You don’t need to have everything figured out to start planning your novel. Today, we’re taking those scattered ideas and starting to discover the story hiding underneath.
Welcome back to Day 4 of Preptober 2026! 🎃
You guys, we’re already four days into our 31-day novel-planning challenge!
On day 3, we did something that I think is incredibly important when starting a new writing project.
We got all those ideas out of our heads and onto paper.
The random scenes. The characters. The dialogue snippets. The plot twists. The aesthetics. The little details that have been floating around in our imaginations for weeks, months, or maybe even YEARS.
And if you’re anything like me, your brain dump probably looks like a chaotic collection of thoughts that don’t necessarily connect.
That’s okay!
In fact, that’s exactly what we wanted.
Because yesterday wasn’t about organizing our ideas or figuring out whether they made sense.
It was about giving ourselves permission to be creative without judgment.
But today?
We’re going to start looking for the story hiding inside all that chaos. 💕
Step 1: Revisit Your Brain Dump
First things first, grab your Preptober 2026 E-Guide and turn back to the Big Picture Brain Dump section.
I want you to read through everything you wrote down yesterday.
And I mean everything!
Even the ideas that seem a little ridiculous.
Even the random bits of dialogue that don’t have a home yet.
Even the scenes you’re not entirely sure belong in this novel.
As you read, start paying attention to the ideas that excite you the most.
Maybe there’s a particular character you can’t stop thinking about.
Maybe there’s a relationship you desperately want to explore.
Maybe there’s a scene you’ve been imagining for months.
Or maybe there’s a question at the heart of your story that you really want to answer.
Those are the ideas I want you to pay attention to.
Because when we’re planning a novel, it’s easy to get caught up in what we think our story should be.
But sometimes the most interesting ideas are the ones that make us genuinely excited to sit down and write.
Step 2: Look for Connections
Now that you’ve revisited your brain dump, let’s start looking for connections.
Are there characters who naturally belong together?
Do certain scenes seem like they could happen in the same storyline?
Are there recurring themes, conflicts, or emotions?
Maybe you’ve written down several scenes involving a character struggling with trust.
Maybe multiple ideas revolve around a particular setting.
Or maybe you keep returning to the same question about love, ambition, belonging, or identity.
Those recurring ideas might be pointing you toward something important.
And here’s the thing…
You don’t need to cram every idea into your novel.
I know. I know.
Sometimes we come up with a scene that’s SO good that we desperately want to include it.
But not every idea is going to serve the story we’re trying to tell.
And that’s okay!
You can always save those ideas for another project.
For now, we’re just looking for the pieces that seem to fit together.
Step 3: Start Asking Questions
One of my favorite ways to develop a story is by asking questions.
Lots and lots of questions. 😂
Because sometimes the best ideas come from being curious about what we already have.
For example, imagine you’re writing a mystery novel about a woman who inherits an old bookstore.
That’s a starting point.
But what if we start asking questions?
- Why did she inherit the bookstore?
- What does she discover when she arrives?
- Who doesn’t want her there?
- What happens if she decides to sell it?
- Why does this place matter to her personally?
Suddenly, we have possibilities for characters, conflicts, relationships, and an actual plot!
We don’t have all the answers yet.
But that’s the beauty of brainstorming.
One idea can lead to another, and another, and another.
Before you know it, the beginnings of a story start to take shape.
Step 4: Identify What Excites You Most
Now, I want you to think back to something we talked about on Day 2.
Your why.
Why are you writing this book?
What made you fall in love with this idea in the first place?
Because as we begin organizing our stories, I don’t want us to lose sight of the things that made us excited to write them.
Maybe it’s a particular character dynamic.
Maybe it’s a theme you’re passionate about exploring.
Maybe it’s the atmosphere of your setting.
Or maybe it’s simply a scene you cannot wait to put on the page.
Whatever it is, hold on to it!
You don’t have to build your entire novel around a single exciting idea.
But knowing what you’re most excited about can help guide your decisions as your story develops.
And on those days when writing gets difficult, remembering that initial spark can make a huge difference.
Step 5: Don’t Worry About Making Everything Perfect
Here’s your friendly reminder for today:
You are not writing your final outline.
You’re not writing your query letter.
You’re not even writing your first draft yet!
We’re still exploring.
And that means you’re allowed to change your mind.
You’re allowed to move ideas around.
You’re allowed to discover that something you originally thought was important doesn’t actually belong in your story.
And you’re allowed to have unanswered questions.
In fact, I’d be a little surprised if you didn’t! 😂
The purpose of Preptober isn’t to eliminate every single unknown before November 1st.
It’s to give ourselves enough direction and confidence to begin writing.
And sometimes, that starts with simply recognizing which ideas belong together.
Today’s Preptober Assignment ✍️
Grab your Preptober 2026 E-Guide and revisit your Big Picture Brain Dump.
Spend about 10–15 minutes reviewing your notes and identifying:
- Three ideas you’re most excited about. These might be characters, scenes, relationships, or anything else that makes you want to write.
- Connections between your ideas. Look for recurring conflicts, themes, settings, or character relationships
What’s Your Story Actually About?
Next, we’re moving on to Day 5 of Preptober 2026, where we’ll take the ideas we’ve been exploring and start putting our novels into one simple sentence.
Don’t panic!
We’re not writing the perfect elevator pitch or a polished query letter.
We’re just figuring out the foundation of our stories.
And I promise, it’s going to be easier than you think!
Until then, I’d love to hear from you:
What’s the one idea about your novel that you’re MOST excited to write?
Tell me in the comments!
We’ve got a novel to plan. 🎃✍️
