diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 8a4ee18..f1c0028 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -24,7 +24,8 @@ git repo, but will lack `man` support and command completion._
 
 ```bash
 burrow phlog          # create new phlog post
-burrow recipe         # add new recipe to box
+burrow recipe         # add or update a recipe to box
+burrow topic          # add or update a topic file
 burrow create-config  # generate a default config file
 burrow update-git     # pull latest git repo for gopher dir, if exists
 ```
@@ -37,6 +38,10 @@ by including a `.template` file in your phlog directory.
 `$EDITOR`. By default it will provide you a template, but you can override this
 by including a `.template` file in your recipe box directory.
 
+- `topic` will prompt for the name of the topic, then open it in your default
+`$EDITOR`. By default it will provide you a template, but you can override this
+by including a `.template` file in your topics directory.
+
 - `create-config` gives you the same settings as you have by default without
 a configuration file, but it provides you a starting point for customization.
 
@@ -61,13 +66,14 @@ The following options are available (defaults shown):
 config_dir_gopher="$HOME/gopher"       # local path to gopher site
 config_dir_phlog="phlog"               # relative path to phlog
 config_dir_recipebox="recipebox"       # relative path to recipe box
+config_dir_topics="topics"             # relative path to topics directory
 config_gopher_server="sdf.org"         # server of gopher host
 config_gopher_port="70"                # port of gopher host
 config_gopher_root="/users/username/"  # absolute path on gopher host to gopher site
 config_git_commit=false                # automatically commit changes if git repo
 config_git_push=false                  # automatically push changes if git repo
-config_autoindent=true                 # automatically reformat phlogs with leading spaces
-config_custom_editor=false             # use something other than $EDITOR
+config_autoindent=true                 # automatically reformat gophermaps with leading spaces
+                                       # and parse links at the end of file
 ```
 
 _Note: This file is a valid Bash script and will be sourced upon load._
diff --git a/burrow b/burrow
index cc1274a..b36e5dc 100755
--- a/burrow
+++ b/burrow
@@ -11,14 +11,11 @@ config_dir_gopher="$HOME/gopher/"
 config_dir_recipebox="recipebox"
 config_dir_phlog="phlog"
 config_dir_topics="topics"
-
 config_gopher_server="sdf.org"
 config_gopher_port="70"
 config_gopher_root="/users/username/"
-
 config_git_commit=false
 config_git_push=false
-
 config_autoindent=true
 
 # vars from flags
diff --git a/burrow.1 b/burrow.1
index 0419b06..4b049a6 100644
--- a/burrow.1
+++ b/burrow.1
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-.TH BURROW 1 "20 Jan 2018" "version 1.0.0rc"
+.TH BURROW 1 "03 Mar 2018" "version 1.2.0"
 .SH NAME
 burrow \- a helper for building and managing a gopher hole
 .SH SYNOPSIS
@@ -12,7 +12,9 @@ modification, and maintenance of a gopher hole.
 Create a new phlog entry.
 .TP
 .B recipe
-Add a new recipe to the recipe box.
+Add or update a recipe to the recipe box.
+.B topic
+Add or update a topic in your topics directory.
 .TP
 .B create-config
 Generates a default configuration file at