Welcome to Day Two of Preptober 2026!
Yesterday, we kicked off our 31-day journey to take that book idea floating around in your head and turn it into a plan you can actually start writing in November.
We gathered our supplies. We downloaded our Preptober guides. We talked about what we’re going to accomplish over the next month.
But before we start brainstorming characters, building worlds, plotting twists, or outlining chapters, there’s something much more important we need to figure out:
Why are you writing this book?
Not what it’s about.
Not what genre it is.
Not whether you think it could sell.
Why does this particular story matter to you?
That’s what we’re figuring out today.
Your “Why” Is What Keeps You Writing
Starting a new book is exciting.
There’s something almost magical about those early stages when the possibilities feel endless. You have scenes playing like movies in your head. You’re creating characters you’re already obsessed with. Maybe you’ve made a Pinterest board, started a playlist, or spent entirely too much time imagining your future book cover.
And then…
Writing gets hard. You hit the messy middle. A scene refuses to cooperate. Your characters decide they have other plans. You reread yesterday’s chapter and wonder if you’ve suddenly forgotten how sentences work.
Or another shiny new book idea pops into your head and whispers: Pssst… wouldn’t you rather write me instead?
That’s when your why becomes important.
Your why is the thing you can return to when motivation disappears.
Because motivation is wonderful—but it’s not always going to be there.
Why This Story?
On the Your Why page of the Preptober 2026 E-Guide, we’re answering a few questions today:
- Why do I want to write this story?
- What excites me most about it?
- Why does finishing this book matter to me?
- And what would typing THE END mean?
Then we’re bringing everything together with one sentence:
I’m writing this book because…
And your answer doesn’t need to sound profound.
Maybe you’ve had these characters living in your head for years, and you’re finally ready to tell their story. Maybe you’re writing the exact kind of book you wish you could find on a bookstore shelf. Maybe writing a novel has been on your bucket list forever. Maybe you’re writing purely because this story sounds ridiculously fun and you can’t stop thinking about it. Maybe you want to prove to yourself that you can finish a book.
There isn’t a correct answer.
There is only your answer.
Don’t Write the Answer You Think You’re Supposed to Give
This is also one of those exercises where I don’t want you to worry about what sounds good.
Nobody is grading your Preptober workbook.
Your why doesn’t need to be marketable, inspirational, or Instagram-worthy.
In fact, you don’t have to share it with anyone.
The important thing is that it’s true enough to bring you back to the page when writing gets difficult.
That’s why we’re figuring it out now—before we’ve written a single word of our November draft.
Your Why Can Be Bigger Than This Book
There’s another question worth thinking about today:
Why do you write at all?
Maybe you’ve dreamed of becoming an author since you were a kid. Maybe writing gives you a creative outlet you don’t get anywhere else. Maybe you want to hold a book with your name on the cover someday. Maybe you want to build a career around telling stories. Or maybe writing is simply something that makes your life a little more magical.
Your reason for writing this particular book and your reason for being a writer don’t necessarily have to be the same.
But understanding both can give you something incredibly powerful to hold onto when the writing process gets difficult.
Your Day 2 Preptober Assignment 🎃
Today’s assignment is simple:
Open your Preptober E-Guide to the Your Why page and spend a little time answering the questions there.
Don’t overthink them.
Don’t worry about making your answers sound pretty.
Just be truthful.
And when you’re finished, complete this sentence:
I’m writing this book because ____________________.
That’s your why.
Write it somewhere you’ll see it again in November. Put it at the front of your Story Bible. Stick it on a Post-it beside your desk. Add it to your planner.
Because there may be a day next month when the words aren’t wording, you’re behind on your goals, and abandoning the whole manuscript sounds incredibly tempting.
That’s when I want you to come back to this page.
Tomorrow, We Make a Mess
Once we know why we’re writing our story, we can finally start figuring out what that story actually is.
So tomorrow for Day Three of Preptober 2026, we’re doing one of my favorite parts of planning a new novel:
We’re brain dumping EVERYTHING.
Scenes. Characters. Dialogue. Tropes. Settings. Random ideas. Questions. Vibes. That one oddly specific scene you know absolutely has to happen even though you have no idea how you’re going to get there.
No organization required.
In fact, I actively encourage a little chaos.
But for today, focus on your why.
And if you’re comfortable sharing yours, come tell me in the comments on today’s video:
Why are you writing your book?
I’ll see you tomorrow for Day Three.
We’ve got a novel to plan. 🎃✍️