writing-config.el

;;; IMPORTANT: custom inserts
(defun surrounded-by-p (char)
  "Returns t if word is surrounded by given char."
  (save-excursion
    (and (forward-word -1)
         (equal char (char-before))
         (forward-word 1)
         (equal char (char-after)))))

(defun surround-word (char &optional force)
  "Surrounds word with given character.  If force is nil and word is already surrounded by given character removes them."
  (save-excursion
    (if (not (surrounded-by-p char))
        (progn
          (forward-word 1)
          (insert char)
          (forward-word -1)
          (insert char)
          t)
      (forward-word 1)
      (delete-char 1)
      (forward-word -1)
      (delete-char -1)
      nil)))

(defmacro propertize-word (property character)
  "Define functions for propertizing words with PROPERTY using CHARACTER."
  `(defun ,(intern (format "%s-word" property)) (&optional force)
     ,(format "Insert a %s character (%c) before (and after) an input string." property character)
     (interactive "p")
     (surround-word ,character force)))

(propertize-word bold ?*) ;; => (bold-word)
(propertize-word italic ?/) ;; => (italic-word)
(propertize-word underline ?_) ;; => (underline-word)
(propertize-word verbatim ?~) ;; => (verbatim-word)
(propertize-word teletype ?=) ;; => (teletype-word)