This is not a direct answer to your question, but maybe you will find it helpful.
- When an empty code cell is current, e.g. when you first open a notebook
- Esc-M will turn the code cell to markdown
- C will copy the cell
- V will copy the cell, repeated V’s will continue to open up new markdown cells.
The keyboard short-cuts are m, c, v. Sorry for the case error in my original post.