Ask HN: What is your software/approach to work with text?
Hello HN. When I edit text for publication, I often want to eat a cookie (delete a paragraph) and have a cookie (still somehow see deleted/moved paragraph) and work toward final text. What is your approach (tool you use?) to working with text which allows to some how put pieces of text aside and be able to still see them and reincorporate them if needed. I am thinking beyond tracking changes in Libre/MS Office or using Git.
13 comments
I put a big note in caps right above, or move it to the bottom of the file for later. Or just rewrite it immediately. Whatever it takes to stay in the same mental space
Some helpful advice for writing is to not be afraid to throw away what you wrote
Some helpful advice for writing is to not be afraid to throw away what you wrote
> Some helpful advice for writing is to not be afraid to throw away what you wrote
This has been the most solid advice for me I've received around writing. Usually that panic writing after I've thrown something out and can't recover it produces much better results than the first time around.
This has been the most solid advice for me I've received around writing. Usually that panic writing after I've thrown something out and can't recover it produces much better results than the first time around.
For this kind of editing, I like to keep a scratch file (I use notational velocity, but any plain text file works) with sections denoted by Markdown pull-quotes `>` so I can track where I moved them from and what I'm thinking about them. I then use three octothorps `###` to denote breaks between "sections" which is especially helpful when I'm working across multiple documents.
I'll also use diff tools built into Vim/Neovim as well to show progress. I personally like the diffing feature and since I normally edit everything in a Vim-like editor it helps me stay focused with the tools I like.
tldr; I use Notational Velocity to capture ideas or copied text, then create an A and B document while I'm editing to determine progress. I repeat the process as needed. But not usually more than two or three times.
I'll also use diff tools built into Vim/Neovim as well to show progress. I personally like the diffing feature and since I normally edit everything in a Vim-like editor it helps me stay focused with the tools I like.
tldr; I use Notational Velocity to capture ideas or copied text, then create an A and B document while I'm editing to determine progress. I repeat the process as needed. But not usually more than two or three times.
> I like to keep a scratch file
Thanks. I think I am doing something very similiar and will definitely stay close to bare text (Markdown). Your comment shows me that there is no escape from marking up text (places where sth was deleted or some auxiliary header) and working through text couple of times, probably making some copies along way.
> I'll also use diff tools built into Vim/Neovim
Diffing workflow is completely out of bauds for me, maybe will try to learn some new ways in close future (Vim/Spacemacs in general). If you could say some more on how you quickly see diffs, that would be great. Are you using version control for this?
As a side note, I see that it just takes time to tune mind to work efficiently with bigger pieces these days. Modern times, refocus req'ed.
Your comment was very helpful for me, thank you.
Thanks. I think I am doing something very similiar and will definitely stay close to bare text (Markdown). Your comment shows me that there is no escape from marking up text (places where sth was deleted or some auxiliary header) and working through text couple of times, probably making some copies along way.
> I'll also use diff tools built into Vim/Neovim
Diffing workflow is completely out of bauds for me, maybe will try to learn some new ways in close future (Vim/Spacemacs in general). If you could say some more on how you quickly see diffs, that would be great. Are you using version control for this?
As a side note, I see that it just takes time to tune mind to work efficiently with bigger pieces these days. Modern times, refocus req'ed.
Your comment was very helpful for me, thank you.
If you're more familiar with VSCode, you could use it as your visual diff tool, https://vscode.one/diff-vscode/
But essentially I only ever care about two versions of my writing. The current version that has been edited, and the previous version that basis for the editing. This lets me not have to put things in version control and allows me to only ever really have two versions of something on my plate at any given moment.
If you are more comfortable in the Terminal, you could use a tool like `opendiff` as well which just shows you the lines that have changed. I normally only do this after I have had some rest in between the document revisions. But this view will produce a diff and also is good when you're unsure about certain sections.
I'll part on one last piece of advice which is that you should focus on the goal of what you're doing and pick up new things along the way. What works for me might not work for you exactly and you might have better ways of approach the same given problem. Don't sweat the details until you have enough of them in your tool belt. Good luck!
But essentially I only ever care about two versions of my writing. The current version that has been edited, and the previous version that basis for the editing. This lets me not have to put things in version control and allows me to only ever really have two versions of something on my plate at any given moment.
If you are more comfortable in the Terminal, you could use a tool like `opendiff` as well which just shows you the lines that have changed. I normally only do this after I have had some rest in between the document revisions. But this view will produce a diff and also is good when you're unsure about certain sections.
I'll part on one last piece of advice which is that you should focus on the goal of what you're doing and pick up new things along the way. What works for me might not work for you exactly and you might have better ways of approach the same given problem. Don't sweat the details until you have enough of them in your tool belt. Good luck!
several folks I know use tools like Obsidian as a digital Zettelkasten for quick[ish] manuscript creation
I use it as a 'pure' note-taking tool
And I accomplish what you're describing ("eat a cookie ... have a cookie") straight in Word (or Pages)
I pretty much never 'delete' a paragraph/sentence/etc ... until I've figured out how I want to reword it - I just move it around and/or write around it until I have what I want
I use it as a 'pure' note-taking tool
And I accomplish what you're describing ("eat a cookie ... have a cookie") straight in Word (or Pages)
I pretty much never 'delete' a paragraph/sentence/etc ... until I've figured out how I want to reword it - I just move it around and/or write around it until I have what I want
I use Obsidian myself. Just started to work with bigger texts and got lost big time. As I mentioned in another comment, I realized it is also about regaining focus and getting in the flow.
> I pretty much never 'delete'
That's the tricky part. I try to cut quickly, but still want to have access to deleted parts somewhere.
> I pretty much never 'delete'
That's the tricky part. I try to cut quickly, but still want to have access to deleted parts somewhere.
maybe it's an aspect of having learned "word processing" in the late 80s / early 90s ... but I find the "edit around" far more useful than "cut and hold elsewhere"
This is an awesome idea, let me help you by trying to code this. I'll keep updating I'm this thread.