Does the message come before or after the story is written?

[Ezekel]

I have read this book three times, partly because of how easy it is to read, and partly for how powerful the story is. I have often wondered whether Hemingway first came up with all the key messages he wanted to deliver and then wrote the story, or wrote the story and perhaps refined it to emphasize certain messages. With writers such as Paolo Coelho I often feel the story is (extremely well) written like a sermon - to deliver a message. But this one I felt was different, that there was a simple story that just happened to have so many powerful messages.

[J.L.]

First thing I need to do is read the book. lol.

[Ezekel]

J.L. wrote: "First thing I need to do is read the book. lol."

It's highly recommended J.L. :-)