Get a Slack reminder when your Google Doc hits a word-count threshold
Long-form writing projects need checkpoints. This automation watches your document and reminds you in Slack when you hit major word-count milestones, so you can take stock and adjust your approach.
Trigger
Document Word Count Threshold
Triggers when a Google Doc's word/character count crosses a user-defined threshold. This trigger monitors a specific Google Doc and fires when its word or character count becomes greater than or equal to the configured threshold value.
Action
Create a reminder
Creates a slack reminder with specified text and time; time accepts unix timestamps, seconds from now, or natural language (e.g., 'in 15 minutes', 'every thursday at 2pm').
Why this helps
You're writing a long piece—blog post, research doc, proposal—but lose track of progress. You don't know when to wrap up, when to shift topics, or when it's time to hand off for editing. Words accumulate invisibly.
- Track writing progress without manually checking word count
- Know when to wrap up, edit, or hand off for review
- Keeps long projects from dragging on indefinitely
- Creates natural checkpoints in your writing workflow
Setup
Build it in a few focused steps.
- 1Connect Google Docs and Slack in your Notis portal.
- 2Create a new Automation: 'Send me a Slack reminder when [doc name] reaches [word count] words.'
- 3Choose 'integration_event' and select 'Document Word Count Threshold.'
- 4Specify your target word count—e.g., 1,000, 5,000, 10,000 words.
- 5Test by adding content to your document and watching for the Slack reminder.
Questions about this workflow
Can I set multiple word-count milestones for one document?
Yes. Create separate automations for each milestone you want to track—e.g., one at 3,000 words, another at 7,000.
What if I delete content—does it trigger again if I hit the threshold again?
Notis fires the reminder once when you cross the threshold. If you later delete content and grow back to the same count, it won't re-trigger. If you want repeat reminders at intervals, describe that to Notis.
Can I track character count instead of words?
You can—just ask Notis to watch for character count instead. It works the same way.
When this happens · Trigger
Do this · Action
Supported Triggers and Actions
Notis builds workflows that link Google Docs to Slack. A trigger fires from one place; an action lands in another.
Google Docs triggers
Slack actions
New Document Created
Triggers when a new Google Doc is created. This trigger monitors Google Docs and fires when new documents are detected. Uses timestamp filtering to efficiently poll for new documents.
Set snooze duration
Deprecated: turns on do not disturb mode for the current user, or changes its duration. use `set dnd duration` instead.
Document Deleted
Triggers when an existing Google Doc is deleted (moved to trash). This trigger monitors Google Docs and fires when documents are trashed.
Add a custom emoji to a Slack team
Deprecated: adds a custom emoji to a slack workspace given a unique name and an image url. use `add emoji` instead.
Document Placeholder Filled
Triggers when a Google Doc's plain text changes such that a configured placeholder token/pattern is no longer present (i.e., the document has been filled in). This trigger monitors a specific Google Doc and fires when a placeholder pattern that was previously present is no longer found in the document's plain text.
Add an emoji alias
Adds an alias for an existing custom emoji in a slack enterprise grid organization.
Document Search Update
Triggers when a Google Doc matching a user-defined search query is newly created or updated since the last poll. This trigger uses timestamp filtering to efficiently monitor documents.
Add a remote file
Adds a reference to an external file (e.g., google drive, dropbox) to slack for discovery and sharing, requiring a unique `external id` and an `external url` accessible by slack.
Document Structure Changed
Triggers when a Google Doc's structure changes (headers/footers added/removed, tables/images count changes). This trigger monitors a specific document for structural changes like: - Headers added or removed - Footers added or removed - Tables added or removed - Images (inline objects) added or removed - Positioned objects added or removed - Footnotes added or removed
Add a star to an item
Stars a channel, file, file comment, or a specific message in slack.
Document Updated
Triggers when an existing Google Doc is updated or modified. This trigger monitors Google Docs and fires when documents are updated.
Add call participants
Registers new participants added to a slack call.
Document Word Count Threshold
Triggers when a Google Doc's word/character count crosses a user-defined threshold. This trigger monitors a specific Google Doc and fires when its word or character count becomes greater than or equal to the configured threshold value.
Add emoji
Adds a custom emoji to a slack workspace given a unique name and an image url; subject to workspace emoji limits.
New Folder Created in Root
Triggers when a new folder is created in the root folder of Google Drive. This trigger monitors Google Drive and fires when new folders are detected in the root directory.
Add reaction to message
Adds a specified emoji reaction to an existing message in a slack channel, identified by its timestamp; does not remove or retrieve reactions.
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When this happens · Trigger
Do this · Action
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