Preptober is here, and I’m ready to dive headfirst into the chaos of plotting, prepping, and caffeinating my way through the month

October always feels like the calm before the storm, or maybe the countdown before the big mission. (Marine family energy, right?) For me, Preptober is where the real work happens: it’s not just about scribbling character names on sticky notes or pretending Pinterest counts as plotting (though… yes, I’ll still do both). It’s about building a comprehensive battle plan so that when November 1st arrives, I can hit the ground running.

This year, I’m preparing for the Rough Draft Challenge, which will take place in November, with the ambitious 50k in 30 days. But I’ve learned the hard way that winging it only gets me so far. Preptober is where I:

Map out my story — characters, arcs, stakes, and all the tangled threads.

Stock up my creative arsenal — playlists, candles, snacks, and about three too many notebooks.

Set my November survival plan — because writing 50k words during a busy life (mom life + author life = double chaos) requires strategy.

Finalize my story idea and plot the major beats.

Build character profiles that feel alive (and a little bit bossy—they always end up bossy).

Nail down my November schedule so I know when I’m writing and when I’m resting.

Share updates here on the blog 2–3 times a week, so you can follow along and maybe prep your own project too.

I want November to feel like a mission I’m ready for, not a battle I’m limping through. That starts here, today.

So here’s to Preptober 2025: messy notes, late-night brainstorming, and enough coffee to fuel an army. Let’s get this story ready to come alive.

What about you? Are you prepping a project this October? Or just cheering on the chaos with popcorn in hand? Either way—welcome to the ride.