diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -85,11 +85,13 @@
 00 - My <b>first</b> note.
 </pre>
 
-Lists are stored in `~/.config/slate/` and their default name is the name of your current directory. You can use any other name you want using the `--name` option.
+Lists are stored in `~/.config/slate/` and their default name is the name of your current directory. You can use any other name you want using the `--name` option or by adding a `.slate` file containing the name you want to use.
 
 ## Configuration
 
 The following configuration options can be set in `~/.config/slate/config.toml` (you'll have to create this file).
+
+You can check out [config.example.toml](https://github.com/evuez/slate/blob/master/config.example.toml) for a configuration example.
 
 ### Callbacks
 
diff --git a/slate.cabal b/slate.cabal
--- a/slate.cabal
+++ b/slate.cabal
@@ -2,10 +2,10 @@
 --
 -- see: https://github.com/sol/hpack
 --
--- hash: 6e60912378429734582892684e88ba61f79188de0112612ec1fb3ba8ebffd3d2
+-- hash: 05ce519ad09a3080cf323932dc67f8f23ef49a1548fe61dedd2c0da298836bf7
 
 name:           slate
-version:        0.9.0.0
+version:        0.10.0.0
 synopsis:       A note taking CLI tool.
 description:    Please see the README on Github at <https://github.com/evuez/slate#readme>
 homepage:       https://github.com/evuez/slate#readme
diff --git a/src/Lib.hs b/src/Lib.hs
--- a/src/Lib.hs
+++ b/src/Lib.hs
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 {-# LANGUAGE FlexibleInstances #-}
+{-# LANGUAGE LambdaCase #-}
 
 module Lib
   ( initialize
@@ -8,12 +9,14 @@
 
 import AnsiStyle (toAnsi)
 import qualified Data.HashMap.Lazy as M (lookup)
+import Data.Maybe (listToMaybe)
 import Data.Semigroup ((<>))
 import Data.String (fromString)
 import Data.String.Conversions (convertString)
 import Options.Applicative
 import System.Directory
   ( createDirectoryIfMissing
+  , doesFileExist
   , getCurrentDirectory
   , getHomeDirectory
   , removeFile
@@ -151,8 +154,16 @@
 
 getSlateName :: IO String
 getSlateName = do
-  directory <- getCurrentDirectory
-  return $ takeBaseName directory
+  d <- getCurrentDirectory
+  let headOrFail =
+        \x ->
+          maybe
+            (error "The .slate file in this directory shouldn't be empty.")
+            id
+            (listToMaybe x)
+  doesFileExist (d ++ "/.slate") >>= \case
+    True -> readFile (d ++ "/.slate") >>= (return . headOrFail . lines)
+    False -> return $ takeBaseName d
 
 getConfigDirectory :: IO String
 getConfigDirectory = do