# Best way to create a writing goal with minimum friction? Using Freewrite. **URL:** \ **Category:** Akrasia\ **Created:** [December 11, 2022, 9:00am UTC](https://forum.beeminder.com/t/best-way-to-create-a-writing-goal-with-minimum-friction-using-freewrite/10661 "2022-12-11T09:00:54Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 5\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![sawatika](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.beeminder.com/sawatika/32/4240_2.png) [@sawatika](https://forum.beeminder.com/u/sawatika)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2022, 9:00am UTC](https://forum.beeminder.com/t/best-way-to-create-a-writing-goal-with-minimum-friction-using-freewrite/10661/1 "2022-12-11T09:00:54Z")
I use a Freewrite to write and do it most days, with the idea being that it’s distraction-free creative writing time. Freewrite automatically uploads your documents to the cloud (dropbox/google cloud/evernote). I stink at adding data to Beeminder because I try not to use technology too much as I just get too easily distracted on it. As a result of this, I don’t even see the ocean of emails reminding me to add data! I was wondering if there was anyway to connect that cloud service to Beeminder using one of the tools available (maybe IFTTT)? Something that could detect a document had been edited on that day, and automatically input data as a result? Would be a game-changer for me if you could as I try to use my phone/email as little as possible and too frequently forget to add data when it’s self-inputted. The only other option I could see working is if I could add data if an email is sent to a specific account. Freewrite gives you the option to email you a copy of your work so far by just pressing send. If I could have a way for my email to automatically recognise that an email had been sent from the Freewrite address, then automatically forward that over to another address which would add a data point, that would work amazingly well. Are any of these ideas possible? ---
**Author:** ![skorytnicki](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.beeminder.com/skorytnicki/32/4204_2.png) [@skorytnicki](https://forum.beeminder.com/u/skorytnicki)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2022, 9:35am UTC](https://forum.beeminder.com/t/best-way-to-create-a-writing-goal-with-minimum-friction-using-freewrite/10661/2 "2022-12-11T09:35:09Z")
I think [make.com](http://make.com) might work for you. It can watch changes to directories on Dropbox for example. ---
**Author:** ![alys](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.beeminder.com/alys/32/4726_2.png) [@alys](https://forum.beeminder.com/u/alys)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2022, 11:33am UTC](https://forum.beeminder.com/t/best-way-to-create-a-writing-goal-with-minimum-friction-using-freewrite/10661/3 "2022-12-11T11:33:06Z")
> [@sawatika](#): > > Freewrite automatically uploads your documents to the cloud (dropbox/google cloud/evernote). If the service that it’s uploaded to can give you a URL that can be accessed without needing to log in, then you can use a [URLminder](https://help.beeminder.com/article/88-urlminder) goal to automatically track the word count. Dropbox and Google Docs should let you do that. I am not sure if Evernote would. ---
**Author:** ![sawatika](https://sea1.discourse-cdn.com/flex019/user_avatar/forum.beeminder.com/sawatika/32/4240_2.png) [@sawatika](https://forum.beeminder.com/u/sawatika)\ **Post date:** [December 11, 2022, 2:23pm UTC](https://forum.beeminder.com/t/best-way-to-create-a-writing-goal-with-minimum-friction-using-freewrite/10661/4 "2022-12-11T14:23:23Z")
Brilliant this has worked perfectly! Thank you so much! ---
**Author:** ![fidel\_namisi](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/da6949/32.png) [@fidel\_namisi](https://forum.beeminder.com/u/fidel_namisi)\ **Post date:** [January 14, 2024, 3:26pm UTC](https://forum.beeminder.com/t/best-way-to-create-a-writing-goal-with-minimum-friction-using-freewrite/10661/5 "2024-01-14T15:26:12Z")
Which of the two options worked perfectly? I’m using a Freewrite, and work on multiple documents in a day, that get uploaded to the same folder in Dropbox. So it’s not one file that gets created, but multiple. How would I track word counts in different documents? Thanks.