diff --git a/manifest.json b/manifest.json
index 99b900d..da57b42 100644
--- a/manifest.json
+++ b/manifest.json
@@ -1,7 +1,7 @@
 {
   "id": "longform",
   "name": "Longform",
-  "version": "2.2.0-beta.2",
+  "version": "2.2.0-beta.3",
   "minAppVersion": "1.0",
   "description": "Write novels, screenplays, and other long projects in Obsidian.",
   "author": "Kevin Barrett",
diff --git a/package-lock.json b/package-lock.json
index 69f8890..d831e6e 100644
--- a/package-lock.json
+++ b/package-lock.json
@@ -1,12 +1,12 @@
 {
   "name": "longform",
-  "version": "2.2.0-beta.2",
+  "version": "2.2.0-beta.3",
   "lockfileVersion": 2,
   "requires": true,
   "packages": {
     "": {
       "name": "longform",
-      "version": "2.2.0-beta.2",
+      "version": "2.2.0-beta.3",
       "license": "SEE LICENSE IN LICENSE.md",
       "dependencies": {
         "@popperjs/core": "^2.11.2",
diff --git a/package.json b/package.json
index 7e4fd77..e814c20 100644
--- a/package.json
+++ b/package.json
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 {
   "name": "longform",
-  "version": "2.2.0-beta.2",
+  "version": "2.2.0-beta.3",
   "description": "Write novels, screenplays, and other long projects in Obsidian (https://obsidian.md).",
   "main": "main.js",
   "scripts": {
diff --git a/src/view/metadata-modal/MetadataModal.svelte b/src/view/metadata-modal/MetadataModal.svelte
index a5c2498..24982b6 100644
--- a/src/view/metadata-modal/MetadataModal.svelte
+++ b/src/view/metadata-modal/MetadataModal.svelte
@@ -221,21 +221,29 @@
 </script>
 
 <div class="metadata-modal-root">
+  <h1 class="modal-heading">Project Metadata</h1>
   {#if loading}
     <p class="muted">Loading metadata…</p>
   {:else if !fileExists}
     <div class="empty-state">
-      <p>
-        No <code>metadata.json</code> found in
-        <code>{projectPath}</code>.
-      </p>
-      <p class="muted">
-        Create one to describe authors, abstract, journal, and more for the
+      <div class="empty-icon">
+        <Icon iconName="file-plus" />
+      </div>
+      <h2 class="empty-title">No metadata yet</h2>
+      <p class="empty-message">
+        This project doesn't have a <code>metadata.json</code> file. Create
+        one to describe authors, abstract, journal, and more for the
         <em>Add Zenodo Frontmatter</em> compile step.
       </p>
-      <button type="button" class="primary" on:click={onCreateFile}>
-        Create metadata.json
-      </button>
+      <p class="empty-path muted small">
+        Will be saved to <code>{projectPath}/metadata.json</code>
+      </p>
+      <div class="empty-actions">
+        <button type="button" class="ghost" on:click={close}>Cancel</button>
+        <button type="button" class="primary" on:click={onCreateFile}>
+          Create metadata.json
+        </button>
+      </div>
     </div>
   {:else}
     <form on:submit|preventDefault={onSave}>
@@ -395,8 +403,19 @@
 
 <style>
   .metadata-modal-root {
+    display: block;
     width: 100%;
     max-width: 640px;
+    margin: 0 auto;
+  }
+
+  .modal-heading {
+    display: block;
+    margin: 0 0 var(--size-4-4) 0;
+    font-size: var(--font-ui-large);
+    font-weight: 700;
+    color: var(--text-normal);
+    text-align: left;
   }
 
   .muted {
@@ -570,13 +589,47 @@
   }
 
   .empty-state {
+    display: flex;
+    flex-direction: column;
+    align-items: center;
     text-align: center;
-    padding: var(--size-4-6) var(--size-4-4);
+    padding: var(--size-4-8) var(--size-4-4) var(--size-4-6);
+    gap: var(--size-4-3);
   }
-  .empty-state p {
-    margin: 0 0 var(--size-4-2) 0;
+  .empty-icon {
+    display: flex;
+    align-items: center;
+    justify-content: center;
+    width: 64px;
+    height: 64px;
+    border-radius: 50%;
+    background: var(--background-modifier-hover);
+    color: var(--text-muted);
+    margin-bottom: var(--size-4-1);
+  }
+  .empty-icon :global(svg) {
+    width: 28px;
+    height: 28px;
+  }
+  .empty-title {
+    margin: 0;
+    font-size: var(--font-ui-medium);
+    font-weight: 600;
+    color: var(--text-normal);
   }
-  .empty-state button.primary {
+  .empty-message {
+    margin: 0;
+    max-width: 440px;
+    color: var(--text-muted);
+    line-height: var(--line-height-normal);
+  }
+  .empty-path {
+    margin: 0;
+    word-break: break-all;
+  }
+  .empty-actions {
+    display: flex;
+    gap: var(--size-4-2);
     margin-top: var(--size-4-3);
   }
 
diff --git a/src/view/metadata-modal/index.ts b/src/view/metadata-modal/index.ts
index 5ab5771..43497a1 100644
--- a/src/view/metadata-modal/index.ts
+++ b/src/view/metadata-modal/index.ts
@@ -15,9 +15,6 @@ export default class MetadataModal extends Modal {
 
   onOpen(): void {
     const { contentEl } = this;
-    contentEl.createEl("h1", { text: "Project Metadata" }, (el) => {
-      el.style.margin = "0 0 var(--size-4-4) 0";
-    });
     const target = contentEl.createDiv("longform-metadata-modal-root");
 
     const context = appContext(this);
diff --git a/versions.json b/versions.json
index c6475f1..134306e 100644
--- a/versions.json
+++ b/versions.json
@@ -14,5 +14,6 @@
   "1.0.1": "0.12.0",
   "1.0.0": "0.12.0",
   "2.2.0-beta.1": "1.0",
-  "2.2.0-beta.2": "1.0"
+  "2.2.0-beta.2": "1.0",
+  "2.2.0-beta.3": "1.0"
 }