# Writing

> Type, add blocks, move them around and format text, right on the page.

You write and build pages right on the page itself, exactly as visitors will see it. Click to type, press `+` to add something, and select a block to move or style it.

![The page editor: the page on the left, the settings of the selected heading on the right.](https://docs.lettern.org/media/screens/editor.webp)

Everything on a page is a **block**: a heading, a paragraph, an image, a button, a row of columns. The same editor works for pages, posts, templates and components.

## Type

Click any text and start typing. Press `↵` for a new paragraph, or `⇧↵` for a line break inside the same one.

While you type, block outlines and toolbars stay out of the way. Changes save as you go, and nobody sees them until you press **Publish**.

## Add a block

1. Point between two blocks. A line appears there, with a `+` in the middle.
2. Press the `+`. A small menu opens with a search field, six suggestions (the blocks you used last come first) and **Browse All** for every block, component and section.
3. Pick one. It lands exactly on the line.

The line also works inside sections and columns: point near their inner edge to add something inside them.

> **Note:** Faster while writing: in an empty line, type `/` and the name of a block, like `/image`, then press `Enter`. `Esc` closes the menu.

A few other ways to add a block:

- **Insert Before** or **Insert After** in a selected block's **⋯** menu.
- The `+` an empty section or column shows when you point at it.
- An empty page invites you to start writing, or to press `/` for blocks.
- **Insert block**, the `+` in the toolbar at the top. On a phone, the canvas has its own.

Clicking on the page never adds anything by accident: it only places the caret or selects a block.

### Markdown shortcuts

Start a new line with one of these and it turns into the right block. Pasting Markdown or HTML from elsewhere becomes blocks too.

| Type | To get |
| --- | --- |
| `#` to `####`, then a space | A heading, level 1 to 4 |
| `-` or `*`, then a space | A bulleted list |
| `1.`, then a space | A numbered list |
| `>`, then a space | A quote |
| `!`, then a space | A callout |
| ````` | A code block |
| `---` | A divider |

## Select and move blocks

Click a block anywhere that isn't text to select it. While you're typing, press `Esc` to select the block you're in. Click outside the page to clear the selection.

A selected block gets a small toolbar above it, with:

- the **drag handle**, to drag the block somewhere else,
- an arrow to select the block it sits in,
- the block's name,
- **Move Up** and **Move Down**,
- **⋯** for **Insert Before**, **Insert After**, **Duplicate**, **Make a Component** and **Delete**.

While you drag, a line shows where the block will land, and the page scrolls when you near an edge. Press `Esc`, or let go somewhere it can't go, to cancel.

`⇧`-click a neighboring block to select the run of blocks between them. Hard-to-reach blocks, including hidden ones, are easiest to pick in the **Outline**: while you edit, it takes the place of the sidebar on the left (`⌘\` shows or hides it). Made a mistake? `⌘Z` undoes it, moves included.

To reuse a selection elsewhere, choose **Make a Component**. See [Components](https://docs.lettern.org/design/components).

## Format text

Select some text and a format toolbar appears above it: bold, italic, underline, strikethrough, code and link. The shortcuts are below.

## Style a block

Selecting a block also opens its settings on the right, in three tabs: **Content**, **Design** and **Interact**. See [Block settings](https://docs.lettern.org/editing/canvas).

## Page details

The right sidebar starts with the page's own details, in a tab named after its collection (**Page**, **Dish**…); the toolbar button that opens it is **Page Details**. Edit the title, URL, author and other fields there. Next to it are **History** and the tabs plugins add, like **Comments**. Press `⌘.` to show or hide it. See [Entries](https://docs.lettern.org/content/entries).

## Keyboard shortcuts

On Windows and Linux, use `Ctrl` for `⌘` and `Alt` for `⌥`.

### Formatting

| Keys | Does |
| --- | --- |
| `⌘B` / `⌘I` / `⌘U` | Bold, italic, underline |
| `⌘⇧X` | Strikethrough |
| `⌘E` | Inline code |
| `⌘K` | Link |

### Blocks

| Keys | Does |
| --- | --- |
| `↑` `↓` at the edge of a block | Move to the previous or next block |
| `Esc` | Select the block you're typing in |
| `↑` `↓` on a selected block | Select the previous or next block |
| `↵` on a selected block | Write in its first text |
| `⇧↑` `⇧↓` on a selected block | Extend the selection over neighboring blocks |
| `⇧`-click a neighboring block | Extend the selection to it |
| `⌥↑` `⌥↓` on a selected block | Move it up or down |
| `⌘D` | Duplicate the selected block |
| `⌥⌘T` / `⌥⌘Y` | Insert before or after the selected block |
| `⌘C` `⌘X` `⌘V` on selected blocks | Copy, cut and paste whole blocks |
| `⌫` on selected blocks | Delete them |
| `⌘Z` / `⌘⇧Z` | Undo, redo |

### The page

| Keys | Does |
| --- | --- |
| `⌘S` | Save now |
| `⌘⇧P` | Publish |
| `⌘.` | Show or hide the sidebar |

## For developers

### Which collections use this editor

A collection gets the block editor when its `body` names a field of type `blocks`, like `body: content` for Pages: that field holds the page's blocks. A collection without a body shows its fields as a normal form instead. See [Collections](https://docs.lettern.org/content/collections).

### Titles in templates

When a template binds a text block to exactly the entry's title, you can edit the title inline on the page too. Sample titles in templates and components stay read-only.

---
Source: https://docs.lettern.org/editing/writing