diff --git a/src/blurb/_populate.py b/src/blurb/_populate.py
new file mode 100644
index 0000000..c1febc5
--- /dev/null
+++ b/src/blurb/_populate.py
@@ -0,0 +1,23 @@
+import os
+
+from blurb._cli import subcommand
+from blurb._git import git_add_files, flush_git_add_files
+from blurb._template import sanitize_section, sections
+
+
+@subcommand
+def populate() -> None:
+    """Creates and populates the Misc/NEWS.d directory tree."""
+    os.chdir('Misc')
+    os.makedirs('NEWS.d/next', exist_ok=True)
+
+    for section in sections:
+        dir_name = sanitize_section(section)
+        dir_path = f'NEWS.d/next/{dir_name}'
+        os.makedirs(dir_path, exist_ok=True)
+        readme_path = f'NEWS.d/next/{dir_name}/README.rst'
+        with open(readme_path, 'w', encoding='utf-8') as readme:
+            readme.write(f'Put news entry ``blurb`` files for the *{section}* section in this directory.\n')
+        git_add_files.append(dir_path)
+        git_add_files.append(readme_path)
+    flush_git_add_files()
diff --git a/src/blurb/blurb.py b/src/blurb/blurb.py
index 2fe2c5f..1b20077 100755
--- a/src/blurb/blurb.py
+++ b/src/blurb/blurb.py
@@ -474,26 +474,6 @@ def error(*a):
     sys.exit("Error: " + s)
 
 
-@subcommand
-def populate():
-    """
-Creates and populates the Misc/NEWS.d directory tree.
-    """
-    os.chdir("Misc")
-    os.makedirs("NEWS.d/next", exist_ok=True)
-
-    for section in sections:
-        dir_name = sanitize_section(section)
-        dir_path = f"NEWS.d/next/{dir_name}"
-        os.makedirs(dir_path, exist_ok=True)
-        readme_path = f"NEWS.d/next/{dir_name}/README.rst"
-        with open(readme_path, "wt", encoding="utf-8") as readme:
-            readme.write(f"Put news entry ``blurb`` files for the *{section}* section in this directory.\n")
-        git_add_files.append(dir_path)
-        git_add_files.append(readme_path)
-    flush_git_add_files()
-
-
 @subcommand
 def export():
     """