commitment is small enough to start. Once you're past the first draft, though, the chess-clock fits better because revision sessions vary wildly in length.
How do I stop checking the internet while writing?
Make the cost visible. Every time you alt-tab to research a name, hit break. At the end of the session you'll see exactly how many minutes 'just looking something up' actually cost. Most writers are shocked.
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