# Before the First Word: 3 Preptober Templates for Planning Your Next Story

This month, you’ll find three new templates in Ellipsus to help you move from _nebulous idea_ to _narrative…_ before you write your first line.

Written by Rex Mizrach  
Publish date: 15/10/2025

It’s that time again: crisp air, crackling creative energy, long-buried ideas rising in the mist... and one very spooky blank page.👻

If you’re prepping for a new project ( _say… in November?_), drafting a wildly ambitious novel ( _50k words, mayhap?_), thinking about a devastating one-shot **,** or _finally_ giving voice to a character that’s been scratching at the back of your brain and refusing to leave—now’s the perfect time to gather your thoughts. Like a big pile of crunchy leaves.

This month, you’ll find three new templates in Ellipsus to help you move from _nebulous idea_ to _narrative…_ before you write your first line.

## Project Compass Template

_Okay_, so you have big plans, a few favorite tropes, a cursed family tree to untangle, a whole lot of vibes… but no place to put them (yet). [This template](https://write.ellipsus.com/edit/8258dc26-1f68-4941-8cab-4ebd8f78e49a) is here to help you make your way through your story’s uncharted territory, toward your creative north star. _What_ are you writing? Why _now_? Who’s at the center? What questions are guiding you on the journey? It’s your space to articulate what matters most so you can move forward with more clarity (or at least better-organized chaos).

## Backstory Planning Template

All stories begin before _page one_. When the world feels alive—a age-old war, the remnants of a past relationship, the lore of a vanished bloodline—the _real_ magic happens. [This template](https://write.ellipsus.com/edit/e8e74569-e547-400d-8dc9-5bfe2bc98bfa) will help you explore the spaces where past and plot connect: the formative events that shape your characters and define their world. Use it to plan what the reader knows early, what stays hidden until the _big reveal_, and what belongs only in your notes (or your 56-page appendix).

## Creative Goals Template

A good story happens _as you write it_. Prepping for a new project can feel overwhelming, but this [journal-style template](https://write.ellipsus.com/edit/1ffd5857-a925-4e5f-bd1f-34f29c235009) gives you a place to track rogue ideas, discoveries, surprises, and small-but-mighty victories with a weekly check-in format. What are your creative goals? What feels exciting (or hard—and how to work through it)? What milestones matter _to you_? No pressure… just a little of structure for writing your way out of the messy middle.

## Ready to start?

You can get all three templates by creating a new document on your dash (just click **\+ New**, and **From Template)**. We hope these give you a whole lot of fresh momentum! And keep an eye out—more templates are on the way to help you plan, plot (without crying), and build the universe your story deserves.

_Want to connect with a like-minded community and get the latest news on Ellipsus? [Join our Discord](http://discord.gg/ellipsus) to follow announcements and share your feedback._

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