Word Keeper - Track Word Count

I started using this app back in November and recently started to reuse it again. I really like how I can keep track of the phases in my writing, but I wish there was a way to select which phases actually go into the novel’s word count. Personally I like to keep track of everything I write, including my outline words. Sadly when I have the outline selected and write down my words it adds it to my novel’s word count total. I tried to see if there was a way to toggle it off for the outlining phase since I don’t count those as actual words towards completion, but there wasn’t a proper way to do it. I also noticed there was a “paused” section when I’m updating my session, but I’ve never gotten it to work which is a shame. I really like to keep track of exact time spent writing and normally I’ll write for fifteen minutes, take a ten minute break, then write for another fifteen. I was going to add that time into the “paused” section but it seems like it’s just for show and doesn’t actually work. Overall though I do enjoy this app. It helps keep track of time, the phases of writing (including research, outlining, writing, and editing), and allows you to have several projects going at once with customizable goals for each one. The app is easy to use and it’s quick to add in sessions so you’re not fumbling around on the app for too long just to update your writing. The things I’d like improved upon are probably more just personal issues.

Updated review. Wordkeeper put forth the effort to make this right. They said the free trial was accidentally turned off. They have offered me two free years of Word keeper. I have upgraded my rating from one star to 4 stars for their customer service. I mistook the app to be a writing app, but I will try to understand the other features to see if they add value. Scrivener is more challenging to use, but it is a writing app for $20 one time charge for iPad and $50 for computer. This is $30 yearly or about $36 if you pay monthly. Again, I will explore the other features to see how much value they add.Original review:It says one week free trial, then it charges you immediately. DO NOT GO FOR THE YEARLY OPTION IF YOU DO NOT HAVE $30 in your account before the 7 day trial is up, because they will charge you immediately. I went for the $3 option. The 7 day free trial would’ve ended after I received my monthly income, but they CHARGED IMMEDIATELY. I wrote them and ask what was going on. They always have the option to reverse it immediately if it was a glitch. No explanation. Just said to talk to Apple if I wanted a refund. The problem is a refund takes a few days, and this morning the overdraft is already on my account. A few people in my writing group said the same happened to them. I have done free trials before subscription cost, and nobody has ever done this before. I have app subscriptions for 4 TV channels that offered free trials as well as writing app subscriptions. They have so little confidence in their product that they need to lure people in this way, or are they a company on the fritz and need every dime they can get.

Now that I’ve had the app a few weeks, I have to say it has been quite a motivator. I have learned that if you are sprinting and lost the screen, you need to reopen (double click on iPhone) rather than opening the app again fresh or you will lose your timer and progress. There was a bit of a learning curve, but I am figuring things out. I will be receiving an Apple Watch next week and look forward to trying out that feature. My only wish is that there were some progress monitoring for revision mode. I spend less than half of my writing time actually drafting, so it would be nice to track progress while working on editing my books. Revised from 4 stars to 2 for the following reasons. I have had this app for several months. First off, don’t get excited about the Apple Watch complication. All it does is give you the chance to run your timer remotely. Now if it tapped my wrist when the timer was up, then I’d be happy. But see, that’s the thing. The timer runs but NEVER gives you an alarm of any sort when it is over! When I brought it to their attention, they said they would fix it with the next update. Apparently they don’t do updates because nearly a year later—nada. Second problem is no revision mode. Writers spend more than half of their time revising but there is no way to track that progress. If they fixed those two things, I would give it 5 stars, because I do still use it for the short time I am drafting. I’m just disappointed that they have told several customers that they will add a revision feature and they never do.