diff --git a/lua/zettelkasten/action.lua b/lua/zettelkasten/action.lua
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..441ae12
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lua/zettelkasten/action.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,79 @@
+local A = {}
+
+-- Return only the link reference portion of a markdown/wiki style link
+function A.extract_link(input)
+    if not input then return end
+    return input:match("%[%[(.+)|?.*%]%]") or input:match("%[.*%]%((.+)%)")
+end
+
+-- Extracts a file name from a link and opens the corresponding file
+-- in the current buffer.
+-- Takes an optional input parameter
+function A.open(input)
+    local fname = A.extract_link(input)
+    if not fname then return end
+    -- TODO follow: go to anchor, fall back to filename
+    vim.api.nvim_command(string.format("edit %s", fname))
+end
+
+-- Gets the input at the current buffer cursor and opens it
+-- in the current buffer.
+function A.open_selected()
+    -- TODO decide between currentword/restofline option
+    A.open(A.get_link_under_cursor())
+end
+
+-- Returns the word currently under cursor, the vim equivalent of yiW.
+-- Takes an optional boolean flag to set the word being caught
+-- to the vim equivalent of doing yiw, a more exclusive version.
+function A.get_link_under_cursor(small)
+    local c = "<cWORD>"
+    if small then c = "<cword>" end
+    local word = vim.fn.expand(c)
+    return word
+end
+-- -- Returns the content of the line from the cursor onwards.
+-- function A.get_next_link_on_line()
+--     local line = vim.api.nvim_get_current_line()
+--     local linenr = vim.api.nvim_win_get_cursor(0)[1]
+--     print(line, linenr)
+--     return ""
+-- end
+
+return {open = A.open, open_selected = A.open_selected}
+
+-- local function get_selection()
+--     s_start = vim.fn.line("'<") - 1
+--     s_end = vim.fn.line("'>")
+--     return vim.api.nvim_buf_get_lines(0, s_start, s_end, true)
+-- end
+
+-- -- UGLY HACKS ABOUND
+-- function ZK.create_zettel()
+--     -- get line and its number
+--     local selection
+--     local line = vim.api.nvim_get_current_line()
+--     local linenr = vim.api.nvim_win_get_cursor(0)[1]
+
+--     -- get words under cursor / selected
+--     local mode = vim.api.nvim_get_mode()['mode']
+--     if mode == "n" then
+--         print(vim.fn.line("'<'") - 1)
+--         selection = vim.fn.expand("<cWORD>")
+--         -- NOT WORKING YET
+--     elseif mode == "v" then
+--         selection = get_selection()
+--     else
+--         return
+--     end
+
+--     -- get valid link
+--     local link = l.create(nil, selection)
+
+--     -- create new line with selection replaced in middle
+--     local st, en = line:find(selection, 0, true)
+--     local repl_line = line:sub(1, st - 1) .. link .. line:sub(en + 1)
+
+--     -- replace existing line in favor of new one
+--     vim.api.nvim_buf_set_lines(0, linenr - 1, linenr, true, {repl_line})
+-- end
diff --git a/lua/zettelkasten/action_spec.lua b/lua/zettelkasten/action_spec.lua
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..49fcbae
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lua/zettelkasten/action_spec.lua
@@ -0,0 +1,32 @@
+action = require 'zettelkasten.action'
+
+before_each(function() _G.vim = {g = {}, b = {}} end)
+after_each(function() _G.vim = nil end)
+
+describe("open", function()
+    it("should open file in editor if it is a valid link", function()
+        vim.api = {nvim_command = mock(function() end)}
+
+        action.open("[some text](1910271456_link-to-my-file.md)")
+        assert.spy(vim.api.nvim_command).was_called_with(
+            "edit 1910271456_link-to-my-file.md")
+    end)
+    it("should not fail when no input is available", function()
+        vim.fn = {expand = function() end}
+        assert.is_not_error(action.open)
+    end)
+end)
+describe("open_selected", function()
+    it("should open the next link found if no argument passed in", function()
+        vim.api = {nvim_command = mock(function() end)}
+        vim.fn = {
+            expand = function(sure)
+                return "[" .. sure .. "](1910271456_link-to-my-file.md)"
+            end
+        }
+
+        action.open_selected()
+        assert.spy(vim.api.nvim_command).was_called_with(
+            "edit 1910271456_link-to-my-file.md")
+    end)
+end)
diff --git a/lua/zettelkasten/init.lua b/lua/zettelkasten/init.lua
index be8d3fd..91b4b7c 100644
--- a/lua/zettelkasten/init.lua
+++ b/lua/zettelkasten/init.lua
@@ -16,6 +16,4 @@ end
 -- composed of yymmddHHMM.
 function ZK.create_anchor() return a.create() end
 
-return {
-    get_zettel_list = ZK.get_zettel_list
-}
+return {get_zettel_list = ZK.get_zettel_list, create_anchor = ZK.create_anchor}