Help for authors timid about technology
Let’s be honest. Getting into the rhythm of writing blog posts for an author website can be a pain.
As authors, we want to be working on our manuscript. The one that will put us on the Today Show and the NYTimes Bestseller List. We’d rather not spend a few hours every week on our blogs, trying to figure out how to make our words look pretty on the screen. One way to fight the feelings of being overwhelmed is by making sure your writing goals are realistic.
The fact is, you need to keep your website up to date. And that means blogging.
If you use WordPress regularly, you need to know how to unleash the hotkeys.
What in the World is a Hotkey?
Hotkeys are keyboard shortcuts. Little keyboard sequences that will help you save time. Think of them as secret passwords that unlock your time.
I used to have a coworker named Brandon who seemed to never use his computer mouse. He’d type furiously away, creating Excel spreadsheets that would make number nerds weep for joy. Brandon had taken the time to memorize dozens of hotkeys and in the end, it saved him hours and hours of work.
The 6 Basic Hotkeys You Need to Master
These are the six WordPress hotkeys that you may already know. For Mac users, these commands are performed by using Command + letter. Windows and Linux users need to press Ctrl + letter.
a
c
v
x
y
z
select all
copy
paste
cut
redo
undo
The ABCs of Advanced Hotkeys
Ready to move on? Try these on for size.
Once you get the ABCs of hotkeys down, you’ll be able to speed along in your writing. Please note that you will have to press Alt + Shift + Letter to make these commands. Press the keys as quickly as possible at the same time. It will make a difference.
a b c d e g i j l m n o p q r s t u insert link bold align center switch to HTML mode full screen italic justify text align left insert image check spelling numbered list insert page break tag quote align right remove link insert more tag bullet point liststikethrough
Feel free to print this list and keep it by your computer for easy reference. If it’s been helpful, let people know by sharing this article over social media. You can also find this list by clicking the “question mark” icon on your dashboard.
If you’re feeling extra generous, announce to your friends: I’ve just learned the ABCs of WordPress hotkeys thanks to @AuthorMedia! – Click to Tweet.
Trust me, they’ll be impressed. Really.
Which hotkeys do you use on a regular basis?
I use Ctrl-F a lot — nice to find certain words or phrases I either want to delete, change or replace easily. Also helps me jump to certain pages quickly too.
I’m glad you are using the keys, Shannon!
For the second set of commands, I’m not seeing the Mac equivalent. The option (alt) key + shift doesn’t work, nor does command, control, or fn. Ideas? I use the first set regularly and would love to learn more, but they don’t work.
Valerie –
I had that problem as well when I tried the alt (option) + shift + key letters. The trick is to press the keys as quickly as possible. If you can hit all three in under a second, it will definitely work.
Keep trying!
I tried them a bunch of times, and I’m pretty fast on the keys, so I’m not convinced! If I have to try several times to make them stick, I’m not saving any time…and gaining frustration.
Great tips! The key for switching to HTML may just be my new best friend.
Thank you,
Liberty Hill House
I’m glad they are working for you, Sheryl!
You’ve unintentionally taught me something else in addition to all the hot keys. I want to insert those ‘Click to Tweet’ buttons in my posts too! Yours was the first I’d seen so I’m heading over to clicktotweet.com to see what that’s all about now
Click to tweet is new on the scene. It’s been a lot of fun to play with. Let me know how well it works for you!
I totally love this post. Definitely one of the top helpful post of my week.
I use “ctrl+i” für Italic and “ctrl+b” for bold as well – one finger less…
“ctrl+e” doesn’t want to work (PC)
Good to know. Thanks!
This is a great help! I was aware of the basic 6 hot keys, but not the advanced ones! Thanks! I will be printing it as soon as I finish this comment:)
Love hotkeys! This is great info. I would not have thought to even look for hotkeys in a Web-based app.
I’m on a Mac and have only played with some of them, but I have found that while most of them work with option instead of alt, not all of them do. Some don’t work at all and some invoke different commands. For example, option + shift + m opens the form builder rather than insert media dialog. Which is still cool. I didn’t know how to insert a form!
Valerie, some info I found on the WordPress support section indicates that whether the shortcuts work may have to do with which browser you’re using. I had good results using OS 10.8 and Firefox 18.