Author Archives: Tony Ballantyne

I heard a lot of people talking about Scrivener so I downloaded a trial copy (on Windows, there’s no Linux version, sadly…) and gave it a try.

It seems like a suitable tool for writers to use, it comes with a nice tutorial, and I’d recommend that anyone give the free 30 day trial a go, (this despite the fact the company behind it are called Literature and Latte).

I still prefer Emacs, though. Most of the features that Scrivener offers are easily replicable in Emacs. If you’ve been following my Emacs Writing Tips you’ll have been doing something similar anyway.

One thing I did like about Scrivener was the corkboard, a place where you could pin synopsis cards and move them around whilst you’re putting your ideas in order. This is a really good idea, and one thing that Emacs can’t replicate so well.

Here’s a work around

The idea is quite straightforward

1. Write your synopsis in headings
2. Move them up and down using M-<up> and M-<down>

It’s not as nice as the corkboard, but if you want a graphical interface, you’re using the wrong program.

It’s also worth mentioning org-tree-to-indirect-buffer, here. This allows you to replicate the document map in Microsoft word. It’s easiest to try this out for yourself

1. Open an org file in Emacs
2. Navigate to the subtree you want to edit
3. C-x 3 to split the window vertically (org-tree-to-indirect-buffer defaults to a vertical split)
4. C-c C-x b to open the narrowed subtree in the other frame

It all sounds rather complicated, but it’s really quite straightforward, and very useful…

You might want read the post on Regexp Builder before attempting these…

Here’s an example of a British Postcode: OL1 3SQ. It has the format 2 letters and a digit, space, 1 digit and two letters. The following emacs regex finds this type of postcode:

“[A-Z]\{2\}[0-9] [0-9][A-Z]\{2\}”

1. Write a regex to find postcodes of the type W1 1AA
2. Write a regex to find postcodes of the type RM12 4JJ
3. Write one regex that finds all three types of postcode: OL1 3SQ, W1 1AA and RM12 4JJ
4. Write a regex that finds simple email addresses of the form [email protected]
5. Now extend the regex to find email addresses of the form [email protected]
6. Now write a general email regex that will find all properly formed email addresses
7. Google the form of an ISBN (There are two standards). Write a regex to find ISBNs
8. Write a regex that can find unnecessary white space in a line of text

This      line     has              unnecessary      white space    .
|              So does this line   |
This line does not.

Finally…

“He said ‘Have you got the time?’” “Why didn’t he look at his watch?”
Write a regex that can find the left single quotes: ‘and right double quotes: ” in the above conversation.

Here are some random Dired mode tips:

w       copies names of marked files to kill ring.
C-0 w   copies absolute file name
C-u     copies names relative to Dired’s current directory

-rw-rw-r--  1 ***** *****  110537 Mar 24 13:07 planner.org
-rw-rw-r--  1 ***** *****   60688 Sep  3  2013 planner.org.~1~
-rw-rw-r--  1 ***** *****   60688 Sep  3  2013 planner.org.~2~
-rw-rw-r--  1 ***** *****  112046 Mar 18 16:37 planner.org.~860~
-rw-rw-r--  1 ***** *****  112079 Mar 18 16:40 planner.org.~861~
-rw-rw-r--  1 ***** *****  112133 Mar 18 16:55 planner.org.~862~
-rw-rw-r--  1 ***** *****  112133 Mar 18 16:55 planner.org.~863~
-rw-rw-r--  1 ***** *****  112196 Mar 20 15:16 planner.org.~864~

% m ~   Mark all backup files
k       Remove them from view

(require 'dired-x)
(setq dired-omit-mode t)

M-x make-directory RET RET