diff --git a/kjg/python-the-hard-way/e17.py b/kjg/python-the-hard-way/e17.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..cfe8e16
--- /dev/null
+++ b/kjg/python-the-hard-way/e17.py
@@ -0,0 +1,24 @@
+from sys import argv
+from os.path import exists
+
+script, from_file, to_file = argv
+
+print(f"Copying from {from_file} to {to_file}")
+
+# we could do these two on one line, how ?
+in_file = open(from_file)
+indata = in_file.read()
+
+print(f"The input file is {len(indata)} bytes long")
+
+print(f"Does the output file exist? {exists(to_file)}")
+print("Ready, hit RETURN to continue, CTRL-C to abort.")
+input()
+
+out_file = open(to_file, 'w')
+out_file.write(indata)
+
+print("Alright, all done.")
+
+out_file.close()
+in_file.close()
diff --git a/kjg/python-the-hard-way/new_file.txt b/kjg/python-the-hard-way/new_file.txt
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..6de7b8c
--- /dev/null
+++ b/kjg/python-the-hard-way/new_file.txt
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+This is a test file.
diff --git a/kjg/python-the-hard-way/test.txt b/kjg/python-the-hard-way/test.txt
index e3188be..6de7b8c 100644
--- a/kjg/python-the-hard-way/test.txt
+++ b/kjg/python-the-hard-way/test.txt
@@ -1,3 +1 @@
-Mary had a little lamb
-Its fleece was white as snow
-It was also tasty
+This is a test file.
diff --git a/kjg/python.org b/kjg/python.org
index 312eb04..f2a91e2 100644
--- a/kjg/python.org
+++ b/kjg/python.org
@@ -85,4 +85,6 @@ how to use an argument with input
 **** ex15
 How to use read function from file
 **** ex16
-How to use write file
+How to write file
+**** ex17
+How to copy file