Substack Writing Time Calculator
Enter a target word count and your writing speed to estimate drafting and editing time. Free, no signup.
Estimate your writing time
"Writing speed" here means first-draft composition, not typing speed - most writers draft far slower than they type because of thinking time. Editing is estimated at 40% of drafting time; your own ratio will vary.
Why "writing speed" isn't the same as typing speed
Most people can type 40-60 words per minute, but drafting original writing is much slower - typically 10-35 words per minute - because it includes thinking, structuring an argument, and finding the right phrasing, not just moving your fingers. That's why this calculator asks for writing speed specifically, with slow/average/fast presets as a starting reference rather than your raw typing speed.
Editing time is estimated separately at 40% of drafting time, since most writers spend real, separate time rereading and tightening a draft after the first pass. Your own ratio will vary - some people edit heavily, others barely touch a first draft.
Questions
What's a normal writing speed for drafting a post?
Most writers draft at roughly 10-35 words per minute of first-draft composition - much slower than typing speed, since it includes thinking and structuring, not just typing.
Why is writing speed so much slower than typing speed?
Typing speed measures how fast you can transcribe text you already know. Writing speed includes the thinking time - deciding what to say and how to say it - which is the slower part for most people.
How accurate is the 40% editing-time estimate?
It's a reasonable starting assumption, not a measured constant - some writers edit much more heavily than 40% of drafting time, others barely edit a first draft at all. Adjust your expectations based on your own habits.
How do I plan when multiple drafted posts actually go out?
NotesIQ's Queue lets you load a whole week's worth of Notes at once with one-click best-time autofill, so writing time and publishing schedule are handled separately.