☕ We’ve hit that point in Preptober where the excitement of a new story starts colliding with the reality of, well… real life. The notebooks are cluttered, my plotting playlist is looping the same three songs, and I’ve already had to rewrite the plot of Act Two twice.

But that’s how I know I’m right where I need to be. The middle of Preptober is messy and magical all at once. It’s where the story starts fighting back and where I start figuring out what it really wants to be

❄️ Finding the Rhythm

I’ve been working through the story beats this week, sketching out each turning point until the emotional arc finally feels right. The early scenes between Holly and Layton are clicking into place: the awkward tension, the forced-proximity banter, the spark neither of them expected.

I’m using my usual three-act structure template (with plenty of wiggle room, because these characters love to surprise me):

1. Setup – the moment they get stranded in Waldon Springs
2. The Storm – where the weather (and their feelings) intensify
3. The Breakthrough – that perfect mix of confession, chaos, and coffee

Every time I outline, I remind myself: structure isn’t a cage; it’s a safety net. It catches the wild ideas and keeps me from losing the thread when November hits.

️ The Mid-Month Slump

Somewhere around this stage, I always hit what I call the Preptober Fog. That week where I second-guess everything, start craving new ideas, and wonder if my outline makes any sense at all.

Here’s what helps me push through:

• Mini goals. Instead of staring at the whole story, I focus on one act or even one scene at a time.
• Notebook time. When Scrivener feels too structured, I switch back to pen and paper. Messy notes remind me that it’s supposed to be fun.
• Soundtrack resets. I swap my plotting playlist for something atmospheric—rain sounds, lo-fi coffee shop noise, or instrumental jazz—to trick my brain back into focus.
• Community check-ins. Talking with other writers (and my Ko-Fi crew) always pulls me out of my own head.

It’s okay if your Preptober plan looks more like a tornado than a tidy outline right now. You’re building the bones of a story—and bones are meant to shift until they fit just right.

Preparing for the Rough Draft Challenge

November’s creeping closer, and that means it’s time to plan the actual writing part. My current goals:

• Word count target: 50k (ambitious, yes, but I thrive on chaos and this is my normal November goal).
• Writing blocks: Evening sprints after homeschool and dinner, coffee within reach.
• Rewards system: Small treats for every 10k milestone. (Coffee doesn’t count…it’s a necessity. ☕️)

I’ll be sharing my exact drafting schedule and Notion setup soon, once I finish fine-tuning the chaos into something readable.

For now, I’m reminding myself why I started this story in the first place: because I love the quiet kind of hope that only a small-town Christmas can hold. And that’s worth pushing through the fog for.

 Next Entry: Preptober Diaries 2025, Entry #6 — Drafting Plans & Countdowns to Chaos

Coming soon: my November writing schedule, Rough Draft Challenge prep, and how I’m setting up my Notion dashboard to make the 50k climb a little less intimidating.