Finally, after many years of using Emacs for writing, I have assembled what I believe are the key points necessary to take any non-programmer writer gently by the hand into Emacs. This handbook goes ALL THE WAY from “Why plain text” to exporting your Org Mode files to crisp, standard manuscript Microsoft Word formatted documents for the writer’s market.
If you are a technical writer, blogger, copywriter, novelist, or just a weekend short story writer like yours truly, Emacs is the superior composition and editing tool you need to more easily get your ideas out of your head and into the world.
You can get the PDF handbook right here. It’s a “pay what you want”, including FREE, download.
If you’re already an Emacs user, and you have a friend who might benefit from this, be sure to send them the link. Thanks, everybody.
Why do you require a credit card?
Due to a limitation of the payment processor, you’ll be asked to enter your credit card details even for free downloads—but you won’t be charged anything. This is typical of “Pay what you want” products.
Is there a debit card option? I tried but couldn’t find it.
It should be the same form for credit or debit.
Thanks for a very helpful guide – great job!
Small corrections:
• C-c n: next line, or move down one line.
• C-c p: previous line, or move up one line.
• C-c f: forward character.
• C-c b: back character.
should probably be:
• C-n: next line, or move down one line.
• C-p: previous line, or move up one line.
• C-f: forward character.
• C-b: back character.
Also: “I want to make the word *bold* stand out.”
Suggestions: maybe have the links in another colour (blue), and add a version number.
Thank you! Fixed. I am looking into the link color options. Appreciate the feedback.
Hi, just want to mention the link is broken, there is no pdf download available at least as of today 12th Sep 2025. Just a white screen with a broken link that reads “Powered by ConvertKit”.
Thanks! Seems to be working now.
so, everyone with credit card can down it free or pay what he want , however some one without a credit card can not even try to download.
please, keep in mind there is many in this world that have not / cannot access to electric payment systems. Or may be knowledge is just for european/american CIVILISED people ;(