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Comment by skilled | Hacker News Reader

I wonder how many of these see actual real use. As a writer, I can't stand distractions or additional input when I know that all I really need is pen and paper, or Pages / Google Docs if talking computers.

I am also struggling to get over the Gutenberg editor that WordPress introduced. I feel like Matt is being an immature brat for not introducing a simple 'writers mode' for the editor.

People think it doesn't matter, but it does. Those little actions you have to perform outside of writing start to add up.

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I created the 5th app in this list (Cold Turkey Blocker). I'm actually surprised they didn't mention my other app called Cold Turkey Writer. It runs full-screen and doesn't let user out of the program until a goal (word count or timer) is reached. I have lots of writers that swear by it: https://getcoldturkey.com/writer/

I used your blocker last week, changing the system clock time (from time and date preferences) made your app useless (doesn't block anymore), so went back to editing /etc/hosts again. If circumventing the block is easier than editing a hosts file I don't see the point.

For many, I don't think changing the clock time is an uncommon thing to think about if the desire to procrastinate arises again.

I think the problem isn't the blockers at that point.

You could look into this app called Sprintwork. I set the profile to be fixed for thirty days and so far I've yet to find a way to circumvent it.

If on iOS, the parental restrictions are awesome.

If on Android, restrictions are worthless so I usually use a blocker, set the phone to unlock by fingerprint and in addition have a system password (because of the possibility of logging in via "safe mode" which I so regret having discovered) written down on a piece of paper and hid inside my neighborhood Starbuck's sofa.

Cold Turkey uses NTP to get time from the Internet and falls back to the OS time if that fails. You might just need to add a firewall exception somewhere. Also, you can block the system settings so you can't change the time: C:\Windows\ImmersiveControlPanel\SystemSettings.exe

Maybe you should see a specialist.

Definitely agree. The previous WordPress editor was clunky but, Gutenberg definitely make writing a bit more complicated. My current setup for writing is https://scribewp.com and https://bywordapp.com and both apps have increased my productivity. While it's not pen and paper it does get the job done.

Exactly. I don't need an app to write. Pen paper are enough. Everything else is a distraction, nothing else

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