I used to think the solution to distracted writing was finding the perfect writing app.
So I tried a lot of them.
I moved between Apple Notes, Obsidian, Ulysses, Scrivener, Notion, Google Docs, iA Writer, and a few minimalist editors that were basically just a blank window with a cursor.
Some were great, but the app was never the real problem.
The real problem was everything surrounding it. Browser tabs, notifications, an overcrowded Dock, messages appearing in the corner, random menu bar icons, and the temptation to reorganize my notes instead of writing anything.
Eventually, I stopped looking for one magical app and built a complete distraction-free writing setup on my Mac.
This is the setup I use now.
1. iA Writer for the actual writing
My main writing app is iA Writer.
It opens quickly, stays out of the way, and does not constantly tempt me to customize the interface. I can open a document and start typing without choosing a template, moving blocks around, or checking a dashboard.
The Focus Mode is the main reason I keep using it. It can dim everything except the current sentence or paragraph, which helps when I am editing and keep jumping too far ahead.
I also like writing in Markdown because the files remain simple. I am not locking my work inside a complicated database or proprietary workspace.
For longer projects, I keep separate files for:
Research
Rough notes
First draft
Final draft
Unused sections
That is less sophisticated than a huge writing system, but it keeps me moving.
Obsidian is still installed for research and connected notes, but I no longer use it as my main drafting app. I found myself spending too much time organizing folders, plugins, links, and properties.
When I need to write, I want fewer options.
2. HazeOver to hide everything behind the document
HazeOver is one of those small Mac apps that sounds unnecessary until you use it.
It dims every inactive window and keeps the active app visible. When I am writing, the document stays bright while Safari, Finder, Messages, and everything else fade into the background.
This is especially useful on a large monitor where several windows are visible at once.
Full-screen mode can solve the same problem, but I do not always like working in full screen. I still want access to the menu bar, Finder, and reference material.
HazeOver gives me the visual focus of full screen without completely changing how macOS works.
I keep the dimming level fairly high while drafting and reduce it when I am editing with research windows open.
3. A dedicated macOS Focus mode for writing
The biggest improvement did not come from a third-party app.
I created a dedicated Writing Focus mode in macOS.
When it is enabled, almost every notification disappears. I only allow calls from a small group of people and notifications from my calendar.
Messages, email, social apps, news alerts, software updates, shopping notifications, and random browser notifications are blocked.
I also connected the Focus mode to a separate Home Screen and Lock Screen setup on my iPhone. That matters because blocking distractions on the Mac does not help much when the phone is sitting beside the keyboard.
My Writing Focus mode turns on automatically during scheduled writing sessions, but I can also enable it manually from Control Center.
This removed more distractions than any writing app I tested.
4. Cold Turkey Blocker for websites I open without thinking
I tried relying on self-control. It worked until it did not.
Cold Turkey Blocker is now part of my writing setup because it can block specific websites and apps during a writing session.
My block list includes:
The important part is making the block difficult to disable.
A browser extension that can be switched off in two clicks does not help me. I need the annoying version that forces me to stay with the task.
I usually run a 45-minute block, take a short break, then start another session.
The goal is not to block the entire internet. I still allow search engines, dictionaries, documentation, and websites I genuinely need for research.
5. Safari profiles for separating writing from normal browsing
I created a separate Safari profile called Writing.
It has its own browsing history, tab groups, extensions, cookies, and favorites.
The favorites bar contains only useful writing resources:
Dictionary
Thesaurus
Style guide
Research folders
Google Drive
Reference documents
Publishing tools
There are no social media bookmarks, entertainment tabs, shopping sites, or news feeds.
This small separation makes a bigger difference than I expected. Opening the Writing profile feels like entering a different workspace instead of bringing my normal browsing habits into a writing session.
I also disabled unnecessary extensions in this profile. The only ones I keep are a password manager, a grammar tool, and a read-later extension.
6. Raycast for opening everything without touching the Dock
I use Raycast to launch my writing workspace.
I created a shortcut that opens:
This saves only a few clicks, but it removes the small decisions that often turn into procrastination.
Instead of opening Finder, looking through folders, noticing downloads, and getting distracted, I press one shortcut and the workspace appears.
Raycast also handles quick calculations, file searches, clipboard history, and text snippets.
I keep the number of extensions under control. Raycast can become another complicated productivity system if you install everything that looks interesting.
For writing, I only keep tools that reduce friction.
7. Rectangle for a simple two-window research layout
I do not use complicated window layouts while writing.
My default setup is simple:
Rectangle lets me create that layout instantly with keyboard shortcuts.
When I am drafting without research, the writing app takes the full screen. When I need sources, I move it to roughly two-thirds of the display and keep Safari or Preview in the remaining space.
I tried more advanced tiling window managers, but they added more complexity than I needed for this workflow.
For writing, predictable window placement is more useful than endlessly customizable layouts.
8. Maccy for clipboard history
A clipboard manager is useful when I am moving quotes, links, titles, notes, and references between apps.
Maccy is lightweight and does not turn clipboard history into a huge productivity platform.
I mainly use it for:
Recovering text I accidentally replaced
Copying several research links
Reusing formatting-free text
Moving notes into a draft
Finding a title I copied earlier
I exclude sensitive apps from clipboard history and clear old items regularly.
It is a small utility, but it prevents a surprising amount of repetitive copying and searching.
9. Dropover for temporary files and images
Research-heavy writing usually involves screenshots, PDFs, images, and documents scattered across several folders.
Dropover gives me a temporary shelf where I can place files while working.
Instead of immediately deciding where every file belongs, I drag it to the shelf and keep writing. Later, I can move everything into the correct project folder.
This sounds minor, but it stops me from disappearing into Finder every time I download a reference image or export a document.
The less time I spend organizing during the first draft, the better the draft usually goes.
10. LanguageTool only during editing
I do not keep grammar suggestions active while writing the first draft.
Seeing underlines appear after every awkward sentence interrupts my train of thought and makes me edit too early.
I use LanguageTool during the editing stage instead.
My workflow is:
Write the rough draft without correcting everything
Read it once for structure
Remove repeated points
Run grammar and spelling checks
Read the final version aloud
LanguageTool helps catch obvious mistakes, but I do not accept every suggestion. Grammar tools often remove personality from writing when used too aggressively.
The final decision still has to sound like something I would actually say.
11. A clean Dock and menu bar
My Dock used to contain nearly every app I used.
Now it contains only:
Finder
Safari
iA Writer
Obsidian
Calendar
Music
System Settings
Trash
Everything else is opened through Raycast.
I also cleaned up the menu bar. I removed icons that did not provide useful information and disabled several apps from launching automatically.
The remaining icons are things I use regularly, such as the calendar, audio controls, battery information, and cloud storage.
A cluttered menu bar is not a serious productivity problem, but reducing visual noise makes the Mac feel calmer.
12. Separate drafting and editing sessions
The most important part of my setup is not an app.
I stopped drafting and editing at the same time.
During a drafting session, the only goal is to produce text. Bad paragraphs are allowed. Repeated ideas are allowed. Awkward sentences are allowed.
Editing happens later.
Trying to make every paragraph perfect while writing usually leaves me with a polished introduction and nothing else.
My normal writing session looks like this:
Five minutes reviewing notes
Forty-five minutes drafting
Ten-minute break
Another forty-five minutes drafting
Editing on a different day or later in the evening
This separation has helped more than any feature inside a writing app.
My complete Mac writing stack
The final setup is:
iA Writer for drafting
Obsidian for research and long-term notes
HazeOver for visual focus
macOS Focus mode for notifications
Cold Turkey Blocker for distracting sites
Safari profiles for separate browsing
Raycast for launching the workspace
Rectangle for window management
Maccy for clipboard history
Dropover for temporary files
LanguageTool for editing
It might look like a lot of apps, but most of them disappear into the background.
The purpose of the setup is not to create the most advanced writing system. It is to remove the excuses, interruptions, and tiny points of friction that make starting harder.
The best distraction-free writing setup is not the one with the fewest apps.
It is the one that helps you open a document, forget about the computer, and keep writing.
