diff --git a/src/changelog/mod.rs b/src/changelog/mod.rs
index 3cd41a0..3381621 100644
--- a/src/changelog/mod.rs
+++ b/src/changelog/mod.rs
@@ -8,7 +8,6 @@ use crate::{
 /// Represents a changelog that is currently under construction.
 #[derive(Clone, Debug)]
 pub struct Changelog {
-    message: Option<String>,
     git_log: Option<String>,
 }
 
@@ -17,14 +16,8 @@ impl Changelog {
         if !cfg.yaml.changelog.enable {
             return Err(ConfigError::IsDisabledButUsed("changelog").into());
         }
-        let message: Option<String> = match cfg.cli.command.clone() {
-            Commands::Changelog { message } => match message {
-                Some(msgs) => Some(msgs.concat()),
-                None => None,
-            },
-        };
         let git_log = Self::make_git_log(cfg)?;
-        Ok(Changelog { message, git_log })
+        Ok(Changelog { git_log })
     }
 
     fn make_git_log(cfg: &Config) -> Result<Option<String>> {
@@ -39,9 +32,6 @@ impl Display for Changelog {
     fn fmt(&self, f: &mut std::fmt::Formatter<'_>) -> std::fmt::Result {
         let mut full: String = String::new();
         full += "Changelog";
-        if self.message.is_some() {
-            full += format!("\n\n{}", self.message.clone().unwrap()).as_str();
-        }
         if self.git_log.is_some() {
             full += format!("\n\n{}", self.git_log.clone().unwrap()).as_str();
         }
diff --git a/src/config/cli.rs b/src/config/cli.rs
index a0c81f2..5751c65 100644
--- a/src/config/cli.rs
+++ b/src/config/cli.rs
@@ -37,7 +37,8 @@ pub struct Cli {
 
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Subcommand)]
 pub enum Commands {
-    Changelog {
+    Changelog {},
+    Release {
         // FIXME: allow taking a message like this:
         // `autocrate changelog -m arg1 arg2 arg3`
         // -> msg="arg1 arg2 arg3"
@@ -48,6 +49,14 @@ pub enum Commands {
         // TODO:
         // Perhaps open the $EDITOR of the user if
         // no message is provided, like git does
+        //
+        // TODO:
+        // find a way to make this a global option but only usable with specific subcommands
+        #[arg(short, long)]
+        message: Option<Vec<String>>,
+    },
+    Publish {
+        // see Commands::Release { message }
         #[arg(short, long)]
         message: Option<Vec<String>>,
     },
@@ -60,6 +69,8 @@ impl Display for Commands {
             "{}",
             match self {
                 Self::Changelog { .. } => "Changelog",
+                Self::Release { .. } => "Release",
+                Self::Publish { .. } => "Publish",
             }
         )
     }
diff --git a/src/config/mod.rs b/src/config/mod.rs
index 1695c33..90b08a9 100644
--- a/src/config/mod.rs
+++ b/src/config/mod.rs
@@ -28,8 +28,8 @@ impl YamlConfigSection for Changelog {
 
 #[derive(Debug, Clone, Deserialize)]
 pub struct UseCargo {
-    publish: bool,
-    registries: Vec<String>,
+    pub publish: bool,
+    pub registries: Vec<String>,
 }
 impl YamlConfigSection for UseCargo {
     fn check(&self) -> Result<()> {
diff --git a/src/main.rs b/src/main.rs
index c6074d4..7e45f2b 100644
--- a/src/main.rs
+++ b/src/main.rs
@@ -16,5 +16,11 @@ fn main() -> Result<()> {
             println!("{}", Changelog::build(&cfg)?.to_string());
             Ok(())
         }
+        Commands::Release { .. } => {
+            todo!()
+        }
+        Commands::Publish { .. } => {
+            todo!()
+        }
     }
 }