Start with three keys

Saving, finding, and switching files cover most of a writing day. Learn those until they are dull.

Stay with the paragraph until one sentence feels heavier than the rest. That is the one worth keeping. The others can wait until you know why you marked this page.

Write enough that tomorrow’s you can find the spot without rereading the whole chapter. A name, a page, and the question you had not answered yet are usually enough.

A small map

Write the three shortcuts on a card. Throw the card away only after a week of not looking.

Stay with the paragraph until one sentence feels heavier than the rest. That is the one worth keeping. The others can wait until you know why you marked this page.

Write enough that tomorrow’s you can find the spot without rereading the whole chapter. A name, a page, and the question you had not answered yet are usually enough.

Then add one more

A fourth shortcut is useful after the first three never fail. Jumping ahead makes a pile of half-learned keys.

Stay with the paragraph until one sentence feels heavier than the rest. That is the one worth keeping. The others can wait until you know why you marked this page.

Write enough that tomorrow’s you can find the spot without rereading the whole chapter. A name, a page, and the question you had not answered yet are usually enough.

Check the editor

If a key does nothing, the editor may be waiting for another chord. Read the status bar before you blame the keyboard.

status: waiting for the next key

Stay with the paragraph until one sentence feels heavier than the rest. That is the one worth keeping. The others can wait until you know why you marked this page.

Write enough that tomorrow’s you can find the spot without rereading the whole chapter. A name, a page, and the question you had not answered yet are usually enough.