Sometimes all you need is a text editor for jotting down a few quick notes, but what about those times you need to get serious writing done? Your first thought might not be to turn to your web browser, but there are quite a few writing tools available for Google Chrome that you should consider. Google Docs is a great option, but all of the extra features can be excessive if all you want to do is keep a note. The Chrome Web Store is now home to many distraction-free writing tools for Google Chrome that are quicker to load and access than the competition.
1. Write Space
Write Space is a distraction-free writing tool that is very easy on the eyes – and your battery. With a solid black background, this is one extension that gives your screen a much-needed rest. The application saves data locally, so you are free to use it without an Internet connection. Like many distraction-free editors, a persistent auto-save function allows you to close the window without concern and return to where you left off at your leisure. A row of basic stats line the bottom of the screen, showing your word count, lines used, and characters typed.
The writing tool comes with a few basic customizations, such as the ability to choose your text and background colors or hide your status bar. There’s also the handy option to import text files you may have typed elsewhere.
2. DarkEditor
DarkEditor is a rather unique offering among distraction-free writing tools. It pitches itself as an online text editor, and it comes with a menu bar at the top of your browser window that reflects as much. Yet this menu bar can be turned off, leaving white text on a solid black background and making this an easy tool for tuning out the world and getting osme writing done.
DarkEditor comes with a wealth of options – too many to cover in the span of this article. It harbors the ability to save files locally or to the cloud (but not to popular options such as Dropbox, Google Drive, etc.), an option export to the epub format, encryption options to tinker with, the ability to change the color of text, and a fully functional calculator.
3. Writeulus
Writeulus makes using Write Space look like a complicated affair. The author defines the goal of this writing tool for Google Chrome as “web-based, one-page, and simple preferences.” Writeulus opens — wait for it — to a black screen with a single flashing white cursor. There are no visible options or word statistics of any kind. The basic options of changing background color, text color, and font family appear whenever you move your cursor to the bottom of the window.
4. Litewrite
Litewrite sets itself apart from the rest of this list in several ways. For starters, it opens to a white background with black text by default. In addition to that, it pitches itself as an open source option that is ran locally. You do not have to access a server to pull up this program, nor do you need to trust your data to the cloud. The app also gives you the choice to sync your data across multiple devices by using the remoteStorage protocol.
Conclusion
These distraction-free writing tools for Google Chrome are as easy to install as they are to write in. Give one a try. Heck, give them all a try. You might just find a solution that meets the bulk of your writing needs. But if you have another option you use for writing quick notes without distraction, please let us know below in the comments.
Image credit: Writing by BigStockPhoto
Bertel is a tech blogger and independent novelist who puts perhaps a tad too much trust in Google. He’s loved Android since the moment he got his eager hands on his first device – if not sooner – and has understood the Chromebook Pixel from day one.You can follow his work at bertelking.com.
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