Tag: Preptober

OMG WE DID IT!!!! 🎉😭💕

Welcome to DAY 31 OF PREPTOBER 2026!

I genuinely cannot believe we’re here.

For the past 31 days, we’ve brainstormed, planned, outlined, organized, and prepared our novels for Novel November.

And tomorrow?

WE START WRITING OUR BOOKS!!!! ✍️📖

But before we jump into November, I want to talk about something incredibly important.

You don’t need a perfect plan to write a novel. You just need to begin.

1. Look at Everything We’ve Accomplished! 🎉

Can we take a moment to appreciate how much work we’ve done this month?!

We’ve:

• Brainstormed our story ideas and discovered our WHY.
• Developed our protagonists, supporting characters, and antagonists.
• Identified our themes, goals, conflicts, and stakes.
• Built our fictional worlds.
• Mapped our major story beats.
• Outlined Acts I, II, and III.
• Organized our story bibles.
• Created writing schedules, goals, and accountability plans.
• Developed writing routines we can actually stick to!

YOU GUYS.

THAT’S AN ENTIRE NOVEL’S WORTH OF PREPARATION! 😂💕

And if you haven’t completed every exercise?

THAT’S OKAY!

Preptober’s goal was never to create a perfect outline.

It was to prepare enough to sit down and start writing with confidence.

2. What Happens When Things Don’t Go According to Plan?

Okay, writers.

Let’s talk about something that’s almost guaranteed to happen during Novel November.

LIFE. 😂

Maybe you’ll miss a writing day.

Maybe you’ll fall behind on your word count.

Maybe your protagonist will decide to do something COMPLETELY different from what you outlined.

And maybe you’ll get stuck halfway through a chapter.

Here’s what I want you to remember:

NONE OF THAT MEANS YOU’VE FAILED.

Writing a novel isn’t about having 30 perfect writing days.

It’s about continuing to show up, even when things get messy.

If you fall behind, adjust your goals.

If you’re stuck, skip ahead to a scene you’re excited about.

If you miss a day, start fresh tomorrow.

You don’t have to catch up all at once. You just have to keep going.

3. Give Yourself Permission to Write a Messy First Draft! ✍️

You guys, here’s your official reminder.

YOUR FIRST DRAFT DOES NOT HAVE TO BE GOOD! 😂

Seriously!

You don’t need beautiful prose.

You don’t need perfectly developed characters.

You don’t need every plot hole figured out.

You just need to get the story onto the page.

You’ll have time for editing, revising, and polishing later.

But right now?

YOUR JOB IS TO WRITE THE BOOK.

So give yourself permission to experiment, make mistakes, and discover your story along the way.

Because you can’t edit a blank page!

4. Don’t Forget to Celebrate! 🎉

Before November begins, I want you to celebrate something.

YOU SHOWED UP FOR YOUR STORY.

Whether you completed all 31 days of Preptober or joined us halfway through, you’ve made progress toward writing your novel.

And that’s worth celebrating!

Throughout November, remember to celebrate the little victories, too.

Your first 1,000 words.

Your first completed chapter.

Your first week of consistent writing.

And eventually?

TYPING THOSE TWO BEAUTIFUL WORDS: THE END. 😭💕

✍️ Today’s Final Preptober E-Guide Exercise

Grab your FREE Preptober E-Guide and turn to pages 32–33: When Things Don’t Go According to Plan & You’re Ready!

Today, we’re doing two final things.

First, create your backup plan.

Ask yourself:

• What will I do if I miss a writing day?
• How will I handle falling behind?
• What can I do when I feel stuck?
• What’s my minimum writing goal on a difficult day?

Second, review your Preptober checklist!

Look back at everything you’ve prepared throughout October.

And remember, you don’t need every single box checked to begin.

When you’re ready, write down these words:

I’M READY TO WRITE MY BOOK. 📖💕

Because you are!

Thank You for Spending Preptober With Me! 💕

You guys.

I just want to say THANK YOU.

Thank you for showing up, watching these videos, downloading my E-Guide, sharing your stories, and spending October preparing your novels alongside me.

Creating this free guide and 31-day series has been such a wonderful experience.

And I genuinely hope it’s helped make novel planning feel a little less overwhelming and a lot more exciting.

But here’s the thing.

THIS ISN’T THE END OF OUR WRITING JOURNEY.

It’s just the beginning.

Tomorrow, November 1st, we stop preparing to write our novels.

AND WE ACTUALLY START WRITING THEM! 🎉

🎥 Catch Up on Preptober 2026!

Missed a day? Joining us late?

Don’t worry! My entire 31-day Preptober series and FREE E-Guide are available for you to work through at your own pace.

And if you’d like some company while drafting, come join me for my Write With Me livestreams on YouTube!

Let’s keep cheering each other on throughout Novel November! 💕

Tomorrow, We Write! 📖🎉

Before you go, I have ONE final question for you.

WHAT’S YOUR NOVEL NOVEMBER GOAL?! 🎯

Are you writing 50,000 words?

Finishing your first draft?

Completing Act I?

Or simply building a consistent writing habit?

Let me know in the comments!

I want us to celebrate every single one of those goals.

And remember:

Grow at your own pace. Write your own story. And never forget why you started.

You don’t need a perfect plan.

You don’t need to feel completely ready.

You just need to begin.

Happy Novel November, you guys! 🎃📖💕

We’ve got a novel to WRITE! ✍️

WE’RE TWO DAYS AWAY FROM NOVEL NOVEMBER! 🎉

Welcome back to Day 30 of Preptober 2026! 🎃💕

Yesterday, we talked about accountability and finding ways to stay motivated throughout our writing journeys.

Today, we’re tackling something equally important.

CREATING A WRITING ROUTINE WE CAN ACTUALLY STICK TO!

Because here’s the thing.

You can have a perfectly planned novel, realistic writing goals, and an amazing accountability system.

But if sitting down to write feels like an enormous chore every single day?

It’s going to be difficult to maintain that momentum!

So today, we’re making writing something we can realistically incorporate into our everyday lives.

1. Create a Writing Ritual You Look Forward To! ☕

You guys know I LOVE a good routine! 😂

Personally, I enjoy starting my writing days by taking my border collie, Scout, for a walk, making myself some iced pumpkin tea, and settling into my pink office with my typewriter-style keyboard.

These little rituals help me transition into writing mode.

And yours can look completely different!

Maybe you light a candle.

Maybe you make your favorite coffee.

Maybe you listen to a specific playlist.

Or maybe you simply open your laptop and set a timer!

Your writing ritual doesn’t need to be elaborate. It just needs to help you get started.

2. Find a Writing Method That Works for YOU!

One of my favorite productivity techniques is the Pomodoro method.

I write for 25 minutes, take a five-minute break, and repeat!

But here’s something important.

You don’t HAVE to use Pomodoro!

Maybe you prefer 45-minute writing sessions.

Maybe you work best with an uninterrupted hour.

Maybe you only have 15 minutes before your kids wake up!

That’s okay!

The goal is to find a writing method that helps you consistently put words on the page.

And remember, even a short writing session counts!

3. Make Your Routine Realistic!

Here’s where I want you to be careful.

DON’T CREATE A WRITING ROUTINE FOR YOUR IDEAL LIFE. CREATE ONE FOR YOUR ACTUAL LIFE! 😂

We all have responsibilities, unexpected interruptions, and days when things don’t go according to plan.

That’s why I recommend having a backup routine.

For example:

Ideal Writing Day: Two hours of uninterrupted writing.

Busy Writing Day: One 25-minute writing sprint.

Absolutely Chaotic Writing Day: Ten minutes of writing or brainstorming.

See?

You’re giving yourself options instead of creating an all-or-nothing situation.

Consistency doesn’t require perfection. It requires flexibility.

4. Celebrate Your Writing Wins! 🎉

Here’s something else I want you to incorporate into your writing routine.

CELEBRATING YOUR PROGRESS!

Did you finish a chapter?

CELEBRATE!

Did you reach your daily word count?

CELEBRATE!

Did you sit down and write for 10 minutes even though you had a million other things to do?

YOU GUYS. THAT COUNTS TOO! 😂💕

Maybe you reward yourself with your favorite coffee, a new book, or a relaxing movie night.

Whatever motivates you!

Remember, we’re not just trying to finish a novel.

We’re building a writing life we genuinely enjoy.

✍️ Today’s Preptober E-Guide Exercise

Grab your FREE Preptober E-Guide and turn to page 31: Create Your Writing Routine!

Today, we’re designing a routine that works for our actual schedules.

Think about three things:

BEFORE WRITING: What will help you transition into writing mode?

DURING WRITING: How will you stay focused and productive?

AFTER WRITING: How will you track your progress and celebrate showing up?

And don’t forget to create a backup routine for those inevitable days when life gets chaotic!

You don’t need the perfect writing routine. You need one you can actually show up for consistently.

We’re Almost Ready for Novel November! 🎉

We’ve spent an entire month preparing our stories AND our writing lives!

We’ve brainstormed, outlined, organized, set goals, created accountability systems, and developed writing routines.

And tomorrow?

IT’S OUR FINAL DAY OF PREPTOBER! 😭🎃

I can’t believe we’re already here!

🎥 Follow Along With Preptober 2026!

I’m sharing 31 FREE daily YouTube videos throughout October to help writers prepare for Novel November!

Coming Tomorrow: Day 31 — You’re Ready to Write Your Novel! 📖🎉

Tomorrow, we’re reviewing everything we’ve accomplished, preparing for those inevitable moments when things don’t go according to plan, and getting ourselves ready to start writing on November 1st!

Because you guys?

WE’VE GOT A NOVEL TO WRITE! 🎉

Now I want to hear from YOU!

What’s ONE thing you absolutely LOVE having as part of your writing routine?

Coffee? Tea? Candles? Music? A cozy blanket?

Let me know in the comments! 💕

We’ve got a novel to plan. 🎃✍️

YOU GUYS.

WE’RE THREE DAYS AWAY FROM NOVEL NOVEMBER! 🎉

Welcome back to Day 29 of Preptober 2026! 🎃💕

Yesterday, we set our Novel November writing goals. We figured out how many words we want to write, broke those goals into manageable milestones, and decided how to track our progress.

But now comes the tricky part.

HOW DO WE ACTUALLY STICK TO THOSE GOALS?! 😂

That’s exactly what we’re talking about today!

Because writing a novel can be a lonely experience, here’s something I want you to remember:

You may write the words alone, but you don’t have to go through the writing journey alone.

1. Find a Writing Buddy! 💕

One of the easiest ways to stay accountable is to find someone who’s working toward a similar goal.

Maybe it’s another writer participating in Novel November.

Maybe it’s a friend who loves hearing about your writing progress.

Or maybe it’s someone who simply checks in to ask whether you’ve written today!

You can share your daily word counts, celebrate milestones, or schedule writing sessions together.

Sometimes, knowing someone else is cheering you on makes all the difference!

2. Join Writing Sprints! ⏰

You guys know I LOVE a good writing sprint! 😂

Writing sprints are timed sessions where you focus on getting words onto the page.

Personally, I participate in ProWritingAid’s daily writing sprints, and I also host 90-minute Write With Me livestreams on my YouTube channel!

There’s something incredibly motivating about knowing other writers are sitting down and working on their manuscripts at the same time.

And the best part?

You don’t have to talk to anyone if you don’t want to!

Sometimes, simply writing alongside other people is enough to keep you focused.

3. Share Your Writing Journey! 📱

Another way I stay accountable is by sharing my writing progress through YouTube videos and writing vlogs.

And trust me, you don’t need to become a content creator to do this! 😂

You could:

• Share your daily word count with a friend.
• Post weekly writing updates on social media.
• Join an online writing community.
• Keep a private writing journal.

The goal isn’t to impress anyone.

It’s to create a little extra motivation to keep showing up for your manuscript.

And if sharing your progress publicly creates pressure instead of motivation, keep it private!

Accountability should SUPPORT your writing journey, not make it stressful.

4. Celebrate Progress, Not Perfection! 🎉

Here’s something important.

Accountability isn’t about punishing yourself when you fall behind.

Life happens!

Maybe you miss a writing session.

Maybe you don’t reach your daily word count.

Maybe your protagonist decides to completely derail your carefully planned outline. 😂

THAT’S OKAY!

Accountability helps you keep moving forward.

Not to make you feel guilty for having an imperfect writing day.

Remember:

Consistency isn’t about never missing a day. It’s about coming back when you do.

✍️ Today’s Preptober E-Guide Exercise

Grab your FREE Preptober E-Guide and turn to page 29: Accountability!

Today, we’re creating our accountability plans.

Ask yourself:

1. Who can help keep me accountable during Novel November?
2. Will I participate in writing sprints or group writing sessions?
3. How often will I share or review my progress?
4. What will motivate me to keep writing when things get difficult?

Choose one or two accountability methods that genuinely excite you.

You don’t need to do EVERYTHING!

The best accountability system is one you’ll actually use.

We’re Almost Ready for Novel November! 🎉

YOU GUYS!

We’ve planned our stories, created our writing schedules, set our goals, and figured out how we’re going to stay accountable.

We’re SO close!

And tomorrow, we’re bringing everything together by creating a writing routine we can actually stick to!

🎥 Follow Along With Preptober 2026!

I’m sharing 31 FREE daily YouTube videos throughout October to help writers prepare for Novel November!

And don’t forget to join me for my 90-minute Write With Me livestreams on YouTube! I’d love to have you writing alongside us! 💕

Coming Tomorrow: Day 30 — Create a Writing Routine You’ll Actually Stick To! ☕✍️

Tomorrow, we’re talking about writing rituals, routines, and creating habits that make sitting down to write feel a little easier.

Because we don’t just want to start Novel November strong.

WE WANT TO KEEP GOING!

Now I want to hear from YOU!

How are you planning to stay accountable during Novel November?

Are you joining writing sprints, finding a writing buddy, or sharing your progress online?

Let me know in the comments so we can cheer each other on! 🎉

We’ve got a novel to plan. 🎃✍️

YOU GUYS.

WE’RE OFFICIALLY DONE PREPPING OUR STORIES! 🎉

Welcome back to Day 27 of Preptober 2026! 🎃💕

Yesterday, we organized all our brainstorming, characters, worldbuilding, and outlines into our story bibles.

And now?

IT’S TIME TO PREP OUR WRITING LIVES!

Because here’s the thing.

You can have the most beautiful outline in the world, but if you don’t make time to actually WRITE your novel, it’s not going to magically appear on the page! 😂

Today, we’re answering three important questions:

HOW, WHEN, and WHERE will you write your novel during Novel November?

1. HOW Will You Write Your Novel?

First, let’s talk about HOW you plan to write.

Are you using Google Docs, Microsoft Word, Scrivener, or something else?

Do you prefer writing in short sprints or longer, uninterrupted sessions?

Personally, I LOVE using the Pomodoro technique!

I’ll write for 25 minutes, take a five-minute break, and repeat.

But you might prefer writing for an hour straight.

Or maybe you work best with a notebook and pen!

There’s no perfect writing method. There’s only the method that works for YOU.

The important thing is choosing something that helps you consistently get words on the page.

2. WHEN Will You Write Your Novel?

Okay, writers.

LET’S GET REALISTIC! 😂

We all have responsibilities.

Work, family, appointments, errands, and approximately a MILLION other things competing for our attention.

That’s why I recommend looking at your actual schedule BEFORE November begins.

Ask yourself:

• When do I realistically have time to write?
• How much time can I dedicate to writing each day?
• What days might be especially busy?
• What’s my backup plan if I miss a writing session?

Maybe you write for 30 minutes before work.

Maybe you write during your lunch break.

Maybe you dedicate an hour every evening to your manuscript.

You don’t need eight hours a day to write a novel.

You just need a writing schedule you can realistically maintain.

And don’t forget to give yourself some flexibility!

Life happens.

3. WHERE Will You Write Your Novel?

Now let’s talk about your writing environment!

Where do you feel most focused and creative?

Maybe it’s a cozy corner of your bedroom.

Maybe it’s your kitchen table.

Maybe it’s your favorite coffee shop or local library.

Personally, I love writing in my pink office with my typewriter-style keyboard! 💕

But you absolutely do NOT need a Pinterest-perfect writing space to write a book.

You just need somewhere you can sit down and focus.

And here’s a little tip!

Choose a backup location, too.

That way, if your usual writing space isn’t available, you have somewhere else to go.

4. Make a Plan for the Unexpected!

You guys know I love a good plan.

But here’s something I’ve learned:

A writing schedule is only helpful if it works with your actual life.

Maybe your child gets sick.

Maybe work gets hectic.

Maybe you have a day when you’re simply exhausted.

That’s okay!

Instead of giving up on your writing goals, think about what you can realistically do.

Could you write for 10 minutes instead of an hour?

Could you move your writing session to another day?

Could you use a weekend to catch up?

Remember:

Consistency doesn’t mean perfection. It means finding ways to keep showing up.

✍️ Today’s Preptober E-Guide Exercise

Grab your FREE Preptober E-Guide and turn to pages 25–26: How, When & Where!

Today, we’re creating our writing plans!

HOW: What tools and writing methods will you use?

WHEN: What days and times will you dedicate to writing?

WHERE: What’s your primary writing location?

And don’t forget to identify a backup plan!

The goal is to make writing as easy as possible to fit into your life once November begins.

We’re Almost Ready for Novel November! 🎉

You guys, can you believe we’re already on Day 27?!

We’ve spent most of October preparing our stories.

Now we’re making sure we have the time, tools, and environment to actually WRITE them!

And tomorrow?

We’re setting our Novel November writing goals!

🎥 Follow Along With Preptober 2026!

I’m sharing 31 FREE daily YouTube videos throughout October to help writers prepare for Novel November!

Coming Tomorrow: Day 28 — Set Your Novel November Goals! 🎯

Tomorrow, we’re figuring out how many words we want to write, breaking our goals into manageable milestones, and creating a plan to track our progress!

And remember, you don’t HAVE to write 50,000 words in November.

Your writing goals should work for YOUR life! 💕

Now I want to hear from YOU!

Are you a morning writer, afternoon writer, or night owl? And where’s your favorite place to write?

Let me know in the comments!

We’ve got a novel to plan. 🎃✍️

You guys.

WE’RE OFFICIALLY OUTLINING OUR NOVELS! 🎉

Welcome back to Day 23 of Preptober 2026! 🎃✍️

Yesterday, we talked about turning our major story beats into individual chapters. Today, we’re putting that method into practice by outlining ACT I!

This is where we introduce our protagonists, establish their ordinary worlds, and set everything in motion.

And don’t worry!

We’re not writing a 50-page outline or planning every single conversation our characters will have. 😂

We’re simply figuring out what needs to happen in each chapter so that when November 1st arrives, we have a clear direction.

Let’s get plotting! 💕

1. Start With Your Three Major Act I Story Beats

Remember Day 18, when we mapped out the beginning of our novels?

We identified three important moments:

1. The Opening: Where does your protagonist begin? What does their life look like before everything changes?

2. The Inciting Incident: What event disrupts their life and introduces the central conflict?

3. The Act I Turning Point: What decision or event launches your protagonist into the main story?

These three beats will help guide your Act I outline.

Think of them as the major destinations we’re working toward.

Now we just need to figure out how to get from one to the next!

2. Break Act I Into Individual Chapters

Here’s how I personally approach outlining.

I divide my novels into three acts, with about 12-15 chapters per act.

But that’s simply MY starting point!

Your novel might need fewer or more chapters.

The important thing is figuring out what works for your story.

Start by placing your opening, inciting incident, and Act I turning point into your outline.

Then ask yourself:

• What needs to happen between these major moments?
• What relationships should readers understand?
• What conflicts need to be established?
• What decisions push my protagonist toward the Act I turning point?

For example, imagine you’re writing a contemporary novel about a woman who inherits a struggling seaside café.

Your Act I might look something like this:

Chapter 1: Introduce the protagonist and her current life.

Chapter 2: She learns she’s inherited the café.

Chapter 3: She visits the café and discovers it’s in financial trouble.

Chapter 4: She meets the people who depend on the business.

Chapter 5: She discovers that selling the café would be easier than saving it.

Chapter 6: She decides to stay and try to save the café.

See how each chapter builds toward an important decision?

We’re not planning every little detail.

We’re creating a sequence of events that moves our protagonist into the central conflict.

3. Give Every Chapter a Purpose

Here’s something I want you to remember as you outline.

Every chapter should contribute something meaningful to your story.

That doesn’t mean every chapter needs an enormous plot twist!

Sometimes, a chapter’s purpose is to develop a relationship.

Sometimes, it reveals important information.

Sometimes, it challenges your protagonist’s beliefs.

And sometimes, it’s to introduce a problem that will become much more important later.

When outlining, ask yourself:

“What changes because of this chapter?”

If you can answer that question, you’re giving yourself a reason for the chapter to exist.

4. Use My Simple Three-Bullet-Point Method

If you’ve been following along with my Preptober series, you already know I LOVE keeping things simple!

For each chapter, I write down:

• Chapter Number
• Chapter Goal
• Setting
• Characters
• Three Important Events

For example:

Chapter 3 — The Seaside Café

Goal: The protagonist discovers the café is in worse condition than expected.

Setting: The café.

Characters: Protagonist, café manager.

Three Key Events:

1. The protagonist arrives and discovers the café needs extensive repairs.
2. The manager reveals how much debt the business has accumulated.
3. The protagonist realizes saving the café will be much harder than she imagined.

That’s it!

We know what happens, why it matters, and how it moves the story forward.

And when we start drafting?

We still have plenty of room for creativity!

✍️ Today’s Preptober E-Guide Exercise

Grab your FREE Preptober E-Guide and turn to pages 21–22: Plotting & Outlining!

Today, we’re outlining Act I.

Step 1: Write down your opening, inciting incident, and Act I turning point.

Step 2: Decide approximately how many chapters you want in Act I.

Step 3: Place your major story beats into your chapter outline.

Step 4: Brainstorm the chapters that connect those moments.

Step 5: For each chapter, identify its goal, setting, characters, and three key events.

And remember, you don’t need to have everything perfectly organized!

You can use the printable chapter templates in the guide, cut them out, and rearrange them as your story develops.

Your outline works for YOU. You don’t work for your outline. 💕

Your Act I Outline Is Taking Shape! 🎉

You guys, look at what we’ve accomplished!

We’ve gone from a collection of story ideas to a chapter-by-chapter plan for the beginning of our novels.

That’s HUGE!

And if you haven’t finished outlining every chapter today?

That’s okay!

You can always come back and fill in the gaps.

The goal is progress, not perfection.

🎥 Follow Along With Preptober 2026!

I’m sharing 31 FREE daily YouTube videos throughout October to help writers prepare for Novel November!

Whether you’re a plotter, pantser, or somewhere in between, my free Preptober E-Guide is designed to help you organize your ideas without feeling overwhelmed.

Coming Tomorrow: Day 24 — Outline Act II! 🔥

Tomorrow, we’re tackling the MIDDLE of our novels!

We’ll take the obstacles, midpoint, and escalating conflicts we’ve brainstormed and turn them into individual chapters.

And yes, we’re going to do our best to avoid the dreaded sagging middle! 😂

Now I want to hear from YOU!

What’s the most exciting chapter you’ve planned for Act I so far?

Let me know in the comments! 💕

We’ve got a novel to plan. 🎃✍️

You know how your novel begins.

You’ve started figuring out what happens in the middle.

And now?

IT’S TIME TO FIGURE OUT HOW EVERYTHING ENDS! 🎉

Welcome back to Day 20 of Preptober 2026!

Yesterday, we tackled the dreaded sagging middle. Today, we’re mapping out the final three major story beats:

💔 The Darkest Moment
⚔️ The Climax
💕 The Resolution

These are the moments when your protagonist’s struggles, decisions, and emotional journey finally come together.

And don’t worry if you haven’t figured out your ending yet!

Today, we’re giving ourselves a destination to write toward.

Let’s get to plotting! 🎃✍️

1. The Darkest Moment: When Everything Falls Apart 💔

Okay, writers.

It’s time to make our protagonists MISERABLE. 😂

Your protagonist’s darkest moment is when everything they’ve been working toward appears to fall apart.

Maybe they’ve lost someone important.

Maybe their greatest fear comes true.

Maybe the antagonist wins.

Or maybe they realize that achieving their goal has cost them something they never wanted to lose.

The darkest moment should challenge your protagonist both externally AND internally.

Remember those false beliefs we explored earlier in Preptober?

This is a great opportunity to force your protagonist to confront them.

For example, if your protagonist believes they must handle everything alone, their darkest moment might come when refusing help causes them to lose something important.

Ask yourself:

• What’s the worst thing that could happen to my protagonist?
• What do they believe they’ve lost?
• How does this challenge their false belief?
• What must they learn to move forward?

Remember, your darkest moment doesn’t need to be an enormous battle or devastating tragedy.

Sometimes, the quietest emotional moments hurt the most.

2. The Climax: The Moment Everything Comes Together ⚔️

Now for the BIG moment!

THE CLIMAX! 🔥

This is where your protagonist faces the central conflict and makes a decision that determines the outcome of their story.

Everything we’ve been building toward finally comes together.

But here’s something important:

Your climax shouldn’t just resolve the external conflict. It should also reflect your protagonist’s growth.

Think about who your protagonist was at the beginning of the novel.

What did they believe?

What were they afraid of?

What mistakes did they make?

Now ask yourself:

What choice can they make during the climax that they NEVER would have made in Chapter One?

Maybe they finally trust someone.

Maybe they stand up for themselves.

Maybe they choose love over pride.

Maybe they realize that what they NEED is more important than what they’ve always WANTED.

That’s where character development becomes especially powerful.

Your protagonist doesn’t necessarily need to become a completely different person.

But their journey should influence how they approach this final challenge.

3. The Resolution: Give Your Readers a Satisfying Ending 💕

You guys.

WE’VE MADE IT TO THE END! 🎉

Your resolution shows readers the consequences of the climax and what life looks like afterward.

Did your protagonist accomplish their goal?

How have their relationships changed?

What have they learned?

What does their new normal look like?

And most importantly:

How does your ending connect to the emotional promise you made at the beginning of your novel?

A satisfying ending doesn’t have to be happy.

You might be writing a tragedy, a bittersweet conclusion, or the first book in a series.

But readers should feel that the central journey has reached a meaningful conclusion—even if some questions remain unanswered.

4. Let’s Look at Pride and Prejudice 📖

You guys know I LOVE using Pride and Prejudice as an example throughout this guide!

Let’s look at how Jane Austen brings Elizabeth Bennet’s journey to a close.

The Darkest Moment: Lydia runs away with Wickham, threatening the Bennet family’s reputation. Elizabeth fears the scandal could destroy any possibility of a future with Darcy.

The Climax: After Darcy secretly helps resolve Lydia’s situation and Elizabeth comes to understand his character, Darcy proposes again. This time, Elizabeth accepts.

The Resolution: Elizabeth and Darcy marry, and we see how their relationships and circumstances have changed.

What makes this ending so satisfying?

Elizabeth’s external journey and internal transformation come together.

At the beginning of the novel, Elizabeth is confident in her first impressions.

By the end, she’s learned to question her judgments and recognize the difference between pride, prejudice, and genuine character.

Her decision to accept Darcy reflects that growth.

And that’s exactly what we want to consider when planning our own endings!

✍️ Today’s Preptober E-Guide Exercise

Grab your FREE Preptober 2026 E-Guide and turn to the Story Beats section on pages 18–19!

Today, we’re answering three major questions.

1. What’s your protagonist’s darkest moment?

What happens that makes them feel like they’ve lost everything?

2. What’s your climax?

How does your protagonist confront the central conflict, and what important decision do they make?

3. What’s your resolution?

Where does your protagonist end up, and how have they changed?

If you’re struggling, try completing these sentences:

• Darkest Moment: My protagonist believes all hope is lost when __________.
• Climax: My protagonist finally confronts __________ and chooses to __________.
• Resolution: By the end of my novel, my protagonist has learned __________, and their life has changed because __________.

Don’t worry about writing detailed scenes just yet!

We’re identifying the BIG moments first.

We’ll start turning those moments into individual chapters later this week.

Your Ending Doesn’t Have to Be Perfect!

Before we wrap up, here’s your reminder:

You don’t have to know every detail of your ending before November 1st.

Your characters might surprise you.

Your plot might change.

And you might discover a better ending while drafting!

That’s okay.

The purpose of Preptober isn’t to create a perfect outline.

It’s to give yourself enough direction to start writing with confidence.

And you guys?

WE’VE OFFICIALLY MAPPED OUT OUR MAJOR STORY BEATS! 🎉📖

We’ve explored the beginning, middle, and ending of our novels.

Now we’re ready to start turning those big ideas into an actual outline!

🎥 Follow Along With Preptober 2026!

I’m spending all 31 days of October helping writers prepare for Novel November with my FREE Preptober E-Guide and daily YouTube series!

And it’s NEVER too late to join us!

Coming Tomorrow: Day 21 — Choose Your POV! 👀

Tomorrow, we’re talking about POINT OF VIEW!

First person? Third person? Multiple POVs?

We’ll explore how to choose the perspective that works best for your novel BEFORE you start drafting thousands of words.

Trust me, as someone who’s rewritten an entire manuscript from third person into first person, this is a decision worth thinking about! 😂

Now I want to hear from YOU!

Do you already know how your novel ends, or are you still figuring it out?

Let me know in the comments! 💕

We’ve got a novel to plan. 🎃✍️