diff --git a/internal/ui/app.go b/internal/ui/app.go
index 7dc50fc..af9476a 100644
--- a/internal/ui/app.go
+++ b/internal/ui/app.go
@@ -21,9 +21,10 @@ import (
 
 // editorFinishedMsg is sent after the external $EDITOR exits.
 type editorFinishedMsg struct {
-	ticketID string
+	ticketID string // empty when create==true
 	path     string
 	err      error
+	create   bool // true: create ticket from edited file
 }
 
 // Mode is the active UI mode.
@@ -374,6 +375,20 @@ func (m Model) updateInput(msg tea.KeyMsg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 		}
 		return m, nil
 
+	case key.Matches(msg, m.keys.EditInEditor):
+		if m.mode != ModeCreate || m.creatingProject {
+			break
+		}
+		m.clearStatus()
+		cmd, err := m.openEditorForNewTicket()
+		if err != nil {
+			m.setError(err)
+			return m, nil
+		}
+		m.input.Blur()
+		m.mode = ModeList
+		return m, cmd
+
 	case key.Matches(msg, m.keys.Enter):
 		value := strings.TrimSpace(m.input.Value())
 		if m.mode == ModeCreate {
@@ -397,7 +412,7 @@ func (m Model) updateInput(msg tea.KeyMsg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 				m.setStatus(fmt.Sprintf("created project %s", id))
 				return m, nil
 			}
-			if err := m.createTicket(value); err != nil {
+			if err := m.createTicket(value, ""); err != nil {
 				m.setError(err)
 				return m, nil
 			}
@@ -474,6 +489,21 @@ func (m Model) openEditorForSelected() (tea.Cmd, error) {
 	}), nil
 }
 
+func (m Model) openEditorForNewTicket() (tea.Cmd, error) {
+	title := strings.TrimSpace(m.input.Value())
+	if title == "" {
+		title = "New ticket"
+	}
+	path, err := ticket.WriteEditFile(ticket.Ticket{Title: title})
+	if err != nil {
+		return nil, err
+	}
+	c := ticket.EditorCmd(path)
+	return tea.ExecProcess(c, func(err error) tea.Msg {
+		return editorFinishedMsg{path: path, err: err, create: true}
+	}), nil
+}
+
 func (m Model) handleEditorFinished(msg editorFinishedMsg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd) {
 	defer func() { _ = os.Remove(msg.path) }()
 
@@ -493,6 +523,16 @@ func (m Model) handleEditorFinished(msg editorFinishedMsg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd)
 		return m, nil
 	}
 
+	if msg.create {
+		if err := m.createTicket(title, description); err != nil {
+			m.setError(err)
+			return m, nil
+		}
+		m.mode = ModeList
+		m.setStatus("created")
+		return m, nil
+	}
+
 	before, err := m.store.Get(msg.ticketID)
 	if err != nil {
 		m.setError(err)
@@ -521,13 +561,14 @@ func (m Model) handleEditorFinished(msg editorFinishedMsg) (tea.Model, tea.Cmd)
 	return m, nil
 }
 
-func (m *Model) createTicket(title string) error {
+func (m *Model) createTicket(title, description string) error {
 	cmd := &command.CreateTicket{
 		Store: m.store,
 		Ticket: ticket.Ticket{
-			Title:     title,
-			ProjectID: m.cfg.ActiveProject,
-			Status:    m.boardList.DefaultStatus(),
+			Title:       title,
+			Description: description,
+			ProjectID:   m.cfg.ActiveProject,
+			Status:      m.boardList.DefaultStatus(),
 		},
 	}
 	if err := m.exec.Do(cmd); err != nil {
diff --git a/internal/ui/helpbar.go b/internal/ui/helpbar.go
index 631ff32..9174f96 100644
--- a/internal/ui/helpbar.go
+++ b/internal/ui/helpbar.go
@@ -14,10 +14,14 @@ type helpEntry struct {
 func (m Model) helpEntries() []helpEntry {
 	switch m.mode {
 	case ModeCreate:
-		return []helpEntry{
+		entries := []helpEntry{
 			{"enter", "save"},
 			{"esc", "cancel"},
 		}
+		if !m.creatingProject {
+			entries = append([]helpEntry{{"ctrl+e", "editor"}}, entries...)
+		}
+		return entries
 	case ModeSearch:
 		return []helpEntry{
 			{"enter", "apply"},
diff --git a/internal/ui/keys.go b/internal/ui/keys.go
index 1f43be9..6f47eb0 100644
--- a/internal/ui/keys.go
+++ b/internal/ui/keys.go
@@ -11,15 +11,16 @@ type KeyMap struct {
 	Project key.Binding
 	Board   key.Binding
 	Status  key.Binding
-	Edit         key.Binding
-	Delete       key.Binding // x — confirm first
-	DeleteForce  key.Binding // X — immediate
-	ConfirmYes   key.Binding
-	Undo         key.Binding
-	Redo         key.Binding
-	Quit         key.Binding
-	Enter        key.Binding
-	Escape       key.Binding
+	Edit          key.Binding
+	EditInEditor  key.Binding // ctrl+e — open $EDITOR while creating
+	Delete        key.Binding // x — confirm first
+	DeleteForce   key.Binding // X — immediate
+	ConfirmYes    key.Binding
+	Undo          key.Binding
+	Redo          key.Binding
+	Quit          key.Binding
+	Enter         key.Binding
+	Escape        key.Binding
 }
 
 // DefaultKeyMap returns the default key bindings.
@@ -57,6 +58,10 @@ func DefaultKeyMap() KeyMap {
 			key.WithKeys("e"),
 			key.WithHelp("e", "edit"),
 		),
+		EditInEditor: key.NewBinding(
+			key.WithKeys("ctrl+e"),
+			key.WithHelp("ctrl+e", "editor"),
+		),
 		Delete: key.NewBinding(
 			key.WithKeys("x"),
 			key.WithHelp("x", "delete"),