I have this rotated area type shape and I would like to separate it in two parts, while keeping all the text as it is. It seems to me like there is no simple way to do this in illustrator. What I'm trying to achieve is outlined in the two images below, which I composed in photoshop.
First, to make any modifications to the text area path, I have to copy the path alone, paste it, and do my modifications separately without the text. After I have divided the shape in two, then I can start adding the text again, which as you know, would just write itself horizontally along the shape.
Now, I could just rotate the shape, write the text, then rotate it back again, since this is an easy shape and an easy angle of rotation. But there has to be a simpler way to do this whole procedure, especially when dealing with more difficult shapes and obscure angles of rotation, no? Does anyone know of an easier way?