tldr:
* I installed console-only Debian on an old laptop (no desktop OS at all)
* I added some packages to make it work better for writing:
* network-manager for connecting to hotspots while I'm away
* kmscon for custom fonts and more than 16 colors in the tty
* tmux for a nice status
There is a follow up post that answers my obvious question of “Why not just switch to a tty on your existing setup?” (Which seems more reasonable for most people) and also describes how research & writing fit together when effectively offline