diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 2c66759..bba1a62 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -201,6 +201,7 @@ Register a new middleware.
 
 - `action` _(String)_
   One of:
+  - `'beforeCreate'`: directly before the call to write a new document
   - `'beforeOverwrite'`: directly before the call to replace a document, can include edits as well as deletions
   - `'beforeSnapshotLookup'`: directly before the call to issue a query for one or more snapshots by ID
 - `fn` _(Function(context, callback))_
@@ -209,6 +210,9 @@ Register a new middleware.
     - `action`: The action this middleware is handling
     - `collectionName`: The collection name being handled
     - `options`: Original options as they were passed into the relevant function that triggered the action
+    - `'beforeCreate'` actions have additional context properties:
+      - `documentToWrite` - The document to be written
+      - `op` - The op that represents the changes that will be made to the document
     - `'beforeOverwrite'` actions have additional context properties:
       - `documentToWrite` - The document to be written
       - `op` - The op that represents the changes that will be made to the document
diff --git a/index.js b/index.js
index 0b341fb..2e256fc 100644
--- a/index.js
+++ b/index.js
@@ -270,16 +270,21 @@ ShareDbMongo.prototype._writeSnapshot = function(request, id, snapshot, opId, ca
     if (err) return callback(err);
     request.documentToWrite = castToDoc(id, snapshot, opId);
     if (request.documentToWrite._v === 1) {
-      collection.insertOne(request.documentToWrite, function(err) {
-        if (err) {
-          // Return non-success instead of duplicate key error, since this is
-          // expected to occur during simultaneous creates on the same id
-          if (err.code === 11000 && /\b_id_\b/.test(err.message)) {
-            return callback(null, false);
-          }
-          return callback(err);
+      self._middleware.trigger(MiddlewareHandler.Actions.beforeCreate, request, function(middlewareErr) {
+        if (middlewareErr) {
+          return callback(middlewareErr);
         }
-        callback(null, true);
+        collection.insertOne(request.documentToWrite, function(err) {
+          if (err) {
+            // Return non-success instead of duplicate key error, since this is
+            // expected to occur during simultaneous creates on the same id
+            if (err.code === 11000 && /\b_id_\b/.test(err.message)) {
+              return callback(null, false);
+            }
+            return callback(err);
+          }
+          callback(null, true);
+        });
       });
     } else {
       request.query = {_id: id, _v: request.documentToWrite._v - 1};
diff --git a/src/middleware/actions.js b/src/middleware/actions.js
index 3e33c64..34e13b4 100644
--- a/src/middleware/actions.js
+++ b/src/middleware/actions.js
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
 module.exports = {
+  // Triggers before the call to write a new document is made
+  beforeCreate: 'beforeCreate',
   // Triggers before the call to replace a document is made
   beforeOverwrite: 'beforeOverwrite',
   // Triggers directly before the call to issue a query for snapshots
diff --git a/test/test_mongo_middleware.js b/test/test_mongo_middleware.js
index 50b624f..f0dc44a 100644
--- a/test/test_mongo_middleware.js
+++ b/test/test_mongo_middleware.js
@@ -4,6 +4,7 @@ var ShareDbMongo = require('..');
 
 var mongoUrl = process.env.TEST_MONGO_URL || 'mongodb://localhost:27017/test';
 var BEFORE_EDIT = ShareDbMongo.MiddlewareActions.beforeOverwrite;
+var BEFORE_CREATE = ShareDbMongo.MiddlewareActions.beforeCreate;
 var BEFORE_SNAPSHOT_LOOKUP = ShareDbMongo.MiddlewareActions.beforeSnapshotLookup;
 
 function create(callback) {
@@ -155,6 +156,63 @@ describe('mongo db middleware', function() {
     });
   });
 
+  describe(BEFORE_CREATE, function() {
+    it('has the expected properties on the request object', function(done) {
+      db.use(BEFORE_CREATE, function(request, next) {
+        expect(request).to.have.all.keys([
+          'action',
+          'collectionName',
+          'documentToWrite',
+          'op',
+          'options'
+        ]);
+        expect(request.action).to.equal(BEFORE_CREATE);
+        expect(request.collectionName).to.equal('testcollection');
+        expect(request.documentToWrite.foo).to.equal('bar');
+        expect(request.op).to.exist;
+        expect(request.options.testOptions).to.equal('baz');
+        next();
+        done();
+      });
+
+      var snapshot = {type: 'json0', id: 'test1', v: 1, data: {foo: 'bar'}};
+
+      db.commit('testcollection', snapshot.id, {v: 0, create: {}}, snapshot, {testOptions: 'baz'}, function(err) {
+        if (err) return done(err);
+      });
+    });
+
+    it('should augment the written document when commit is called', function(done) {
+      // Change the written value of foo to be `fuzz`
+      db.use(BEFORE_CREATE, function(request, next) {
+        request.documentToWrite.foo = 'fuzz';
+        next();
+      });
+
+      var snapshot = {type: 'json0', id: 'test1', v: 1, data: {foo: 'bar'}};
+
+      db.commit('testcollection', snapshot.id, {v: 0, create: {}}, snapshot, null, function(err) {
+        if (err) return done(err);
+        expectDocumentToContainFoo('fuzz', done);
+      });
+    });
+
+    it('returns without writing when there was a middleware error', function(done) {
+      db.use(BEFORE_CREATE, function(_, next) {
+        next(new Error('Oh no!'));
+      });
+
+      var snapshot = {type: 'json0', id: 'test1', v: 1, data: {foo: 'bar'}};
+
+      db.commit('testcollection', snapshot.id, {v: 0, create: {}}, snapshot, null, function(err) {
+        expectDocumentNotToExist(function() {
+          if (err) return done();
+          done('Expected an error, did not get one');
+        });
+      });
+    });
+  });
+
   describe(BEFORE_SNAPSHOT_LOOKUP, function() {
     it('has the expected properties on the request object before getting a single snapshot', function(done) {
       db.use(BEFORE_SNAPSHOT_LOOKUP, function(request, next) {
@@ -284,4 +342,14 @@ describe('mongo db middleware', function() {
       cb();
     });
   };
+
+  function expectDocumentNotToExist(cb) {
+    var query = {_id: 'test1'};
+
+    db.query('testcollection', query, null, null, function(err, results) {
+      if (err) return cb(err);
+      expect(results).to.be.empty;
+      cb();
+    });
+  };
 });