# SFD — Write It Bad — Distraction-free writing

> Productivity app for writing first drafts without editing. (iPhone/iPad app by Daniel James Kinney-Spears.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sfd-write-it-bad/id6778871291 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Daniel James Kinney-Spears](https://appshunter.io/developer/6778614359)
- Category: Productivity, Lifestyle
- Price: $4.99
- Rating: 5.00/5 from 1 App Store ratings · 1 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 17.0 · 2 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2026-06-15
- Data updated: 2026-08-17
- Monetization: paid
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sfd-write-it-bad/id6778871291/reviews.md

## What is SFD?

Writing apps help with the easy half — outlines, fonts, folders, word-count trophies. The hard half is producing a bad first version of something, and that's all SFD does.

SFD is forward-only. You write in a burst, the earlier lines dim and scroll away, and you can't go back to fix them. You can't edit a draft into existence, so SFD won't let you try until it's out.

How it works:

— A go is a timed burst. You write. You don't reread.
— Stall for a few seconds and you get a shove — a nudge that gets blunter the longer you stare at the cursor.
— Hit a line you hate? Drop a later and keep moving. Your flags become a punch-list for when you revise.
— A finished part is a chunk. A stack of chunks is the Pile — your whole first draft.
— When it's done, send it out as plain text, to wherever you actually revise.

What SFD won't do: format, outline, sync, collaborate, or write the draft for you. You write the bad version. A chunk has to get written; inside that, anything goes.

Your words stay yours. Every chunk is a plain-text file on your device. No proprietary format, no account, no servers. SFD makes no network calls at all — it can't lose your words and it can't trap them.

Get the first draft out. You can make it good later, somewhere with a real keyboard.

## Key features

- Forward-only writing
- Timed writing bursts
- Cursor nudges for stalls
- Flagging sections for revision
- Plain text export
- Offline functionality

## Chart rankings

- #198 in Top Paid · Productivity (US App Store)

## Recent user reviews (1 of 1)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sfd-write-it-bad/id6778871291/reviews.md

### 5/5 — Man, writing bad never felt so good

*2026-06-16*

Just feels nice to get things out!


(Jk I made this app and am proud of myself for making a thing that works for me—hope it works for others, too, but if not just let me know what you’d want changed and I’ll do it!)

## Frequently asked questions about SFD

### What is SFD's primary function?

SFD's primary function is to help users produce a first draft of their writing by preventing them from rereading or editing as they go. It encourages a forward-only writing process to overcome perfectionism and writer's block.

### How does SFD prevent users from editing?

SFD implements a forward-only writing mechanism where earlier lines dim and scroll away, making them inaccessible for immediate editing. This design forces users to concentrate on generating new content rather than refining existing text.

### What happens if I get stuck while writing in SFD?

If you stall for a few seconds, SFD provides a nudge to encourage you to keep writing. This nudge becomes more pronounced the longer you stare at the cursor, helping to maintain writing momentum.

### Can I mark parts of my writing to fix later in SFD?

Yes, you can flag lines you dislike as you write. These flags become a punch-list that you can refer to when you move to the revision stage after completing the initial draft.

### Does SFD offer formatting or outlining tools?

No, SFD specifically avoids features like formatting, outlining, syncing, collaboration, or writing the draft for you. Its sole focus is on helping you produce the initial, unpolished version of your work.

### How is my writing stored in SFD?

Your words remain yours and are stored as plain-text files directly on your device. SFD does not use proprietary formats, require an account, or connect to servers, ensuring your data is private and secure.

### Is SFD available on multiple devices?

Yes, SFD is supported on both iPhone and iPad, allowing you to write on your preferred Apple mobile devices.

### How often is SFD updated?

SFD was last updated on June 16, 2026, with version 1.1.0. This indicates a recent update, suggesting ongoing development and support for the application.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 1.4.0 — 2026-08-07

Nothing gets lost. A new screen shows you where your writing actually sits on your iPhone or iPad, with a button that opens it in the Files app. Plain text, no account, no cloud — nothing that can conflict or eat a chapter.

The month. An optional 30 days, started whenever you want, not just in November. It counts the days you showed up. No word quota, and missing one costs you that day and nothing else.

Keyboard shortcuts, if you write on an iPad with a hardware keyboard: Command-Return finishes a go, Command-D deals you a dare, Command-L locks you in. (The Mac version, included with your purchase, gets a full menu bar.)

And forward-only got stricter: Undo can no longer walk you backwards through a draft, and no AI can rewrite your words, including the system's.

### 1.3.0 — 2026-07-30

Share your streak. The habit screen can now hand you a card of your writing days — the days you showed up, never a word count you missed. Post it, or don't.

A dare for the blank page. Nothing to say? Tap once and the page dares you: write the argument you lost, describe a room you'll never see again. Seventy-five of them, written by hand, no AI. You still write every word.

### 1.2.0 — 2026-06-25

Fixed: your streak and word counts now record every word you get out. A slip in an earlier version was quietly zeroing them.

New to SFD? A short first run now shows you the one rule — forward only, no going back.

### 1.1.0 — 2026-06-16

A habit tracker. SFD maps the days you got words out — a streak for showing up, never for being good.

Less in your way. Finish a burst, tap Done, you're back in your Pile. One button. Fewer odd words.

Forward only, for real. Drafting won't let you backspace now. Reach for delete and a writer talks you out of it.

Export anywhere. Send a piece, or the whole Pile, to Mail, Notes, Files, or any app — the normal share sheet.

### 1.0.0 — 2026-06-15

No release notes.

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-17.*
