diff --git a/CHANGES.md b/CHANGES.md
index f65587f..0fb82dc 100644
--- a/CHANGES.md
+++ b/CHANGES.md
@@ -14,12 +14,16 @@ place only: `instructions/dev/version-parts.md` § The candidate model.
 
 ---
 
-## 8.1.0-beta.1 - 2026-10-06 - Changelog kompakt: ein Absatz pro Thema, Größenbudget, Migrationsverweis
+## 8.1.0-beta.2 - 2026-10-06 - version bump: Abschlussmeldung nennt Stichpunkt oder Themenabsatz statt pauschal Prosa
 
 **Author:** Torben Nehmer
 
 <!-- wikitool:bumps -->
+**Medium impact**
 - Changelog kompakt: ein Absatz pro Thema, Größenbudget, Migrationsverweis
+
+**Low impact**
+- version bump: Abschlussmeldung nennt Stichpunkt oder Themenabsatz statt pauschal Prosa
 <!-- /wikitool:bumps -->
 
 ### Changelog-Einträge mit Größenbudget und Migrationsverweis (#184)
diff --git a/VERSION b/VERSION
index 571d032..1ab9b49 100644
--- a/VERSION
+++ b/VERSION
@@ -1 +1 @@
-8.1.0-beta.1
+8.1.0-beta.2
diff --git a/tools/chemenu/commands/version_cmd.py b/tools/chemenu/commands/version_cmd.py
index 2217ab5..e61b073 100644
--- a/tools/chemenu/commands/version_cmd.py
+++ b/tools/chemenu/commands/version_cmd.py
@@ -755,8 +755,9 @@ def bump_command(
     impact_note = "" if impact is not None else f" (impact not given - assumed {chosen_impact})"
     success(
         f"{current} -> {new_version}{boundary}. Wrote {version_mod.VERSION_FILENAME} and "
-        f"the {version_mod.CHANGES_FILENAME} entry{impact_note} - write its prose before "
-        f"publishing."
+        f"the {version_mod.CHANGES_FILENAME} entry{impact_note}. A smaller change needs nothing "
+        f"beyond its title; a larger one gets a one-paragraph `###` section for its topic, or "
+        f"rewrites the one its topic already has."
     )