diff --git a/data/hashmap_scene_hexmap.json b/data/hashmap_scene_hexmap.json
index e69de29..39017d8 100644
--- a/data/hashmap_scene_hexmap.json
+++ b/data/hashmap_scene_hexmap.json
@@ -0,0 +1 @@
+{"hex_size":10,"layout_mode":"layout_flat","world_position":{"x":0.0,"y":0.0,"z":0.0},"world_normal":{"x":0.0,"y":0.0,"z":1.0},"hexes":[{"XPos":195.0,"YPos":25.98076211353316,"q":13,"r":-5,"s":-8,"vertices":[{"x":205.0,"y":25.980762481689454,"z":0.0},{"x":200.0,"y":17.32050895690918,"z":0.0},{"x":190.0,"y":17.32050895690918,"z":0.0},{"x":185.0,"y":25.980762481689454,"z":0.0},{"x":190.0,"y":34.64101791381836,"z":0.0},{"x":200.0,"y":34.64101791381836,"z":0.0}]},{"XPos":210.0,"YPos":17.320508075688769,"q":14,"r":-6,"s":-8,"vertices":[{"x":220.0,"y":17.32050895690918,"z":0.0},{"x":215.0,"y":8.66025447845459,"z":0.0},{"x":205.0,"y":8.66025447845459,"z":0.0},{"x":200.0,"y":17.32050895690918,"z":0.0},{"x":205.0,"y":25.980762481689454,"z":0.0},{"x":215.0,"y":25.980762481689454,"z":0.0}]},{"XPos":210.0,"YPos":0.0,"q":14,"r":-7,"s":-7,"vertices":[{"x":220.0,"y":0.0,"z":0.0},{"x":215.0,"y":-8.66025447845459,"z":0.0},{"x":205.0,"y":-8.66025447845459,"z":0.0},{"x":200.0,"y":-1.2246467996456087e-15,"z":0.0},{"x":205.0,"y":8.66025447845459,"z":0.0},{"x":215.0,"y":8.66025447845459,"z":0.0}]},{"XPos":210.0,"YPos":-34.641016151377538,"q":14,"r":-9,"s":-5,"vertices":[{"x":220.0,"y":-34.64101791381836,"z":0.0},{"x":215.0,"y":-43.30126953125,"z":0.0},{"x":205.0,"y":-43.30126953125,"z":0.0},{"x":200.0,"y":-34.64101791381836,"z":0.0},{"x":205.0,"y":-25.980762481689454,"z":0.0},{"x":215.0,"y":-25.980762481689454,"z":0.0}]},{"XPos":195.0,"YPos":43.301270189221927,"q":13,"r":-4,"s":-9,"vertices":[{"x":205.0,"y":43.30126953125,"z":0.0},{"x":200.0,"y":34.64101791381836,"z":0.0},{"x":190.0,"y":34.64101791381836,"z":0.0},{"x":185.0,"y":43.30126953125,"z":0.0},{"x":190.0,"y":51.961524963378909,"z":0.0},{"x":200.0,"y":51.961524963378909,"z":0.0}]},{"XPos":210.0,"YPos":-69.28203230275509,"q":14,"r":-11,"s":-3,"vertices":[{"x":220.0,"y":-69.28203582763672,"z":0.0},{"x":215.0,"y":-77.9422836303711,"z":0.0},{"x":205.0,"y":-77.9422836303711,"z":0.0},{"x":200.0,"y":-69.28203582763672,"z":0.0},{"x":205.0,"y":-60.62177658081055,"z":0.0},{"x":215.0,"y":-60.62177658081055,"z":0.0}]},{"XPos":195.0,"YPos":60.621778264910698,"q":13,"r":-3,"s":-10,"vertices":[{"x":205.0,"y":60.62177658081055,"z":0.0},{"x":200.0,"y":51.961524963378909,"z":0.0},{"x":190.0,"y":51.961524963378909,"z":0.0},{"x":185.0,"y":60.62177658081055,"z":0.0},{"x":190.0,"y":69.28203582763672,"z":0.0},{"x":200.0,"y":69.28203582763672,"z":0.0}]},{"XPos":210.0,"YPos":-86.60254037844388,"q":14,"r":-12,"s":-2,"vertices":[{"x":220.0,"y":-86.6025390625,"z":0.0},{"x":215.0,"y":-95.2627944946289,"z":0.0},{"x":205.0,"y":-95.2627944946289,"z":0.0},{"x":200.0,"y":-86.6025390625,"z":0.0},{"x":205.0,"y":-77.9422836303711,"z":0.0},{"x":215.0,"y":-77.9422836303711,"z":0.0}]},{"XPos":105.0,"YPos":-112.58330249197701,"q":7,"r":-10,"s":3,"vertices":[{"x":115.0,"y":-112.58330535888672,"z":0.0},{"x":110.0,"y":-121.2435531616211,"z":0.0},{"x":100.0,"y":-121.2435531616211,"z":0.0},{"x":95.0,"y":-112.58330535888672,"z":0.0},{"x":100.0,"y":-103.92304992675781,"z":0.0},{"x":110.0,"y":-103.92304992675781,"z":0.0}]},{"XPos":60.0,"YPos":-155.88457268119897,"q":4,"r":-11,"s":7,"vertices":[{"x":70.0,"y":-155.8845672607422,"z":0.0},{"x":65.0,"y":-164.54483032226563,"z":0.0},{"x":55.0,"y":-164.54483032226563,"z":0.0},{"x":50.0,"y":-155.8845672607422,"z":0.0},{"x":55.0,"y":-147.2243194580078,"z":0.0},{"x":65.0,"y":-147.2243194580078,"z":0.0}]},{"XPos":75.0,"YPos":-129.90381056766578,"q":5,"r":-10,"s":5,"vertices":[{"x":85.0,"y":-129.90380859375,"z":0.0},{"x":80.0,"y":-138.56407165527345,"z":0.0},{"x":70.0,"y":-138.56407165527345,"z":0.0},{"x":65.0,"y":-129.90380859375,"z":0.0},{"x":70.0,"y":-121.2435531616211,"z":0.0},{"x":80.0,"y":-121.2435531616211,"z":0.0}]},{"XPos":210.0,"YPos":-17.320508075688769,"q":14,"r":-8,"s":-6,"vertices":[{"x":220.0,"y":-17.32050895690918,"z":0.0},{"x":215.0,"y":-25.980762481689454,"z":0.0},{"x":205.0,"y":-25.980762481689454,"z":0.0},{"x":200.0,"y":-17.32050895690918,"z":0.0},{"x":205.0,"y":-8.66025447845459,"z":0.0},{"x":215.0,"y":-8.66025447845459,"z":0.0}]},{"XPos":75.0,"YPos":-147.22431864335457,"q":5,"r":-11,"s":6,"vertices":[{"x":85.0,"y":-147.2243194580078,"z":0.0},{"x":80.0,"y":-155.8845672607422,"z":0.0},{"x":70.0,"y":-155.8845672607422,"z":0.0},{"x":65.0,"y":-147.2243194580078,"z":0.0},{"x":70.0,"y":-138.56407165527345,"z":0.0},{"x":80.0,"y":-138.56407165527345,"z":0.0}]},{"XPos":45.0,"YPos":-129.90381056766578,"q":3,"r":-9,"s":6,"vertices":[{"x":55.0,"y":-129.90380859375,"z":0.0},{"x":50.0,"y":-138.56407165527345,"z":0.0},{"x":40.0,"y":-138.56407165527345,"z":0.0},{"x":35.0,"y":-129.90380859375,"z":0.0},{"x":40.0,"y":-121.2435531616211,"z":0.0},{"x":50.0,"y":-121.2435531616211,"z":0.0}]},{"XPos":60.0,"YPos":-138.56406460551018,"q":4,"r":-10,"s":6,"vertices":[{"x":70.0,"y":-138.56407165527345,"z":0.0},{"x":65.0,"y":-147.2243194580078,"z":0.0},{"x":55.0,"y":-147.2243194580078,"z":0.0},{"x":50.0,"y":-138.56407165527345,"z":0.0},{"x":55.0,"y":-129.90380859375,"z":0.0},{"x":65.0,"y":-129.90380859375,"z":0.0}]},{"XPos":210.0,"YPos":-51.961524227066309,"q":14,"r":-10,"s":-4,"vertices":[{"x":220.0,"y":-51.961524963378909,"z":0.0},{"x":215.0,"y":-60.62177658081055,"z":0.0},{"x":205.0,"y":-60.62177658081055,"z":0.0},{"x":200.0,"y":-51.961524963378909,"z":0.0},{"x":205.0,"y":-43.30126953125,"z":0.0},{"x":215.0,"y":-43.30126953125,"z":0.0}]},{"XPos":90.0,"YPos":-121.24355652982139,"q":6,"r":-10,"s":4,"vertices":[{"x":100.0,"y":-121.2435531616211,"z":0.0},{"x":95.0,"y":-129.90380859375,"z":0.0},{"x":85.0,"y":-129.90380859375,"z":0.0},{"x":80.0,"y":-121.2435531616211,"z":0.0},{"x":85.0,"y":-112.58330535888672,"z":0.0},{"x":95.0,"y":-112.58330535888672,"z":0.0}]},{"XPos":45.0,"YPos":-147.22431864335455,"q":3,"r":-10,"s":7,"vertices":[{"x":55.0,"y":-147.2243194580078,"z":0.0},{"x":50.0,"y":-155.8845672607422,"z":0.0},{"x":40.0,"y":-155.8845672607422,"z":0.0},{"x":35.0,"y":-147.2243194580078,"z":0.0},{"x":40.0,"y":-138.56407165527345,"z":0.0},{"x":50.0,"y":-138.56407165527345,"z":0.0}]},{"XPos":180.0,"YPos":-103.92304845413264,"q":12,"r":-12,"s":0,"vertices":[{"x":190.0,"y":-103.92304992675781,"z":0.0},{"x":185.0,"y":-112.58330535888672,"z":0.0},{"x":175.0,"y":-112.58330535888672,"z":0.0},{"x":170.0,"y":-103.92304992675781,"z":0.0},{"x":175.0,"y":-95.2627944946289,"z":0.0},{"x":185.0,"y":-95.2627944946289,"z":0.0}]},{"XPos":60.0,"YPos":-121.24355652982139,"q":4,"r":-9,"s":5,"vertices":[{"x":70.0,"y":-121.2435531616211,"z":0.0},{"x":65.0,"y":-129.90380859375,"z":0.0},{"x":55.0,"y":-129.90380859375,"z":0.0},{"x":50.0,"y":-121.2435531616211,"z":0.0},{"x":55.0,"y":-112.58330535888672,"z":0.0},{"x":65.0,"y":-112.58330535888672,"z":0.0}]},{"XPos":120.0,"YPos":-121.2435565298214,"q":8,"r":-11,"s":3,"vertices":[{"x":130.0,"y":-121.2435531616211,"z":0.0},{"x":125.0,"y":-129.90380859375,"z":0.0},{"x":115.0,"y":-129.90380859375,"z":0.0},{"x":110.0,"y":-121.2435531616211,"z":0.0},{"x":115.0,"y":-112.58330535888672,"z":0.0},{"x":125.0,"y":-112.58330535888672,"z":0.0}]},{"XPos":135.0,"YPos":-112.58330249197701,"q":9,"r":-11,"s":2,"vertices":[{"x":145.0,"y":-112.58330535888672,"z":0.0},{"x":140.0,"y":-121.2435531616211,"z":0.0},{"x":130.0,"y":-121.2435531616211,"z":0.0},{"x":125.0,"y":-112.58330535888672,"z":0.0},{"x":130.0,"y":-103.92304992675781,"z":0.0},{"x":140.0,"y":-103.92304992675781,"z":0.0}]},{"XPos":150.0,"YPos":-121.24355652982143,"q":10,"r":-12,"s":2,"vertices":[{"x":160.0,"y":-121.2435531616211,"z":0.0},{"x":155.0,"y":-129.90380859375,"z":0.0},{"x":145.0,"y":-129.90380859375,"z":0.0},{"x":140.0,"y":-121.2435531616211,"z":0.0},{"x":145.0,"y":-112.58330535888672,"z":0.0},{"x":155.0,"y":-112.58330535888672,"z":0.0}]},{"XPos":165.0,"YPos":-112.58330249197704,"q":11,"r":-12,"s":1,"vertices":[{"x":175.0,"y":-112.58330535888672,"z":0.0},{"x":170.0,"y":-121.2435531616211,"z":0.0},{"x":160.0,"y":-121.2435531616211,"z":0.0},{"x":155.0,"y":-112.58330535888672,"z":0.0},{"x":160.0,"y":-103.92304992675781,"z":0.0},{"x":170.0,"y":-103.92304992675781,"z":0.0}]},{"XPos":195.0,"YPos":-95.26279441628827,"q":13,"r":-12,"s":-1,"vertices":[{"x":205.0,"y":-95.2627944946289,"z":0.0},{"x":200.0,"y":-103.92304992675781,"z":0.0},{"x":190.0,"y":-103.92304992675781,"z":0.0},{"x":185.0,"y":-95.2627944946289,"z":0.0},{"x":190.0,"y":-86.6025390625,"z":0.0},{"x":200.0,"y":-86.6025390625,"z":0.0}]}]}
\ No newline at end of file
diff --git a/src/hexgame.cpp b/src/hexgame.cpp
index 24b4d79..12d3b1a 100644
--- a/src/hexgame.cpp
+++ b/src/hexgame.cpp
@@ -95,7 +95,7 @@ init()
 	//	which contains the hashtable.
 	g_game_state->grid.hex_map = std::unordered_map<Hex, hex_info, hex_hashfunc>();
 	// NOTE: testing hex_add
-	g_game_state->grid.draw_mode = NONE;
+	g_game_state->grid.draw_mode = ADD_HEXES;
 	// TODO: maybe add this as an option to scene json?
 	g_game_state->grid.normal = v3f(0.f, 0.f, 1.f);
 
diff --git a/src/scene_loader.cpp b/src/scene_loader.cpp
index 06b9b57..27c266f 100644
--- a/src/scene_loader.cpp
+++ b/src/scene_loader.cpp
@@ -31,6 +31,7 @@ glm::vec3 parseVec3(const rapidjson::Value& node);
 glm::vec4 parseVec4(const rapidjson::Value& node);
 bool validateScene(rapidjson::Document* schema_doc, rapidjson::Document* scene_doc,
 		const char* scene_file);
+void addV3f(rapidjson::Writer<rapidjson::StringBuffer>& writer, float x, float y, float z);
 
 
 // interface
@@ -198,23 +199,58 @@ slSaveGridFile(hexgrid& hg)
 	if (utilConcatPath(full_path, g_data_dir, hg.map_file, max_len)) {
 		LOG(INFO) << "saving grid file: " << full_path << "\n";
 
-		// assemble json from hexgrid
-		rapidjson::Document doc;
-		// need to store grid properties: hex_size, world origin, world normal?, layout_mode?
-		//	hex properties: hex space coordinates, world XPos/YPos, world hex vertices
-
-		// write document to buffer
 		rapidjson::StringBuffer sb;
 		rapidjson::Writer<rapidjson::StringBuffer> writer(sb);
-		doc.Accept(writer);
 
-		// write buffer to file
-		if (utilWriteTextFile(full_path, sb.GetString())) {
-			LOG(INFO) << "save successful\n";
-			return true;
+		writer.StartObject();
+
+		writer.Key("hex_size"); writer.Uint(hg.hex_size);
+		writer.Key("layout_mode");
+		writer.String((hg.layout_mode == LAYOUT_FLAT) ? "layout_flat" : "layout_pointy");
+		writer.Key("world_position");
+		addV3f(writer, hg.position.x, hg.position.y, hg.position.z);
+		writer.Key("world_normal");
+		addV3f(writer, hg.normal.x, hg.normal.y, hg.normal.z);
+
+		writer.Key("hexes");
+		writer.StartArray();
+
+		for (auto& it : hg.hex_map) {
+			hex_info& hxi = it.second;
+			writer.StartObject();
+			writer.Key("XPos"); writer.Double(hxi.XPos);
+			writer.Key("YPos"); writer.Double(hxi.YPos);
+			writer.Key("q"); writer.Int(hxi.hex.q);
+			writer.Key("r"); writer.Int(hxi.hex.r);
+			writer.Key("s"); writer.Int(hxi.hex.s);
+			writer.Key("vertices");
+			writer.StartArray();
+
+			for (uint i = 0; i < hxi.vertices.size(); i++) {
+				// TODO: hard coded z value for hex vertices
+				Point p = hxi.vertices[i];
+				addV3f(writer, p.x, p.y, 0.f);
+			}
+
+			writer.EndArray();
+			writer.EndObject();
 		}
 
-		LOG(ERROR) << "error saving file: " << full_path << "\n";
+		writer.EndArray();
+
+		writer.EndObject();
+
+		if (writer.IsComplete()) {
+			if (utilWriteTextFile(full_path, sb.GetString())) {
+				LOG(INFO) << "save successful\n";
+				return true;
+			}
+
+			LOG(ERROR) << "error saving file: " << full_path << "\n";
+			return false;
+		}
+
+		LOG(ERROR) << "malformed json\n";
 		return false;
 	}
 
@@ -296,3 +332,16 @@ parseVec4(const rapidjson::Value& node)
 
 	return v4;
 }
+
+void
+addV3f(rapidjson::Writer<rapidjson::StringBuffer>& writer, float x, float y, float z)
+{
+	writer.StartObject();
+	writer.Key("x");
+	writer.Double(x);
+	writer.Key("y");
+	writer.Double(y);
+	writer.Key("z");
+	writer.Double(z);
+	writer.EndObject();
+}
diff --git a/src/util.cpp b/src/util.cpp
index d10598e..0f3569f 100644
--- a/src/util.cpp
+++ b/src/util.cpp
@@ -83,10 +83,32 @@ utilDumpTextFile(const char* filename)
 	return buf;
 }
 
+// TODO: might want to do the base_dir concat in this function to prevent clobbering
+//	user files on accident
 bool
 utilWriteTextFile(const char* filename, const char* text)
 {
+	size_t text_len = std::strlen(text);
 
+	if (text_len >= MAX_FILESIZE) {
+		LOG(ERROR) << "that string is too big\n";
+		return false;
+	}
+
+	std::FILE* fp = fopen(filename, "wt");
+	if (fp) {
+		size_t written = fwrite(text, sizeof(char), text_len, fp);
+		fclose(fp);
+		if (written == text_len) {
+			LOG(DEBUG) << "successfuly wrote " << written << " bytes\n";
+			return true;
+		} else {
+			LOG(ERROR) << "error writing to file: " << filename << "\n";
+			return false;
+		}
+	}
+
+	LOG(DEBUG) << text << "\n";
 	return false;
 }