More pomo reviews
Feb. 13th, 2016 10:38 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
bonnefoisOkay, testing out two things pimped in last post: Strict Workflow and Writer's Block.
Strict Workflow works like a Pomodoro timer + a blocker in one. When blocking it brings up little images covering over the sites saying they're blocked. One thing to note is that you have to activate the timer itself.
The problem with browser based blockers is you can easily open up another browser to cheat, whereas a file based one will block across all browsers. With Chrome's stats, you could easily undo it in other ways.
So I suppose it's all in how much a blocker will do for you. If you're a Houdini where you'll keep on undoing the blocker to get at what you want to procrastinate, then this isn't the one for you. If a simple image will keep you on course, then it has both a timer to keep track as well as a blocker. You just have to remember to click the break on as well. If you want a block which is much harder, then you're going to want something like Cold Turkey or Focal Filter.
Okay, now Writer's Block. Back when I went searching for Zen Writer, I tried all sorts of full window writing programs to force me to write. I passed this one by and tried (and became very happy with) Focus Writer but after seeing it on my dash, I decided to give it a try.
It's a very small program and rather portable. I bet even a potato could run this with how little space it takes up.
You can't C&P new content in, though I did later find out that you can open former drafts, but only if they're in txt format. If there's a workaround outside of this feature, I couldn't find it/it's locked to pro. There's no way to help tint the brightness or change the background in the free version, which I found disappointing. There's also no spell checker, and anything beyond text.
That being said, it is seriously through. I tested trying to get rid of it via the task manager, and it wouldn't make a dent. Outside of doing a hard shut down, this looks like it's seriously hard to take down before the needs are met. I'm not even sure CTRL+ALT+DEL could get it out of there.
In my opinion, writer's block is very good for things you have to start from scratch, like papers. It also works well if you have a scene in mind you want to get out fast, or if you want to start a new fic from scratch.
The time/word counter is on the title. I prefer my word counters in a more visible place so I can keep an eye on them without having to tune out of the writing to see how I'm doing, but it was easily accessible enough and I didn't have to go through multiple menus to find it.
I personally found it not that great for editing, or continuations/finishing a fic or original piece, unless you're writing new scenes to add on. You have to have a great memory or have everything handy and on another notebook/device if you need extra, and you seriously cannot add citations or edit in things as you go. You have to have a really good idea of what you're going in for when you start because you are seriously locked down. I cannot stress how locked down you are; the entire purpose was to "turn your computer into a writing machine." You either have to wait out he time or write gibberish until it lets you go if you need to check something if you forgot to save your references.
But, it's not meant to be a big and involved program. It's a last ditch way to force yourself to write without procrastination in the most drastic way. It's extremely no frills, but can be quite effective...though I do wish I could mess with the interface to make it more eye-strain friendly. I've come to realize that I do not edit or write well on a white background.
Also, I tried my first Pomodoro, and got 750 words in 25 minutes with Writer's block. Not bad! I'm running into freelance writers who are making like 10k a day with these, with the slowpokes coming in at like 4k a day, which is a hell of a lot more than I'm doing at the moment. I'm going to give it a good try and see if I can't make it work myself.
Strict Workflow works like a Pomodoro timer + a blocker in one. When blocking it brings up little images covering over the sites saying they're blocked. One thing to note is that you have to activate the timer itself.
The problem with browser based blockers is you can easily open up another browser to cheat, whereas a file based one will block across all browsers. With Chrome's stats, you could easily undo it in other ways.
So I suppose it's all in how much a blocker will do for you. If you're a Houdini where you'll keep on undoing the blocker to get at what you want to procrastinate, then this isn't the one for you. If a simple image will keep you on course, then it has both a timer to keep track as well as a blocker. You just have to remember to click the break on as well. If you want a block which is much harder, then you're going to want something like Cold Turkey or Focal Filter.
Okay, now Writer's Block. Back when I went searching for Zen Writer, I tried all sorts of full window writing programs to force me to write. I passed this one by and tried (and became very happy with) Focus Writer but after seeing it on my dash, I decided to give it a try.
It's a very small program and rather portable. I bet even a potato could run this with how little space it takes up.
You can't C&P new content in, though I did later find out that you can open former drafts, but only if they're in txt format. If there's a workaround outside of this feature, I couldn't find it/it's locked to pro. There's no way to help tint the brightness or change the background in the free version, which I found disappointing. There's also no spell checker, and anything beyond text.
That being said, it is seriously through. I tested trying to get rid of it via the task manager, and it wouldn't make a dent. Outside of doing a hard shut down, this looks like it's seriously hard to take down before the needs are met. I'm not even sure CTRL+ALT+DEL could get it out of there.
In my opinion, writer's block is very good for things you have to start from scratch, like papers. It also works well if you have a scene in mind you want to get out fast, or if you want to start a new fic from scratch.
The time/word counter is on the title. I prefer my word counters in a more visible place so I can keep an eye on them without having to tune out of the writing to see how I'm doing, but it was easily accessible enough and I didn't have to go through multiple menus to find it.
I personally found it not that great for editing, or continuations/finishing a fic or original piece, unless you're writing new scenes to add on. You have to have a great memory or have everything handy and on another notebook/device if you need extra, and you seriously cannot add citations or edit in things as you go. You have to have a really good idea of what you're going in for when you start because you are seriously locked down. I cannot stress how locked down you are; the entire purpose was to "turn your computer into a writing machine." You either have to wait out he time or write gibberish until it lets you go if you need to check something if you forgot to save your references.
But, it's not meant to be a big and involved program. It's a last ditch way to force yourself to write without procrastination in the most drastic way. It's extremely no frills, but can be quite effective...though I do wish I could mess with the interface to make it more eye-strain friendly. I've come to realize that I do not edit or write well on a white background.
Also, I tried my first Pomodoro, and got 750 words in 25 minutes with Writer's block. Not bad! I'm running into freelance writers who are making like 10k a day with these, with the slowpokes coming in at like 4k a day, which is a hell of a lot more than I'm doing at the moment. I'm going to give it a good try and see if I can't make it work myself.
