The coffee’s ready. The Notion board is glowing. And somewhere between the last playlist shuffle and the click of my keyboard, the countdown hit zero.

Tomorrow… well, technically, tonight at 12:01 AM, the Rough Draft Challenge begins.
Fifty thousand words. Thirty days. One author armed with too much caffeine and not enough sanity.

It’s go time.

The Night Before

There’s something about this night that feels sacred. The final quiet before the storm of words begins. My pens are lined up, Scrivener is open to a fresh document, and I’ve already double-checked that my word tracker is working (because we all know I’ll be refreshing it every five minutes).

I’ve prepped everything I can:
Plot outline (mostly coherent)
Character sheets (covered in doodles)
Word count tracker (ready to scream in joy or panic)
Snacks and coffee stocked (priorities, always)

The rest? That’s the part you can’t plan. The magic that shows up when the world goes quiet and the story takes over.

The Story Awaits

This year, I’m stepping back into Waldon Springs, a place that’s starting to feel as real to me as my own hometown. Holly and Layton are waiting in the snow, stranded and stubborn, their story ready to unfold one word at a time.

I don’t know exactly how the journey will go, and that’s the best part. The discovery, the late-night breakthroughs, the “wait, what if” moments that make every draft an adventure.

And honestly? I can’t wait to dive in.

My Midnight Ritual

Every year, I start the Rough Draft Challenge the same way:

Brew a fresh cup of coffee at 11:55 PM

Light a candle (or three)

Take one deep breath before the first line

Remind myself that it doesn’t have to be perfect—it just has to exist

That’s the magic of a first draft. It’s raw, messy, and alive.

A Little Encouragement

If you’re joining the Rough Draft Challenge too, here’s your reminder:

Write the story you want to write.
Don’t worry about polish or perfection; those belong to December.
Right now, it’s about showing up, word by word, and trusting that the story will find its way through the fog.

You’ve done the work. You’re ready.

At Midnight, We Write.
Here’s to coffee-fueled chaos, unexpected breakthroughs, and the start of something beautiful.

See you on the other side of 2,000 words.

Next Entry: Rough Draft Diaries 2025, Entry #1 — The First Words and the 2 AM Realizations

Because, of course, I’ll be back to share how the first day (and night) goes. Spoiler: there will be coffee, chaos, and at least one plot twist I didn’t see coming.

(Because there always is at least one. )