diff --git a/src/scribae/init_cli.py b/src/scribae/init_cli.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..2d71bfe
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/scribae/init_cli.py
@@ -0,0 +1,184 @@
+from __future__ import annotations
+
+from pathlib import Path
+from typing import cast
+
+import typer
+import yaml
+
+from .project import ProjectConfig, default_project
+
+
+class InitError(Exception):
+    """Raised when initialization cannot proceed."""
+
+
+def _resolve_output_path(project: str | None, file: Path | None) -> Path:
+    if project and file:
+        raise typer.BadParameter("Options --project and --file are mutually exclusive.", param_hint="--project/--file")
+
+    if project:
+        project_path = Path(project).expanduser()
+        try:
+            project_path.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+        except OSError as exc:
+            raise InitError(f"Unable to create project directory {project_path}: {exc}") from exc
+        return project_path / "scribae.yaml"
+
+    if file:
+        return file.expanduser()
+
+    return Path("scribae.yaml")
+
+
+def _confirm_overwrite(path: Path, *, force: bool) -> None:
+    if path.exists() and path.is_dir():
+        raise InitError(f"Target path {path} is a directory, expected a file.")
+
+    if path.exists() and not force:
+        overwrite = typer.confirm(f"{path} already exists. Overwrite?", default=False)
+        if not overwrite:
+            typer.secho("Cancelled; existing file preserved.", err=True, fg=typer.colors.YELLOW)
+            raise typer.Exit(1)
+
+
+def _prompt_text(label: str, description: str, example: str, *, default: str, show_default: bool = True) -> str:
+    typer.echo("")
+    typer.secho(label, fg=typer.colors.CYAN, bold=True)
+    typer.echo(description)
+    typer.secho(f"Example: {example}", fg=typer.colors.MAGENTA)
+    return cast(str, typer.prompt("Value", default=default, show_default=show_default))
+
+
+def _split_list(value: str) -> list[str]:
+    return [item.strip() for item in value.split(",") if item.strip()]
+
+
+def _collect_project_config() -> ProjectConfig:
+    defaults = default_project()
+
+    typer.secho("Scribae init", fg=typer.colors.GREEN, bold=True)
+    typer.echo("Let's create a scribae.yaml so Scribae can tailor outputs to your project.")
+
+    site_name = _prompt_text(
+        "Site name",
+        "The publication or brand name used in prompts and metadata.",
+        "Acme Labs Blog",
+        default=defaults["site_name"],
+    )
+    domain = _prompt_text(
+        "Domain",
+        "The canonical site URL used for metadata and link generation (include https://).",
+        "https://example.com",
+        default=defaults["domain"],
+    )
+    audience = _prompt_text(
+        "Audience",
+        "Describe who you are writing for so the AI can match their expectations.",
+        "Product managers at SaaS startups",
+        default=defaults["audience"],
+    )
+    tone = _prompt_text(
+        "Tone",
+        "The voice and style Scribae should aim for when drafting content.",
+        "Conversational, clear, and friendly",
+        default=defaults["tone"],
+    )
+
+    keywords_default = ", ".join(defaults["keywords"])
+    keywords_raw = _prompt_text(
+        "Focus keywords",
+        "Optional seed topics Scribae should keep in mind (comma-separated).",
+        "python, SEO, content strategy",
+        default=keywords_default,
+        show_default=bool(keywords_default),
+    )
+    language = _prompt_text(
+        "Language",
+        "Primary output language code (use ISO 639-1 where possible).",
+        "en",
+        default=defaults["language"],
+    )
+
+    allowed_tags_raw = _prompt_text(
+        "Allowed HTML tags",
+        "Optional allowlist for HTML tags in generated content; leave blank for no restriction.",
+        "p, em, strong, a",
+        default="",
+        show_default=False,
+    )
+
+    return {
+        "site_name": site_name.strip(),
+        "domain": domain.strip(),
+        "audience": audience.strip(),
+        "tone": tone.strip(),
+        "keywords": _split_list(keywords_raw),
+        "language": language.strip(),
+        "allowed_tags": _split_list(allowed_tags_raw) or None,
+    }
+
+
+def _render_yaml(config: ProjectConfig) -> str:
+    payload: dict[str, object] = {
+        "site_name": config["site_name"],
+        "domain": config["domain"],
+        "audience": config["audience"],
+        "tone": config["tone"],
+        "language": config["language"],
+        "keywords": config["keywords"],
+    }
+    if config["allowed_tags"] is not None:
+        payload["allowed_tags"] = config["allowed_tags"]
+    rendered = yaml.safe_dump(payload, sort_keys=False, allow_unicode=True)
+    return cast(str, rendered).strip() + "\n"
+
+
+def init_command(
+    project: str | None = typer.Option(  # noqa: B008
+        None,
+        "--project",
+        "-p",
+        help="Project directory to create and write scribae.yaml into.",
+    ),
+    file: Path | None = typer.Option(  # noqa: B008
+        None,
+        "--file",
+        "-f",
+        resolve_path=True,
+        help="Custom path/filename for the scribae.yaml output.",
+    ),
+    force: bool = typer.Option(  # noqa: B008
+        False,
+        "--force",
+        help="Overwrite existing files without prompting.",
+    ),
+) -> None:
+    """Initialize a Scribae project configuration file."""
+
+    try:
+        output_path = _resolve_output_path(project, file)
+    except InitError as exc:
+        typer.secho(str(exc), err=True, fg=typer.colors.RED)
+        raise typer.Exit(2) from exc
+
+    try:
+        _confirm_overwrite(output_path, force=force)
+    except InitError as exc:
+        typer.secho(str(exc), err=True, fg=typer.colors.RED)
+        raise typer.Exit(2) from exc
+
+    config = _collect_project_config()
+    yaml_body = _render_yaml(config)
+
+    try:
+        output_path.parent.mkdir(parents=True, exist_ok=True)
+        output_path.write_text(yaml_body, encoding="utf-8")
+    except OSError as exc:
+        typer.secho(f"Unable to write {output_path}: {exc}", err=True, fg=typer.colors.RED)
+        raise typer.Exit(2) from exc
+
+    typer.secho(f"Wrote {output_path}", fg=typer.colors.GREEN)
+
+
+__all__ = ["init_command"]
diff --git a/src/scribae/main.py b/src/scribae/main.py
index f1657d2..dfdf5ba 100644
--- a/src/scribae/main.py
+++ b/src/scribae/main.py
@@ -5,6 +5,7 @@
 from .brief_cli import brief_command
 from .feedback_cli import feedback_command
 from .idea_cli import idea_command
+from .init_cli import init_command
 from .meta_cli import meta_command
 from .translate_cli import translate_command
 from .version_cli import version_command
@@ -27,6 +28,7 @@ def app_callback() -> None:
 
 
 app.command("idea", help="Brainstorm article ideas from a note with project-aware guidance.")(idea_command)
+app.command("init", help="Create a scribae.yaml config via a guided questionnaire.")(init_command)
 app.command(
     "brief",
     help="Generate a validated SEO brief (keywords, outline, FAQ, metadata) from a note.",
diff --git a/tests/__init__.py b/tests/__init__.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..e69de29
diff --git a/tests/conftest.py b/tests/conftest.py
index c4c45be..5b5b395 100644
--- a/tests/conftest.py
+++ b/tests/conftest.py
@@ -1,3 +1,4 @@
+import re
 from collections.abc import Generator
 from typing import Any
 
@@ -5,6 +6,11 @@
 from faker import Faker
 
 
+def strip_ansi(text: str) -> str:
+    """Remove ANSI escape codes from text."""
+    return re.sub(r"\x1b\[[0-9;]*m", "", text)
+
+
 @pytest.fixture(autouse=True)
 def stub_mt_pipeline(monkeypatch: pytest.MonkeyPatch) -> None:
     def _fake_pipeline(self: object, model_id: str) -> Any:  # noqa: ARG001
diff --git a/tests/unit/init_cli_test.py b/tests/unit/init_cli_test.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..b3e47e4
--- /dev/null
+++ b/tests/unit/init_cli_test.py
@@ -0,0 +1,94 @@
+from pathlib import Path
+
+import yaml
+from typer.testing import CliRunner
+
+from scribae.main import app
+from tests.conftest import strip_ansi
+
+runner = CliRunner()
+
+
+def _questionnaire_input() -> str:
+    return "\n".join(
+        [
+            "Scribae Blog",
+            "https://example.com",
+            "developers and writers",
+            "friendly and practical",
+            "seo, content strategy",
+            "en",
+            "p, em, a",
+        ]
+    ) + "\n"
+
+
+def test_init_writes_config_in_current_dir() -> None:
+    with runner.isolated_filesystem():
+        result = runner.invoke(app, ["init"], input=_questionnaire_input())
+
+        assert result.exit_code == 0
+        config_path = Path("scribae.yaml")
+        assert config_path.exists()
+        payload = yaml.safe_load(config_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
+        assert payload["site_name"] == "Scribae Blog"
+        assert payload["domain"] == "https://example.com"
+        assert payload["audience"] == "developers and writers"
+        assert payload["tone"] == "friendly and practical"
+        assert payload["keywords"] == ["seo", "content strategy"]
+        assert payload["language"] == "en"
+        assert payload["allowed_tags"] == ["p", "em", "a"]
+
+
+def test_init_writes_config_in_project_dir() -> None:
+    with runner.isolated_filesystem():
+        result = runner.invoke(app, ["init", "--project", "demo"], input=_questionnaire_input())
+
+        assert result.exit_code == 0
+        config_path = Path("demo") / "scribae.yaml"
+        assert config_path.exists()
+
+
+def test_init_writes_config_to_custom_file() -> None:
+    with runner.isolated_filesystem():
+        result = runner.invoke(
+            app,
+            ["init", "--file", "config/custom.yaml"],
+            input=_questionnaire_input(),
+        )
+
+        assert result.exit_code == 0
+        config_path = Path("config") / "custom.yaml"
+        assert config_path.exists()
+
+
+def test_init_prompts_before_overwrite() -> None:
+    with runner.isolated_filesystem():
+        config_path = Path("scribae.yaml")
+        config_path.write_text("site_name: old", encoding="utf-8")
+
+        result = runner.invoke(app, ["init"], input="n\n")
+
+        assert result.exit_code != 0
+        assert config_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8") == "site_name: old"
+
+
+def test_init_force_overwrites_existing_file() -> None:
+    with runner.isolated_filesystem():
+        config_path = Path("scribae.yaml")
+        config_path.write_text("site_name: old", encoding="utf-8")
+
+        result = runner.invoke(app, ["init", "--force"], input=_questionnaire_input())
+
+        assert result.exit_code == 0
+        payload = yaml.safe_load(config_path.read_text(encoding="utf-8"))
+        assert payload["site_name"] == "Scribae Blog"
+
+
+def test_init_rejects_project_and_file_options() -> None:
+    result = runner.invoke(app, ["init", "--project", "demo", "--file", "config.yaml"])
+
+    assert result.exit_code != 0
+    stderr = strip_ansi(result.stderr)
+    assert "--project" in stderr
+    assert "--file" in stderr
diff --git a/tests/unit/translate_cli_test.py b/tests/unit/translate_cli_test.py
index 737b1f4..5633fb2 100644
--- a/tests/unit/translate_cli_test.py
+++ b/tests/unit/translate_cli_test.py
@@ -2,7 +2,6 @@
 
 import json
 import os
-import re
 from pathlib import Path
 from typing import Any, cast
 
@@ -13,6 +12,7 @@
 from scribae.main import app
 from scribae.translate import TranslationConfig
 from scribae.translate.markdown_segmenter import TextBlock
+from tests.conftest import strip_ansi
 
 runner = CliRunner()
 
@@ -332,7 +332,7 @@ def test_translate_requires_input_without_prefetch_only(
     )
 
     assert result.exit_code != 0
-    ansi_stripped = re.sub(r"\x1b\[[0-9;]*m", "", result.stderr)
+    ansi_stripped = strip_ansi(result.stderr)
     assert "--in is required unless --prefetch-only" in ansi_stripped
 
 
@@ -449,7 +449,7 @@ def _raise(self: object, steps: list[object]) -> None:
     )
 
     assert result.exit_code != 0
-    ansi_stripped = re.sub(r"\x1b\[[0-9;]*m", "", result.stderr)
+    ansi_stripped = strip_ansi(result.stderr)
     assert "prefetch failed" in ansi_stripped
 
 
@@ -474,7 +474,7 @@ def test_translate_warns_on_source_mismatch(
     )
 
     assert result.exit_code == 0
-    ansi_stripped = re.sub(r"\x1b\[[0-9;]*m", "", result.stderr)
+    ansi_stripped = strip_ansi(result.stderr)
     assert "detected source language 'fr' does not match --src 'en'" in ansi_stripped
 
 
@@ -496,7 +496,7 @@ def test_translate_rejects_invalid_language_codes(
     )
 
     assert result.exit_code != 0
-    ansi_stripped = re.sub(r"\x1b\[[0-9;]*m", "", result.stderr)
+    ansi_stripped = strip_ansi(result.stderr)
     assert "must be a language code like en or eng_Latn" in ansi_stripped