diff --git a/vnotes b/vnotes
index e902620..c8cbb09 100755
--- a/vnotes
+++ b/vnotes
@@ -42,7 +42,8 @@ declare max_docwidth=0
 
 # Display help text
 function help {
-    script_name="${0//*\/}"
+    local script_name="${0//*\/}"
+
     printf '\n%s\n\n'      "${c_m}vnotes${c_w} - manage your notes$c_c"
     printf '%s\n'          "${c_b}USAGE$c_c"
     printf '  %-43s%s\n'   "${c_d}[${c_y}PATTERN$c_d]$c_c"                      ' — opens single match or lists multiple'
@@ -55,8 +56,7 @@ function help {
 # Create a note
 function create_note {
     if [[ -n "$1" ]]; then
-        note="$VNOTES_FOLDER/${1}.$VNOTES_EXTENSION"
-        "$EDITOR" "$note"
+        "$EDITOR" "$VNOTES_FOLDER/${1}.$VNOTES_EXTENSION"
     else
         printf '%s %s\n' "${c_r}ERROR:$c_c" "${c_w}The name of the note to ${c_y}create$c_w was not provided$c_c" >&2
         exit 1
@@ -65,6 +65,8 @@ function create_note {
 
 # Delete a note
 function delete_note {
+    local note
+
     if [[ -n "$1" ]]; then
         note="$VNOTES_FOLDER/${1}.$VNOTES_EXTENSION"
 
@@ -122,10 +124,15 @@ function open_note {
 
 # Search for notes and open the closest match, or list out options if more than one exists
 function search_notes {
-    # Take the first input as the key
-    key="$1"
+    # Declare the search term as "key"
+    local key="$1"
+
+    # Declare local variables we'll be using
+    local screen_width maxcolumns digits digits_power cnt count_display value keypress
 
     # Declare variables with the keycodes for "Q", "q", return/enter and 0-9
+    local alpha_Q alpha_q key_cr key_0 key_1 key_2 key_3 key_4 key_5 key_6 key_7 key_8 key_9
+
     alpha_Q=$(getkeycode "$(printf '%s' 'Q' | od -t o1)")
     alpha_q=$(getkeycode "$(printf '%s' 'q' | od -t o1)")
     key_cr=$(getkeycode "$(printf '\n' | od -t o1)")
@@ -205,8 +212,6 @@ function search_notes {
             (( digits++ ))
         done
 
-        unset digits_power
-
         # Draw the list
         printf '\n'
         cnt=1
@@ -227,7 +232,6 @@ function search_notes {
             fi
         done
 
-        unset cnt
         printf '\n'
 
         # Initialize the interactive entry line