# Crafting a Minimal Writing Environment with Emacs - System Crafters Live!

**URL:** <https://forum.systemcrafters.net/t/crafting-a-minimal-writing-environment-with-emacs-system-crafters-live/384>\
**Category:** General\
**Created:** [March 1, 2024, 4:32pm UTC](https://forum.systemcrafters.net/t/crafting-a-minimal-writing-environment-with-emacs-system-crafters-live/384 "2024-03-01T16:32:32Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 4\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![ashraz](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.systemcrafters.net/ashraz/32/509_2.png) [@ashraz](https://forum.systemcrafters.net/u/ashraz)\
**Post date:** [March 1, 2024, 4:32pm UTC](https://forum.systemcrafters.net/t/crafting-a-minimal-writing-environment-with-emacs-system-crafters-live/384/1 "2024-03-01T16:32:32Z")

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[![](https://canada1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/uploads/systemcrafters/original/1X/a3e8b242d019f35d4f5c95afd7dc7e6bd32af489.jpeg "Crafting a Minimal Writing Environment with Emacs - System Crafters Live!") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yY-qyCYc5GU)

# #Emacs packages

## Showcased packages (in order of appearance)

These packages were shown by David on stream.

- [Ef (εὖ) themes for GNU Emacs | Protesilaos Stavrou](https://protesilaos.com/emacs/ef-themes) (for the theme in this stream)
- [Spacious Padding (spacious-padding.el) | Protesilaos Stavrou](https://protesilaos.com/emacs/spacious-padding)
- [Fontaine (fontaine.el) | Protesilaos Stavrou](https://protesilaos.com/emacs/fontaine)
- [Logos (logos.el) | Protesilaos Stavrou](https://protesilaos.com/emacs/logos)
- [GitHub - bnbeckwith/wc-mode: Wordcount minor mode for Emacs](https://github.com/bnbeckwith/wc-mode)
- [TMR May Ring (tmr) | Protesilaos Stavrou](https://protesilaos.com/emacs/tmr)

## Mentioned packages

These packages were not shown within the stream, but only mentioned, either in chat or by David:

- [activities](https://forum.systemcrafters.net/t/activities-el-new-package-for-workspace-management/167) by @alphapapa
- [GitHub - rnkn/fountain-mode: Emacs major mode for screenwriting in Fountain plain-text markup](https://github.com/rnkn/fountain-mode) (mentioned by `cmack`)
- [GitHub - alphapapa/hammy.el: Programmable, interactive interval timers (e.g. for working/resting)](https://github.com/alphapapa/hammy.el) (mentioned, maintained and written by @alphapapa)
- [GitHub - amperser/proselint: A linter for prose.](https://github.com/amperser/proselint), mentioned by @shom
- [GitHub - rnkn/olivetti: Emacs minor mode to automatically balance window margins](https://github.com/rnkn/olivetti), mentioned by @ashraz

## Complete Configuration

A `.spacemacs` configuration for writers: [emacs-for-writers | Emacs configuration for writers. Focus on story development and structured writing.](https://frankjonen.github.io/emacs-for-writers/) (mentioned by @shom in chat)

# #Emacs Lisp

Mentioned Emacs Lisp tidbits.

## Modes

- `scroll-lock-mode` (it doesn’t have an `info` node, so check the mode’s documentation via `describe-function`; TL:DR: make movement move the screen but keep the cursor at the visual position)

## Variables

- [`face-remapping-alist`](https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/manual/html_node/elisp/Face-Remapping.html) (as a `setq-local` variable in David’s `dw-present.el`)
- [`native-comp-async-jobs-number`](https://www.gnu.org/software/emacs/manual/html_node/elisp/Native_002dCompilation-Variables.html), set it to a low number (e.g., 1, via `setopt`) if you don’t want async native comp to use all your cores (contributed by @alphapapa)
- `display-buffer-alist`, watch Prot’s video: [Emacs: control where buffers are displayed (the ‘display-buffer-alist’) | Protesilaos Stavrou](https://protesilaos.com/codelog/2024-02-08-emacs-window-rules-display-buffer-alist/) (recommended by @fade)

# Other writer resources

- [https://languagetool.org/](https://languagetool.org/) as a Grammarly alternative

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<div class="post-metadata">

**Author:** ![ashraz](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.systemcrafters.net/ashraz/32/509_2.png) [@ashraz](https://forum.systemcrafters.net/u/ashraz)\
**Post date:** [March 1, 2024, 5:33pm UTC](https://forum.systemcrafters.net/t/crafting-a-minimal-writing-environment-with-emacs-system-crafters-live/384/2 "2024-03-01T17:33:06Z")

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Off-topic content:

- [please drink verification can](https://i.imgur.com/dgGvgKF.png) (a dystopian outlook of always-online DRM, posted as a story on 4chan, screenshot by unknown, mentioned by `acdw`)
- [Xonotic](https://xonotic.org/) (a Quake-like arena shooter)

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**Author:** ![alphapapa](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/5f9b8f/32.png) [@alphapapa](https://forum.systemcrafters.net/u/alphapapa)\
**Post date:** [March 1, 2024, 6:07pm UTC](https://forum.systemcrafters.net/t/crafting-a-minimal-writing-environment-with-emacs-system-crafters-live/384/3 "2024-03-01T18:07:21Z")

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These notes are almost as amazing as the stream itself!

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**Author:** ![daviwil](https://yyz1.discourse-cdn.com/flex029/user_avatar/forum.systemcrafters.net/daviwil/32/1_2.png) [@daviwil](https://forum.systemcrafters.net/u/daviwil)\
**Post date:** [March 2, 2024, 9:42am UTC](https://forum.systemcrafters.net/t/crafting-a-minimal-writing-environment-with-emacs-system-crafters-live/384/4 "2024-03-02T09:42:17Z")

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Yes, these notes are fantastic, thanks @ashraz! (no thanks to Leftpad though)