diff --git a/scripts/init b/scripts/init
index 8b1c542..4f49ece 100755
--- a/scripts/init
+++ b/scripts/init
@@ -7,8 +7,9 @@
          crypto/libcrypto
          net/base64)
 
-; TODO
-; if a blog tree already exists, print a nice error instead of letting make-directory error lol
+(when (file-exists? "version")
+  (displayln "current directory contains data")
+  (exit))
 
 ; cache dirs
 (make-directory "cache")
@@ -42,6 +43,14 @@
 
 ; src and public
 (make-directory "src")
+(put-preferences '(shonks:instance-url shonks:display-name shonks:name)
+                 '("https://myinstance.tld/" "Display Name(tm)" "username")
+                 #f
+                 "src/instance.rktd")
+(with-output-to-file "src/bio.md"
+                     (lambda ()
+                       (write-string "this section left intentionally blank")
+                       (void)))
 (make-directory "src/posts")
 
 (make-directory "public")
@@ -51,3 +60,7 @@
 (define c (sqlite3-connect #:database "taskq.sqlite3" #:mode 'create))
 (query-exec c "create table taskq (id blob(16) primary key, task blob, state integer)")
 (disconnect c)
+
+(with-output-to-file "version" (lambda () (write-string "1.0") (void)))
+
+(displayln "done")