diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 8813623..9083830 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -1,35 +1,24 @@
 ## <small>1.0.45 (2022-01-17)</small>
 
-* build(deps): bump shelljs from 0.8.4 to 0.8.5 ([1da350a](https://github.com/simonecorsi/mawesome/commit/1da350a))
-
-
+- build(deps): bump shelljs from 0.8.4 to 0.8.5 ([1da350a](https://github.com/simonecorsi/mawesome/commit/1da350a))
 
 ## <small>1.0.44 (2021-10-26)</small>
 
-* chore(release): v1.0.44 ([6ffe17f](https://github.com/simonecorsi/mawesome/commit/6ffe17f))
-* feat: git add multiple files at once ([4aef61f](https://github.com/simonecorsi/mawesome/commit/4aef61f))
-
-
+- chore(release): v1.0.44 ([6ffe17f](https://github.com/simonecorsi/mawesome/commit/6ffe17f))
+- feat: git add multiple files at once ([4aef61f](https://github.com/simonecorsi/mawesome/commit/4aef61f))
 
 ## <small>1.0.43 (2021-10-15)</small>
 
-* chore(release): v1.0.43 ([5e0ef82](https://github.com/simonecorsi/mawesome/commit/5e0ef82))
-* feat: reduce json output size ([94635fe](https://github.com/simonecorsi/mawesome/commit/94635fe))
-
-
+- chore(release): v1.0.43 ([5e0ef82](https://github.com/simonecorsi/mawesome/commit/5e0ef82))
+- feat: reduce json output size ([94635fe](https://github.com/simonecorsi/mawesome/commit/94635fe))
 
 ## <small>1.0.42 (2021-10-14)</small>
 
-* chore(release): v1.0.42 ([5b36813](https://github.com/simonecorsi/mawesome/commit/5b36813))
-* fix(paginator): last page now correctly matches rex ([dcf9898](https://github.com/simonecorsi/mawesome/commit/dcf9898))
-
-
+- chore(release): v1.0.42 ([5b36813](https://github.com/simonecorsi/mawesome/commit/5b36813))
+- fix(paginator): last page now correctly matches rex ([dcf9898](https://github.com/simonecorsi/mawesome/commit/dcf9898))
 
 ## <small>1.0.41 (2021-10-14)</small>
 
-* chore(release): v1.0.41 ([884fc90](https://github.com/simonecorsi/mawesome/commit/884fc90))
-* test: fixs suite ([b97833f](https://github.com/simonecorsi/mawesome/commit/b97833f))
-* fix: should avoid index lock ([1d6848c](https://github.com/simonecorsi/mawesome/commit/1d6848c))
-
-
-
+- chore(release): v1.0.41 ([884fc90](https://github.com/simonecorsi/mawesome/commit/884fc90))
+- test: fixs suite ([b97833f](https://github.com/simonecorsi/mawesome/commit/b97833f))
+- fix: should avoid index lock ([1d6848c](https://github.com/simonecorsi/mawesome/commit/1d6848c))
diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index 03ddf34..c5ef838 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 {
   "name": "mawesome",
-  "version": "1.0.45",
+  "version": "1.1.0-next.1",
   "lockfileVersion": 2,
   "requires": true,
   "packages": {
     "": {
       "name": "mawesome",
-      "version": "1.0.45",
+      "version": "1.1.0-next.1",
       "license": "MIT",
       "dependencies": {
         "@actions/core": "^1.2.6",
diff --git a/src/index.ts b/src/index.ts
index abc0552..ac01c45 100644
--- a/src/index.ts
+++ b/src/index.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,5 @@
 import * as core from '@actions/core';
+import { readdir, readFile } from 'fs/promises';
 
 import {
   renderer,
@@ -27,11 +28,25 @@ export async function main(): Promise<any> {
     {}
   );
 
-  const rendered = await renderer({
-    username: REPO_USERNAME,
-    stars: Object.entries(sortedByLanguages),
-    updatedAt: Date.now(),
-  });
+  // get template if found in the repo
+  let template;
+  try {
+    const dir = await readdir('./');
+    core.info(dir.join('\n'));
+    template = await readFile('TEMPLATE.ejs', 'utf8');
+    core.info(template);
+  } catch {
+    core.warning("Couldn't find template file, using default");
+  }
+
+  const rendered = await renderer(
+    {
+      username: REPO_USERNAME,
+      stars: Object.entries(sortedByLanguages),
+      updatedAt: Date.now(),
+    },
+    template
+  );
 
   const markdown: string = await generateMd(rendered);