An offline writing app that never phones home.
Drafts on your machine, not in a data centre. No account, no version-history subscription, no live-collaboration cursor blinking at you.
Writing tools that live in the cloud are quietly loud. Someone's cursor. A comment. A notification. An offline writing app is a room with the door shut — the entire point.
One file, all your drafts
The Writing Desk holds your notes, drafts, reading list, and research log in a single HTML file. You can duplicate the file per project if you prefer — but you don't have to.
Markdown, without a Markdown company
Markdown export is native. Word count, outline view, and focus mode ship in-file. No plugin marketplace, no subscription tier called "Pro" that hides them.
It won't autocomplete your voice
There's no cloud LLM autocompleting your sentences. If you want AI, run one locally — but by default, this is a quiet room.
What to reach for
Common questions
Does it collaborate?
No live collaboration — deliberately. Share the file, or send an export. If your writing needs a shared cursor, you're looking for a different tool.
How does it compare to Google Docs?
See /vs/google-docs. Short version: Docs is a fine cloud editor; the Writing Desk is a private one.
Is there a word-count goal?
Yes — daily and per-project, tracked in-file.
Can I run this on an iPad?
It opens in Safari on iPad and works fully offline. Not designed as a stylus app, though.