Org-mode export: indent first line of each paragraph, "literary" style

Question

Is there a switch on org-mode I can use on export to ODT (or other format) to format my source file of

This is a paragraph this is a paragraph this is a paragraph this is a paragraph this is a paragraph this is a paragraph this is a paragraph this is a paragraph this is a paragraph.

This is another paragraph this is another paragraph this is another paragraph this is another paragraph this is another paragraph this is another paragraph this is another paragraph this is another paragraph.

into:

     This is a paragraph this is a paragraph this is a paragraph this is a
paragraph this is a paragraph this is a paragraph this is a paragraph
this is a paragraph this is a paragraph.
     This is another paragraph this is another paragraph this is another
paragraph this is another paragraph this is another paragraph this is
another paragraph this is another paragraph this is another paragraph.

Answer 1

Since you mentioned "other format" also, here's a solution for LaTex:

#+LaTeX_HEADER: \setlength{\parindent}{1cm} % Default is 15pt.

Insert the above line at the top of your org file and use the LaTex back-engine to print.

Answer 2

Does the image below capture what you have in mind?

If yes, try the snippet below. For the snippet to work, you need to install the The enhanced ODT exporter with M-x package-install.

#+odt_extra_styles: <style:style style:name="Text_20_body"
#+odt_extra_styles:              style:parent-style-name="Standard"
#+odt_extra_styles:              style:display-name="Text body"
#+odt_extra_styles:              style:family="paragraph"
#+odt_extra_styles:              style:class="text">
#+odt_extra_styles:   <style:paragraph-properties fo:margin-bottom="0.212cm"
#+odt_extra_styles:                               fo:margin-left="0cm"
#+odt_extra_styles:                               fo:margin-right="0cm"
#+odt_extra_styles:                               fo:margin-top="0cm"
#+odt_extra_styles:                               fo:text-indent="0.64cm"
#+odt_extra_styles:                               style:auto-text-indent="false" />
#+odt_extra_styles: </style:style>

#+odt_extra_styles: <style:style style:name="List_20_body"
#+odt_extra_styles:              style:parent-style-name="Text_20_body"
#+odt_extra_styles:              style:list-style-name="OrgNumberedList"
#+odt_extra_styles:              style:display-name="List body"
#+odt_extra_styles:              style:family="paragraph">
#+odt_extra_styles:   <style:paragraph-properties fo:margin-left="0cm"
#+odt_extra_styles:                               fo:margin-right="0cm"
#+odt_extra_styles:                               fo:text-indent="0cm"
#+odt_extra_styles:                               style:auto-text-indent="false" />
#+odt_extra_styles: </style:style>

This is a paragraph this is a paragraph this is a paragraph this is a
paragraph this is a paragraph this is a paragraph this is a paragraph
this is a paragraph this is a paragraph.

This is another paragraph this is another paragraph this is another
paragraph this is another paragraph this is another paragraph this is
another paragraph this is another paragraph this is another paragraph.

#+ATTR_ODT: :p-style "List_20_body"
1. This is a item this is a item this is a item this is
   a item this is a item this is a item this is a
   item this is a item this is a item.

   1. This is a sub item this is a sub item this is a sub item this is
      a sub item this is a sub item this is a sub item this is a sub
      item this is a sub item this is a sub item.

   2. This is a sub item this is a sub item this is a sub item this is
      a sub item this is a sub item this is a sub item this is a sub
      item this is a sub item this is a sub item.

   This is another paragraph this is another paragraph this is another
   paragraph this is another paragraph this is another paragraph this
   is another paragraph this is another paragraph this is another
   paragraph.

2. This is a item this is a item this is a item this is
   a item this is a item this is a item this is a
   item this is a item this is a item.

   - This is a sub item this is a sub item this is a sub item this is
     a sub item this is a sub item this is a sub item this is a sub
     item this is a sub item this is a sub item.

   - This is a sub item this is a sub item this is a sub item this is
     a sub item this is a sub item this is a sub item this is a sub
     item this is a sub item this is a sub item.

The style configuration will look a bit overwhelming, at first. You can learn about it in

1. Create a stylesheet for your OpenDocument files, and inline the XML definitions right in your Org file–Think HTML_HEAD, or HTML_HEAD_EXTRA but for ODT / DOCX files

2. Applying custom styles through keywords .

Answer 3

http://orgmode.org/manual/Applying-custom-styles.html#Applying-custom-styles

^^ This is what I did. The page has instructions to generate an empty ODT template. Then you can go into LibreOffice, edit the Text Body paragraph style to set the first-line indent, and save the template.

Then add #+ODT_STYLES_FILE: "/path/to/my-stylesheet.odt" (or ott, depending how you saved it) into your org document. The exported ODT file will use the style definitions from your template, instead of the defaults.

Worked for me.