If I'm understanding you correctly, then imv[1] is a great tool for this. 'imv $filename' pops you in to a readline enabled prompt to edit $filename. Given that it is readline you can even add extra options in your ~/.inputrc to add additional features to it, I have mappings for custom dir prefixes as an example.

It also comes with qmv, which will pop open an editor for you to perform inplace edits on filenames. Which is kinda like dired as an emacs comparison, at least if you squint an awful lot.

1. http://www.nongnu.org/renameutils/