☕ The final countdown to November has begun, which means it’s time to take my beautifully chaotic plot and turn it into a battle plan. Notion is open, my pens are loaded, and my caffeine supply is looking… promising.

During the Rough Draft Challenge, I write whenever the story demands it.  Mornings if inspiration hits early, afternoons during homeschool breaks, and (most often) late nights fueled by coffee and pure stubborn determination.

My daily goal? 2,000 words.
Ambitious. Chaotic. Very on brand.

Drafting Game Plan

Instead of boxing myself into a strict schedule, I’m embracing what works:

✔️ Night owl creativity — most big scenes happen after sunset
✔️ Flexible sprint sessions — 20–45 minute bursts anytime I can grab them
✔️ Day-by-day discovery — letting Holly & Layton lead the way
✔️ Grace built in — some days are 500 words… others are 5k, and both matter

I’ll be tracking everything in Notion so I can celebrate progress, even on days when the word count looks like a toddler’s scribble.

My Notion Setup (a snowy sneak peek)

My dashboard for this project includes:

•   Word Count Trackers

• Scene Masterlist

• Character Mini-Profiles

• Playlist Links

• Motivation Corner

If you’ve been here a while, you know my Notion is forever evolving. I tinker with it weekly until it feels like home.

Rewards & Rituals

To keep the excitement high throughout the month:

Every 10k: Treat — new sticker, bookmark, or fancy latte
25k milestone: A whole guilt-free movie night
50k finish: Buying a new book without talking myself out of it first

Plus one sacred rule:
✨ If the words are flowing, bedtime does not exist.

️ Final Prep Thoughts

There’s a shift that happens at this stage. The story goes from “someday project” to “soon-to-be book,” and suddenly everything feels real. I can see Holly & Layton moving through scenes I’ve only imagined so far; laughing, clashing, learning from each other.

That excitement is what carries me into November.
That spark is what becomes 50,000 words.

Next Entry: Preptober Diaries 2025, Entry #7 — The Calm Before Drafting

A moment to breathe before the madness starts: my last checklist, launch-day hype, and one final cup of “friendly warning” from the writing muse.