diff --git a/examples/basic/index.js b/examples/basic/index.js
index a9a802611..2074ac764 100644
--- a/examples/basic/index.js
+++ b/examples/basic/index.js
@@ -1,5 +1,5 @@
 
-import Editor, { State } from '../..'
+import Editor, { State, Raw } from '../..'
 import React from 'react'
 import ReactDOM from 'react-dom'
 
@@ -33,7 +33,11 @@ const state = {
             },
             {
               text: 'simple',
-              marks: ['bold']
+              marks: [
+                {
+                  type: 'bold'
+                }
+              ]
             },
             {
               text: ' paragraph of text.'
@@ -78,14 +82,14 @@ function renderNode(node) {
 }
 
 function renderMark(mark) {
-  switch (mark) {
+  switch (mark.type) {
     case 'bold': {
       return {
         fontWeight: 'bold'
       }
     }
     default: {
-      throw new Error(`Unknown mark type "${mark}".`)
+      throw new Error(`Unknown mark type "${mark.type}".`)
     }
   }
 }
@@ -97,7 +101,7 @@ function renderMark(mark) {
 class App extends React.Component {
 
   state = {
-    state: State.create(state)
+    state: Raw.deserialize(state)
   };
 
   render() {
diff --git a/lib/components/editor.js b/lib/components/editor.js
index 16897513f..16edb1084 100644
--- a/lib/components/editor.js
+++ b/lib/components/editor.js
@@ -1,7 +1,8 @@
 
 import Content from './content'
 import React from 'react'
-import CORE_PLUGIN from '../plugins/core'
+import State from '../models/state'
+import corePlugin from '../plugins/core'
 
 /**
  * Editor.
@@ -19,20 +20,38 @@ class Editor extends React.Component {
 
   static defaultProps = {
     plugins: [],
-    state: {}
+    state: new State()
   };
 
+  /**
+   * When created, compute the plugins from `props`.
+   *
+   * @param {Object} props
+   */
+
   constructor(props) {
     super(props)
     this.state = {}
     this.state.plugins = this.resolvePlugins(props)
   }
 
+  /**
+   * When the `props` are updated, recompute the plugins.
+   *
+   * @param {Object} props
+   */
+
   componentWillReceiveProps(props) {
     const plugins = this.resolvePlugins(props)
     this.setState({ plugins })
   }
 
+  /**
+   * When the `state` changes, pass through plugins, then bubble up.
+   *
+   * @param {State} state
+   */
+
   onChange(state) {
     if (state == this.props.state) return
 
@@ -57,19 +76,20 @@ class Editor extends React.Component {
   }
 
   /**
-   * Handle the `keydown` event.
+   * When an event by `name` fires, pass it through the plugins, and update the
+   * state if one of them chooses to.
    *
+   * @param {String} name
    * @param {Event} e
    */
 
-  onKeyDown(e) {
+  onEvent(name, e) {
     for (const plugin of this.state.plugins) {
-      if (plugin.onKeyDown) {
-        const newState = plugin.onKeyDown(e, this.props.state, this)
-        if (newState == null) continue
-        this.props.onChange(newState)
-        break
-      }
+      if (!plugin[name]) continue
+      const newState = plugin[name](e, this.props.state, this)
+      if (!newState) continue
+      this.props.onChange(newState)
+      break
     }
   }
 
@@ -86,15 +106,31 @@ class Editor extends React.Component {
         renderNode={this.props.renderNode}
         state={this.props.state}
         onChange={state => this.onChange(state)}
-        onKeyDown={e => this.onKeyDown(e)}
+        onKeyDown={e => this.onEvent('keyDown', e)}
       />
     )
   }
 
+  /**
+   * Resolve the editor's current plugins from `props` when they change.
+   *
+   * Add a plugin made from the editor's own `props` at the beginning of the
+   * stack. That way, you can add a `onKeyDown` handler to the editor itself,
+   * and it will override all of the existing plugins.
+   *
+   * Also add the "core" functionality plugin that handles the most basic events
+   * for the editor, like delete characters and such.
+   *
+   * @param {Object} props
+   * @return {Array} plugins
+   */
+
   resolvePlugins(props) {
+    const { onChange, plugins, ...editorPlugin } = props
     return [
-      ...props.plugins,
-      CORE_PLUGIN
+      editorPlugin,
+      ...plugins,
+      corePlugin
     ]
   }
 
diff --git a/lib/components/leaf.js b/lib/components/leaf.js
index 8bd6d76a0..ec35904a2 100644
--- a/lib/components/leaf.js
+++ b/lib/components/leaf.js
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 import OffsetKey from '../utils/offset-key'
 import React from 'react'
 import ReactDOM from 'react-dom'
-import createOffsetKey from '../utils/create-offset-key'
 
 /**
  * Leaf.
@@ -11,10 +10,13 @@ import createOffsetKey from '../utils/create-offset-key'
 class Leaf extends React.Component {
 
   static propTypes = {
+    marks: React.PropTypes.array.isRequired,
     node: React.PropTypes.object.isRequired,
-    range: React.PropTypes.object.isRequired,
+    start: React.PropTypes.number.isRequired,
+    end: React.PropTypes.number.isRequired,
     renderMark: React.PropTypes.func.isRequired,
     state: React.PropTypes.object.isRequired,
+    text: React.PropTypes.string.isRequired
   };
 
   componentDidMount() {
@@ -33,11 +35,8 @@ class Leaf extends React.Component {
     if (!selection.isFocused) return
 
     const { anchorKey, anchorOffset, focusKey, focusOffset } = selection
-    const { node, range } = this.props
+    const { node, start, end } = this.props
     const { key } = node
-    const { offset, text } = range
-    const start = offset
-    const end = offset + text.length
 
     // If neither matches, the selection doesn't start or end here, so exit.
     const hasStart = key == anchorKey && start <= anchorOffset && anchorOffset <= end
@@ -95,13 +94,12 @@ class Leaf extends React.Component {
   }
 
   render() {
-    const { node, range } = this.props
-    const { text } = range
+    const { node, start, end, text, marks } = this.props
     const styles = this.renderStyles()
     const offsetKey = OffsetKey.stringify({
       key: node.key,
-      start: range.offset,
-      end: range.offset + range.text.length
+      start,
+      end
     })
 
     return (
@@ -110,14 +108,13 @@ class Leaf extends React.Component {
         data-offset-key={offsetKey}
         data-type='leaf'
       >
-        {text == '' ? <br/> : text}
+        {text || <br/>}
       </span>
     )
   }
 
   renderStyles() {
-    const { range, renderMark } = this.props
-    const { marks } = range
+    const { marks, renderMark } = this.props
     return marks.reduce((styles, mark) => {
       return {
         ...styles,
diff --git a/lib/components/text.js b/lib/components/text.js
index 3817baa50..cd111783f 100644
--- a/lib/components/text.js
+++ b/lib/components/text.js
@@ -1,8 +1,8 @@
 
 import Leaf from './leaf'
+import OffsetKey from '../utils/offset-key'
+import Raw from '../serializers/raw'
 import React from 'react'
-import convertCharactersToRanges from '../utils/convert-characters-to-ranges'
-import createOffsetKey from '../utils/create-offset-key'
 
 /**
  * Text.
@@ -18,33 +18,47 @@ class Text extends React.Component {
 
   render() {
     const { node } = this.props
-    const { characters } = node
-    const ranges = convertCharactersToRanges(characters)
-    const leaves = ranges.length
-      ? ranges.map(range => this.renderLeaf(range))
-      : this.renderSpacerLeaf()
-
     return (
       <span
         key={node.key}
         data-key={node.key}
         data-type='text'
       >
-        {leaves}
+        {this.renderLeaves()}
       </span>
     )
   }
 
+  renderLeaves() {
+    const { node } = this.props
+    const { characters } = node
+    const ranges = Raw.serializeCharacters(characters)
+    return ranges.length
+      ? ranges.map((range) => this.renderLeaf(range))
+      : this.renderSpacerLeaf()
+  }
+
   renderLeaf(range) {
     const { node, renderMark, state } = this.props
-    const key = createOffsetKey(node, range)
+    const { marks, offset, text } = range
+    const start = offset
+    const end = offset + text.length
+    const offsetKey = OffsetKey.stringify({
+      key: node.key,
+      start,
+      end
+    })
+
     return (
       <Leaf
-        key={key}
-        range={range}
+        key={offsetKey}
+        marks={marks}
         node={node}
+        start={start}
+        end={end}
         renderMark={renderMark}
         state={state}
+        text={text}
       />
     )
   }
diff --git a/lib/index.js b/lib/index.js
index 70ee674cd..61c364794 100644
--- a/lib/index.js
+++ b/lib/index.js
@@ -15,6 +15,12 @@ import Selection from './models/selection'
 import State from './models/state'
 import Text from './models/text'
 
+/**
+ * Serializers.
+ */
+
+import Raw from './serializers/raw'
+
 /**
  * Export.
  */
@@ -23,6 +29,7 @@ export default Editor
 export {
   Character,
   Node,
+  Raw,
   Selection,
   State,
   Text
diff --git a/lib/models/character.js b/lib/models/character.js
index 2cfd5b9e3..d474378bd 100644
--- a/lib/models/character.js
+++ b/lib/models/character.js
@@ -17,28 +17,25 @@ const CharacterRecord = new Record({
 class Character extends CharacterRecord {
 
   /**
-   * Create a character record from a Javascript `object`.
+   * Create a character record with `properties`.
    *
-   * @param {Object} object
+   * @param {Object} properties
    * @return {Character} character
    */
 
-  static create(object) {
-    return new Character({
-      text: object.text,
-      marks: new List(object.marks)
-    })
+  static create(properties = {}) {
+    return new Character(properties)
   }
 
   /**
-   * Create a list of characters from a Javascript `array`.
+   * Create a characters list from an array of characters.
    *
    * @param {Array} array
    * @return {List} characters
    */
 
-  static createList(array) {
-    return new List(array.map(object => Character.create(object)))
+  static createList(array = []) {
+    return new List(array)
   }
 
 }
diff --git a/lib/models/mark.js b/lib/models/mark.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..5c023dded
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/models/mark.js
@@ -0,0 +1,48 @@
+
+import { List, Map, Record } from 'immutable'
+
+/**
+ * Record.
+ */
+
+const MarkRecord = new Record({
+  data: new Map(),
+  type: null
+})
+
+/**
+ * Mark.
+ */
+
+class Mark extends MarkRecord {
+
+  /**
+   * Create a new `Mark` with `properties`.
+   *
+   * @param {Object} properties
+   * @return {Mark} mark
+   */
+
+  static create(properties = {}) {
+    if (!properties.type) throw new Error('You must provide a `type` for the mark.')
+    return new Mark(properties)
+  }
+
+  /**
+   * Create a marks list from an array of marks.
+   *
+   * @param {Array} array
+   * @return {List} marks
+   */
+
+  static createList(array = []) {
+    return new List(array)
+  }
+
+}
+
+/**
+ * Export.
+ */
+
+export default Mark
diff --git a/lib/models/node.js b/lib/models/node.js
index 34882f49c..e8b6800b4 100644
--- a/lib/models/node.js
+++ b/lib/models/node.js
@@ -21,36 +21,30 @@ const NodeRecord = new Record({
 class Node extends NodeRecord {
 
   /**
-   * Create a node record from a Javascript `object`.
+   * Create a new `Node` with `properties`.
    *
-   * @param {Object} object
+   * @param {Object} properties
    * @return {Node} node
    */
 
-  static create(object) {
-    return new Node({
-      data: new Map(object.data || {}),
-      key: uid(4),
-      nodes: Node.createMap(object.nodes || []),
-      type: object.type
-    })
+  static create(properties = {}) {
+    if (!properties.type) throw new Error('You must pass a node `type`.')
+    properties.key = uid(4)
+    return new Node(properties)
   }
 
   /**
-   * Create an ordered map of nodes from a Javascript `array` of nodes.
+   * Create an ordered map of `Nodes` from an array of `Nodes`.
    *
-   * @param {Array} array
-   * @return {OrderedMap} nodes
+   * @param {Array} nodes
+   * @return {OrderedMap} map
    */
 
-  static createMap(array) {
-    return new OrderedMap(array.reduce((map, object) => {
-      const node = object.type == 'text'
-        ? Text.create(object)
-        : Node.create(object)
-      map[node.key] = node
+  static createMap(nodes = []) {
+    return nodes.reduce((map, node) => {
+      map = map.set(node.key, node)
       return map
-    }, {}))
+    }, new OrderedMap())
   }
 
   /**
diff --git a/lib/models/selection.js b/lib/models/selection.js
index 810f23362..af4645865 100644
--- a/lib/models/selection.js
+++ b/lib/models/selection.js
@@ -21,13 +21,14 @@ const SelectionRecord = new Record({
 class Selection extends SelectionRecord {
 
   /**
-   * Create a new `Selection` from `attrs`.
+   * Create a new `Selection` with `properties`.
    *
+   * @param {Object} properties
    * @return {Selection} selection
    */
 
-  static create(attrs) {
-    return new Selection(attrs)
+  static create(properties = {}) {
+    return new Selection(properties)
   }
 
   /**
diff --git a/lib/models/state.js b/lib/models/state.js
index f904c293f..712ffa820 100644
--- a/lib/models/state.js
+++ b/lib/models/state.js
@@ -60,17 +60,14 @@ const SELECTION_LIKE_METHODS = [
 class State extends StateRecord {
 
   /**
-   * Create a new `State` from a Javascript `object`.
+   * Create a new `State` with `properties`.
    *
-   * @param {Objetc} object
+   * @param {Objetc} properties
    * @return {State} state
    */
 
-  static create(attrs) {
-    return new State({
-      nodes: Node.createMap(attrs.nodes),
-      selection: Selection.create(attrs.selection)
-    })
+  static create(properties = {}) {
+    return new State(properties)
   }
 
   /**
diff --git a/lib/models/text.js b/lib/models/text.js
index d90cae625..194470332 100644
--- a/lib/models/text.js
+++ b/lib/models/text.js
@@ -19,18 +19,15 @@ const TextRecord = new Record({
 class Text extends TextRecord {
 
   /**
-   * Create a text record from a Javascript `object`.
+   * Create a new `Text` with `properties`.
    *
-   * @param {Object} object
+   * @param {Object} properties
    * @return {Node} node
    */
 
-  static create(attrs) {
-    const characters = convertRangesToCharacters(attrs.ranges || [])
-    return new Text({
-      key: uid(4),
-      characters
-    })
+  static create(properties = {}) {
+    properties.key = uid(4)
+    return new Text(properties)
   }
 
   /**
diff --git a/lib/plugins/core.js b/lib/plugins/core.js
index 1a1cf1cd5..787b5d8de 100644
--- a/lib/plugins/core.js
+++ b/lib/plugins/core.js
@@ -3,10 +3,10 @@ import keycode from 'keycode'
 import { IS_WINDOWS, IS_MAC } from '../utils/environment'
 
 /**
- * The core plugin.
+ * Export.
  */
 
-const CORE_PLUGIN = {
+export default {
 
   /**
    * The core `onKeyDown` handler.
@@ -124,9 +124,3 @@ function isCommand(e) {
     ? e.metaKey && !e.altKey
     : e.ctrlKey && !e.altKey
 }
-
-/**
- * Export.
- */
-
-export default CORE_PLUGIN
diff --git a/lib/serializers/raw.js b/lib/serializers/raw.js
new file mode 100644
index 000000000..b3a2f1a29
--- /dev/null
+++ b/lib/serializers/raw.js
@@ -0,0 +1,179 @@
+
+import Character from '../models/character'
+import Mark from '../models/mark'
+import Node from '../models/node'
+import Text from '../models/text'
+import State from '../models/state'
+import xor from 'lodash/xor'
+import { Map } from 'immutable'
+
+/**
+ * Serialize a `state`.
+ *
+ * @param {State} state
+ * @return {Object} object
+ */
+
+function serialize(state) {
+  return {
+    nodes: state.nodes.toArray().map(node => serializeNode(node))
+  }
+}
+
+/**
+ * Serialize a `node`.
+ *
+ * @param {Node} node
+ * @return {Object} object
+ */
+
+function serializeNode(node) {
+  switch (node.type) {
+    case 'text': {
+      return {
+        type: 'text',
+        ranges: serializeCharacters(node.characters)
+      }
+    }
+    default: {
+      return {
+        type: node.type,
+        data: node.data.toJSON(),
+        nodes: node.nodes.toArray().map(node => serializeNode(node))
+      }
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+/**
+ * Serialize a list of `characters`.
+ *
+ * @param {List} characters
+ * @return {Array}
+ */
+
+function serializeCharacters(characters) {
+  return characters
+    .toArray()
+    .reduce((ranges, char, i) => {
+      const previous = i == 0 ? null : characters.get(i - 1)
+      const { text } = char
+      const marks = char.marks.toArray().map(mark => serializeMark(mark))
+
+      if (previous) {
+        const previousMarks = previous.marks.toArray()
+        const diff = xor(marks, previousMarks)
+        if (!diff.length) {
+          const previousRange = ranges[ranges.length - 1]
+          previousRange.text += text
+          return ranges
+        }
+      }
+
+      const offset = ranges.map(range => range.text).join('').length
+      ranges.push({ text, marks, offset })
+      return ranges
+    }, [])
+}
+
+/**
+ * Serialize a `mark`.
+ *
+ * @param {Mark} mark
+ * @return {Object} Object
+ */
+
+function serializeMark(mark) {
+  return {
+    type: mark.type,
+    data: mark.data.toJSON()
+  }
+}
+
+/**
+ * Deserialize a state JSON `object`.
+ *
+ * @param {Object} object
+ * @return {State} state
+ */
+
+function deserialize(object) {
+  return State.create({
+    nodes: Node.createMap(object.nodes.map(deserializeNode))
+  })
+}
+
+/**
+ * Deserialize a node JSON `object`.
+ *
+ * @param {Object} object
+ * @return {Node} node
+ */
+
+function deserializeNode(object) {
+  switch (object.type) {
+    case 'text': {
+      return Text.create({
+        characters: deserializeRanges(object.ranges)
+      })
+    }
+    default: {
+      return Node.create({
+        type: object.type,
+        data: new Map(object.data),
+        nodes: Node.createMap(object.nodes.map(deserializeNode))
+      })
+    }
+  }
+}
+
+/**
+ * Deserialize a JSON `array` of ranges.
+ *
+ * @param {Array} array
+ * @return {List} characters
+ */
+
+function deserializeRanges(array) {
+  return array.reduce((characters, object) => {
+    const marks = object.marks || []
+    const chars = object.text
+      .split('')
+      .map(char => {
+        return Character.create({
+          text: char,
+          marks: Mark.createList(marks.map(deserializeMark))
+        })
+      })
+
+    return characters.push(...chars)
+  }, Character.createList())
+}
+
+/**
+ * Deserialize a mark JSON `object`.
+ *
+ * @param {Object} object
+ * @return {Mark} mark
+ */
+
+function deserializeMark(object) {
+  return Mark.create({
+    type: object.type,
+    data: new Map(object.data)
+  })
+}
+
+/**
+ * Export.
+ */
+
+export default {
+  serialize,
+  serializeCharacters,
+  serializeMark,
+  serializeNode,
+  deserialize,
+  deserializeNode,
+  deserializeRanges
+}
diff --git a/lib/utils/convert-characters-to-ranges.js b/lib/utils/convert-characters-to-ranges.js
deleted file mode 100644
index 67b7320c1..000000000
--- a/lib/utils/convert-characters-to-ranges.js
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,33 +0,0 @@
-
-import xor from 'lodash/xor'
-
-/**
- * Convert a `characters` list to `ranges`.
- *
- * @param {CharacterList} characters
- * @return {Array} ranges
- */
-
-export default function convertCharactersToRanges(characters) {
-  return characters
-    .toArray()
-    .reduce((ranges, char, i) => {
-      const previous = i == 0 ? null : characters.get(i - 1)
-      const { text } = char
-      const marks = char.marks.toArray()
-
-      if (previous) {
-        const previousMarks = previous.marks.toArray()
-        const diff = xor(marks, previousMarks)
-        if (!diff.length) {
-          const previousRange = ranges[ranges.length - 1]
-          previousRange.text += text
-          return ranges
-        }
-      }
-
-      const offset = ranges.map(range => range.text).join('').length
-      ranges.push({ text, marks, offset })
-      return ranges
-    }, [])
-}
diff --git a/lib/utils/convert-ranges-to-characters.js b/lib/utils/convert-ranges-to-characters.js
deleted file mode 100644
index fdeedeaef..000000000
--- a/lib/utils/convert-ranges-to-characters.js
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,23 +0,0 @@
-
-import Character from '../models/character'
-
-/**
- * Convert a `characters` list to `ranges`.
- *
- * @param {CharacterList} characters
- * @return {Array} ranges
- */
-
-export default function convertRangesToCharacters(ranges) {
-  return Character.createList(ranges.reduce((characters, range) => {
-    const chars = range.text
-      .split('')
-      .map(char => {
-        return {
-          text: char,
-          marks: range.marks
-        }
-      })
-    return characters.concat(chars)
-  }, []))
-}
diff --git a/lib/utils/create-offset-key.js b/lib/utils/create-offset-key.js
deleted file mode 100644
index 5b65c93ca..000000000
--- a/lib/utils/create-offset-key.js
+++ /dev/null
@@ -1,16 +0,0 @@
-
-/**
- * Create an offset key from a `node` and a `range`.
- *
- * @param {Node} node
- * @param {Object} range
- *   @property {Number} offset
- *   @property {String} text
- * @return {String} offsetKey
- */
-
-export default function createOffsetKey(node, range) {
-  const start = range.offset
-  const end = range.offset + range.text.length
-  return `${node.key}.${start}-${end}`
-}