diff --git a/src/parser/text.rs b/src/parser/text.rs
index aca9229b..09fc5423 100644
--- a/src/parser/text.rs
+++ b/src/parser/text.rs
@@ -66,7 +66,7 @@ pub struct Symbol<'a> {
 
 #[derive(Debug)]
 pub struct BlankLine<'a> {
-    contents: Vec<TextElement<'a>>,
+    contents: &'a str,
 }
 
 #[derive(Debug)]
@@ -105,16 +105,11 @@ pub fn symbol(symbol_tag: &'static str) -> impl for<'a> Fn(&'a str) -> Res<&'a s
 /// It is up to the caller to ensure this is called at the start of a line.
 fn blank_line(input: &str) -> Res<&str, BlankLine> {
     map(
-        many_till(
+        recognize(many_till(
             map(space, TextElement::Space),
             map(line_break, TextElement::LineBreak),
-        ),
-        |(mut whitespace, end_of_line)| {
-            whitespace.push(end_of_line);
-            BlankLine {
-                contents: whitespace,
-            }
-        },
+        )),
+        |contents| BlankLine { contents },
     )(input)
 }
 
diff --git a/src/parser/text_element_parser.rs b/src/parser/text_element_parser.rs
index 31e92940..f874e78a 100644
--- a/src/parser/text_element_parser.rs
+++ b/src/parser/text_element_parser.rs
@@ -39,8 +39,8 @@ fn flat_text_element<'s, 'r>(
     let link_matcher = parser_with_context!(flat_link)(context);
 
     alt((
-        bold_matcher,
-        link_matcher,
+        map(bold_matcher, TextElement::Bold),
+        map(link_matcher, TextElement::Link),
         map(span, TextElement::Span),
         map(symbol("*"), TextElement::Symbol),
         map(symbol("["), TextElement::Symbol),
@@ -54,14 +54,14 @@ fn recognize_bold_end(input: &str) -> Res<&str, &str> {
     recognize(bold_end)(input)
 }
 
-fn flat_bold<'s, 'r>(i: &'s str, context: &'r OrgModeContext<'r>) -> Res<&'s str, TextElement<'s>> {
+fn flat_bold<'s, 'r>(i: &'s str, context: &'r OrgModeContext<'r>) -> Res<&'s str, Bold<'s>> {
     let new_context = context.with_additional_fail_matcher(&recognize_bold_end);
     let text_element_parser = parser_with_context!(flat_text_element)(&new_context);
     let (remaining, captured) = recognize(tuple((
         bold_start,
         many_till(text_element_parser, bold_end),
     )))(i)?;
-    let ret = TextElement::Bold(Bold { contents: captured });
+    let ret = Bold { contents: captured };
     Ok((remaining, ret))
 }
 
@@ -69,14 +69,14 @@ fn recognize_link_end(input: &str) -> Res<&str, &str> {
     recognize(link_end)(input)
 }
 
-fn flat_link<'s, 'r>(i: &'s str, context: &'r OrgModeContext<'r>) -> Res<&'s str, TextElement<'s>> {
+fn flat_link<'s, 'r>(i: &'s str, context: &'r OrgModeContext<'r>) -> Res<&'s str, Link<'s>> {
     let new_context = context.with_additional_fail_matcher(&recognize_link_end);
     let text_element_parser = parser_with_context!(flat_text_element)(&new_context);
     let (remaining, captured) = recognize(tuple((
         link_start,
         many_till(text_element_parser, link_end),
     )))(i)?;
-    let ret = TextElement::Link(Link { contents: captured });
+    let ret = Link { contents: captured };
     Ok((remaining, ret))
 }