Track Your Writing Progress with a Canva Word Count Tracker
- Rea Weeks
- Jul 28
- 3 min read
There’s nothing quite like the feeling of a story coming to life—page by page, scene by scene, word by word.
But let’s be real: writing a book (or a blog, or a journal series, or even a short story!) is no small feat. It takes time, intention, and a whole lot of motivation. And some days? That blinking cursor feels like it’s mocking you. 😅
That’s where a word count tracker comes in.
It’s more than just a chart. It’s a visual celebration of your progress—a way to stay motivated, set goals, and remind yourself that every word you write matters.
Today, I’m going to show you exactly how to design your own word count tracker in Canva—something beautiful, encouraging, and totally custom to your writing goals.
Let’s turn that word count into something worth looking at. ✍️✨
🧠 Why Use a Word Count Tracker?
Whether you’re writing a novel, a devotional, a journal series, or content for your blog or business, tracking your progress helps you:
Stay focused on your writing goals
Break big word counts into manageable chunks
Visualize how far you’ve come
Celebrate the milestones along the way
Stay accountable to your writing routine
And let’s be honest... filling in boxes or coloring in progress bars is wildly satisfying. 💛
🛠 How to Create a Word Count Tracker in Canva (Step-by-Step)
Whether you're prepping for NaNoWriMo, journaling every day, or working toward publishing your book baby, this tracker will keep you inspired.
Step 1: Choose Your Format
Open Canva and create a design using:
8.5x11 inches for a printable version
Or 1080x1920px for a digital version (perfect for your phone or tablet)
You can search “word tracker,” “writing tracker,” or “goal tracker” for templates—or start from scratch to build your own!
Step 2: Set Your Goal
Ask yourself:
What’s your overall goal? (10,000 words? 50,000? 100,000?)
What’s your timeline? (One month? Ongoing? Weekly goals?)
Do you want to track total progress or daily word counts?
Knowing your goal helps shape how you’ll organize your tracker.
Step 3: Add the Visuals
Here’s where Canva really shines!
You can design:
A progress bar with boxes or circles to color in as you hit milestones
A calendar layout to track daily word counts
A thermometer-style goal chart that “heats up” with each thousand words
A grid layout with numbered boxes (one per 100, 500, or 1,000 words)
🎨 Pro Tip: Use pastel colors, bold highlights, or book-themed icons to make your tracker match your writing aesthetic!
Step 4: Include Motivational Touches
Make your tracker something that cheers you on!
Add:
A quote that inspires you
A space for writing goals or affirmations
A reward section (example: “When I hit 10K, I’m getting a latte and a new pen!”)
Icons or doodles for each milestone (stars, checkmarks, hearts, etc.)
This is your creative space—make it feel like you.
Step 5: Download and Use
Once your tracker is designed:
Download as PDF Print for journaling or pinning to your wall
Save as PNG or JPG for digital journaling or your writing app
Update it daily, weekly, or after each session
📌 Keep it visible so it becomes a positive, encouraging part of your writing habit!
🛍 Want Done-for-You Writing Trackers?
If you’d rather jump in with a ready-to-use design, I’ve got you covered!
You’ll find:
Canva word count tracker templates
Writing project planners
Journaling pages
Creative templates to keep you focused and inspired
Everything’s editable in Canva, so you can customize it to fit your goals, style, and writing pace.
💌 Join My Mailing List for More Writing & Creative Tools
Writing is hard enough—you don’t have to do it alone!
Join my email list and get:
Freebies and printables
Canva tips for creatives
Writing encouragement + productivity tools
Early access to new products and seasonal goodies
Let’s create something meaningful, one word at a time. 💛
✍️ One Word Closer
💛 Final Thoughts
Every word counts. Every sentence builds something.
So whether you’re writing 100 words today or 2,000—celebrate it. Track it. Treasure it.
Your story matters, and your progress is worth documenting.Let this be the season you write it all down—with clarity, confidence, and creativity.
Rea 🌻Creator of A Rea of Treasures
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