If you use just about any blogging platform today, there’s a good chance you use, or at least know about, the beautiful markup language markdown (yes, I know it sounds contradictory when you read it that way).
There’s also a chance you still prefer to write in the default text editor on your device, which doesn’t support markdown. Even though I’m an iA Writer user, I often find myself writing in TextEdit on the Mac or Notes on the iPhone. It just feels faster and easier sometimes.
Keyboard shortcuts
I prefer to add links and formatting to the text as I go. Usually when there’s a natural break in the writing process. It feels like a fresh start when you return to writing afterward.
Since these apps don’t have a built-in way to add markups, I’ve created keyboard shortcuts for things that feel cumbersome to do by hand. For example, to insert a link, I hit the letter “L” three times, which produces the correct markdown:
[txt](URL)
Not perfect, but a lot easier than doing it all by hand, character by character.
If you’re using an iPhone, go to Settings -> General -> Keyboard -> Text Replacement to create your own. Your shortcuts will sync across all your devices.
Good luck! 👈 (did this by hitting “BBB”).