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What do you have to say? Whether you want to inspire others to sort their recycling or encourage discussion about mental health, writing is by far the best way to convey a message that is important to you. A short story or novel is an incredible opportunity to make your voice heard.
Every great story has a messageâa takeaway for the reader that the author hopes will stick with them long after âThe End.â Around here, we refer to that as theme. Theme is an essential component of every story; however for one type of writer, it's the driving force behind their work.
To this point in our writing persona series, weâve met Learning Logan, Motivation Max, Publication Pat, and Grandiose Gary. Remember that Logan is driven by a desire to improve, while Max struggles with finding the motivation. Both Pat and Gary value publication, but only Pat is actually ready and willing to work for it.
Today we're meeting another writerly persona and adding them to the mix. They have something to say, and want others to hear it. Our fifth persona is Message Morgan!
If you want to change the world, pick up your pen and write. -Martin Luther
A Message to Share
Morgan is passionate about a particular message and wants to spread that message through their writing. For them, sharing their work isnât about fame and fortune, or an authorial career (although, of course, these can be important secondary motivations). What matters to Morgan is that others will read their work and hear their message. Their goal is to prompt others to feel, to think, or even to act, differently.
There are as many messages as there are Morgans. They may want to increase awareness of a social issue, or explore an important belief. Some writers seek connection with others who have experienced certain situations or events, and show others that they arenât alone.
Two writers state their goals this way:
I hope to bring new ideas to people and use realism to help people think out their own thoughts. I want people to see themselves in my characters.
I always wanted to help other people with my writing, to change their perspective.
In our experience, many memoir writers fall into this category. Weâve heard from some Elite members in our writing groups that theyâre writing a memoir because they want to preserve their family legacy and/or explore their self-identity. Doing so can be healing for them and for their reader, who relates to the experience.
For Message Morgan, theme typically comes naturally to their writing. This is often the first element that they begin to develop, and their biggest strength. It isnât unusual for them to construct characters, worlds, conflicts and plots around their chosen theme.
Sharing Your Story
If youâre a Morgan, itâs excellent that you have a message to share. This alone makes your work meaningful to you and others while providing the motivation for you to complete your stories. (For this reason, itâs rare to find authors who fit Message Morgan as well as Motivation Max.)
At the same time, itâs crucial for Morgans to keep in mind that itâs not just the contents of that message that matter; itâs about how itâs delivered. Your message will not go far if you cannot get your audience on board due to poor writing or a plot that's too on the nose and makes the theme seem forced.
Good writing is the key to making sure your voice is heard.
This means all your story elements must be developed fully, and given the same level of thoughtfulness and attention that non-message-driven stories receive. As the Cohesion element of our Publishability Index demonstrates, no element works in isolation; solid connections must exist between each.
These elements should all tie together with your theme to send a powerful message. When that happens, youâll reach your goal and be able to leave a profound impression.
Excellent writing helps your message resonate with the reader.
Use our Publishability Index⢠to ensure your story is strong enough to support your message. Check your story against it, chapter by chapter, aiming for "great" in all the categories. We said it once, and we'll say it again; a powerful message is pointless if your story doesn't hold a reader's attention long enough for them to absorb it. The good news is, you're more than capable of crafting a compelling story, use the PI⢠to help you do so.
Ready to see the Publishability Index⢠put to the test? Enter our First Chapter Anthology Contest. One of our editors will complete a PI⢠on your first chapter, and provide you with a report offering actionable ideas for revision. Then, youâll have a chance to implement their feedback before judging. You'll want to enter ASAP, the December 5th, 2025 deadline will be here before you know it.