I started using Emacs org mode to help me make sense of a manuscript after struggling with Obsidian for some time. Emacs + writeroom mode has the feeling of a console typewriter. I hit a keybinding and poof, distractions are gone.

I used Emacs Writing Studio as a starting point and vibe-coded some of the Lisp with Claude.

You don’t have to go full-on one or the other. I still use both. Use .md files if you want Obsidian compatibility.