GNU ELPA: typewriter

This package provides typewriter-mode, a small minor mode that deliberately handicaps Emacs to an extreme degree in order to provide something as close as possible to the strict forward-only typewriter experience. Some find that the lack of editing facilities fosters a state of concentration and focus that makes certain types of creative writing more satisfying.

The package has several configuration options:

• typewriter-preserve-undo-history: If non-nil, you'll be able to undo edits if you turn typewriter-mode. Default is t.
• typewriter-recenter: If non-nil, the line where cursor is at is recentered (the command recenter is called) after every licit keystroke. Default is t.
• typewriter-fill-column: If nil, your lines will be as long as you want. Set to any integer N, emacs-turned-to-typewriter refuses to type anything once you reach column N until you press RET to open a new line. Default is nil.
• typewriter-warning-bell-offset: If your fill column is set, a physical ding will sound this many characters before the margin to warn you that the carriage is about to jam. Default is 8.
• typewriter-show-chars-remaining: If this and typewriter-fill-column are non-nil, the modeline will display how many characters are left in the current line until the fill column (the margin) is reached. Default is t.
• typewriter-mode-line-format: Format string for the modeline indicator of remaining characters. Default is " [%d]".
• typewriter-tab-width: Self explanatory. Default is 8.
• typewriter-strikethrough-char: The character used to cross out text (see below). Default is ?X; nil disables strikethrough.

There are four hooks available for the user to customize the typing experience, no function is added to them by default. They run after successful completion of the corresponding action:

• typewriter-insert-hook
• typewriter-carriage-return-hook
• typewriter-backward-char-hook
• typewriter-tab-hook

Characters can also be struck with an input method (C-\), with C-x 8 key sequences, or with insert-char (C-x 8 RET): the same rules about margins and overstriking apply.

You can't erase on a typewriter, but you can type something like X or - over what you've written to cross it out. C-c - (typewriter-strikethrough) strikes typewriter-strikethrough-char (X by default) at the carriage, even over existing text. Each strike advances the carriage by one, so a numeric prefix crosses out several characters: move back with DEL to the start of a word and press C-u 5 C-c - to cross out five characters.

This only works on the last line, the one the carriage is on: once you've returned the carriage, the lines above can't be touched. The margin applies as usual.

Although no systematic test has been carried out, this package's minimalism should ensure its compatibility with packages that change the layout of text in the window, such as the fairly popular olivetti, or any configuration that (for instance) hides or alters elements of the Emacs interface.

The package is on GNU ELPA, and you can install it in the usual ways, for instance:

(use-package typewriter
  :ensure t)