From Idea to Outline: Behind the Scenes of My Writing Workshop
Have you ever had a book idea that just won’t leave you alone? The kind that pops into your head while you’re driving, folding laundry, or trying to fall asleep — and suddenly, you’re seeing scenes play out, hearing dialogue, and imagining what the cover might look like?
And yet… when you finally sit down to write, the blank page stares back.
If that sounds familiar, bestie, you’re not alone.
That’s exactly why I created my From Idea to Outline workshop — to help writers like you finally bring your story to life without all the overwhelm, confusion, or self-doubt that usually comes with it.
Today, I’m giving you a behind-the-scenes look at how it all came together, what we covered, and the incredible breakthroughs that happened during this powerful session.
💡 Why I Created the Workshop
For months, people had been asking me questions like,
“How did you actually publish your book?”
“How did you organize everything?”
“How did you stay consistent long enough to finish?”
I loved those questions — not because I had all the answers, but because I recognized that spark in every person asking. These were people who had their own stories to tell — they just needed a roadmap.
I saw writers sitting on years’ worth of ideas: Notes apps filled with random lines of dialogue, journals covered in scribbles, sticky notes taped to desks. They had passion, imagination, and heart — but no system to pull it all together.
And I get it. When I first started writing Perpetually 24, I was exactly the same. My story was living in twenty different places — and for the longest time, I felt completely stuck.
Everything changed when I decided to use ChatGPT to organize my story ideas into an outline. I took all those scattered notes, character ideas, and random late-night thoughts, and asked it to help me structure the story. Seeing it mapped out in front of me was a lightbulb moment.
It didn’t just give me clarity — it gave me momentum.
That breakthrough became the foundation for what would eventually become this workshop: a step-by-step process to help other writers finally turn their ideas into something real.
What We Did in the Workshop
The energy inside this workshop was electric from the start. We kicked things off with what I call a magnetic opening — I wanted everyone to feel seen, welcomed, and supported right away.
I had attendees share where they were joining from, and suddenly the chat was full of writers from all over, coming together with one shared goal: to finally start writing their book.
Then I got real with them. I shared my own story — how I went from a half-finished manuscript to a published author. How I used technology, organization, and a whole lot of persistence to make it happen. And how, for the first time, I stopped feeling like my dream was impossible.
After setting the tone, we dove into the heart of the workshop: a 4-step system that turns chaos into clarity.
✍️ Step 1: The Brain Dump
We started by capturing everything — character ideas, plot points, themes, settings, lines of dialogue, even random scene fragments. The goal was simple: get it all out of your head and onto the page. No overthinking, no editing — just freedom.
This step always brings up a mix of relief and excitement. People start realizing, “Wow, I’ve been holding onto all of this.”
✨ Step 2: Your Three Exciting Moments
Once we had the brain dump, I asked everyone to pick the three moments or ideas that lit them up the most — the ones that made them want to write. This helps you reconnect with the heart of your story.
It could be the big twist, a tender moment between characters, or even just a single line that captures everything your story stands for.
💻 Step 3: The Magic of Structure
Here’s where things got really fun. I walked everyone through how to use ChatGPT to turn their brain dump and favorite scenes into a workable outline.
You could see the lightbulbs going off in real time — people realizing that all those scattered thoughts actually fit together.
One participant shared that she came up with the title for her book right there during the session. Another said she suddenly knew which scenes she wanted to write first — and planned to start that same night.
📋 Step 4: The Trello Board System
Then we talked about how to keep all those ideas organized. I screen-shared my Trello board and showed how I use it to map out my stories visually. You can move scenes around, group ideas, and start to see your story take shape — it’s creative and strategic at the same time.
One of my favorite quotes from the workshop was when someone typed,
“Wow! This gave me such a great way to organize a lot of my ideas – this is a game changer!”
By the end, everyone had not just a plan, but a renewed belief in themselves. The chat was full of excitement, celebration, and that contagious creative energy that makes you want to open your laptop right then and start writing.
💬 The Feedback That Melted My Heart
After the workshop ended, my inbox was flooded with messages.
Here are just a few of my favorites (shared with permission):
“This was exactly what I needed today. I finally feel like I know where to start.”
“I came in feeling overwhelmed and left with a plan.”
“I was able to choose three scenes for my book and start to map out where I want the story to go.”
“This gave me hope — I didn’t think I could do this, but now I do.”
So many people said they loved how simple and approachable the process felt. That’s exactly what I wanted — for writing to feel doable again. Not intimidating. Not “someday.” But now.
Reading that feedback reminded me why I love doing this work. It’s not just about helping people outline a story — it’s about helping them believe in themselves again.
💖 What’s Next
If you’re reading this and thinking, “I want that too,” I have amazing news for you — you don’t have to miss out.
🎥 You can watch the full From Idea to Outline workshop replay and go through the entire process at your own pace.
You’ll learn:
How to organize your story ideas into a clear, actionable plan
How to use tools like ChatGPT and Trello to bring your book to life
How to reconnect with your “why” so your writing feels meaningful again
And how to finally stop spinning your wheels and start writing with purpose
👉 Grab the replay here: From Idea to Outline Workshop
And if you’re ready to take it even deeper, this is exactly the kind of support you’ll find inside my Writes Well With Others community and my 1:1 writing coaching packages.
That’s where we build your custom roadmap, keep you accountable, and celebrate every single milestone on your writing journey.
Because your book isn’t just a dream — it’s a goal. And with the right guidance, you can absolutely make it happen.
🥂 Final Thoughts
Hosting From Idea to Outline reminded me that every great story starts the same way — with someone who’s brave enough to begin.
You don’t need to have every detail figured out. You just need a plan, a little structure, and a whole lot of heart.
And bestie, you’ve got all three.
So take this as your sign — it’s time to stop waiting for the perfect moment and start writing your story today.
👉 Watch the full replay here: From Idea to Outline Workshop
Until next time, keep dreaming, keep writing, and always keep your glass—and your writing notebooks—full.
💬 Stay Connected
If this post spoke to you, don’t forget to:
👉 Follow me on Facebook and Instagram: @badassbookbestie
👉 Join the community: Badass Book Besties
🎧 Catch more podcast episodes: Badass Books and Besties Podcast
