org - keyboard shortcut to promote text to heading

Question

How to promote a text line to a heading in org-mode?

ie: I start writing text and only later wants to structure it:

here's a start typing some text.
and continue on a 2nd line
and even a 3rd line.
but here I already start typing my 2nd paragraph
a new line of text

After exiting insert mode, now I would like to promote the 1st and 4th lines into heading like:

* here's a start typing some text.
    and continue on a 2nd line
    and even a 3rd line.
* but here I already start typing my 2nd paragraph
    a new line of text

thank you

Answer 1

You may be looking for the org-toggle-heading function, bound by default to C-c *.

Convert headings to normal text, or items or text to headings.

Answer 2

A sligtly easier solution (with default keybinding) is to use "Meta-Enter" (aka M-RET) at the beggining of the line you want to promote to a heading.

Answer 3

If using spacemacs:

• In master repository: SPC SPC org-insert-heading RET will promote a text line to an heading.
• In develop repository: the keyboard shortcut , i h will additionally do the same.

If using emacs (without spacemacs): M-x org-insert-heading RET

edit: Depending on the spacemacs' used repository:

edit2: I corrected my answer to reflect @Stefan remarks.