I'm part of a team looking to enter our work into the game jam, but we started the brainstorming before the jam was announced. We haven't started any of the actual work (like writing the script, programming the vn, drawing, etc), but I wanted to know if brainstorming (discussing concepts, looking up pictures to base concept art after, pitching what the characters could look like and their potential personalities) would still count as starting the project before the Jam officially begins, or if it's alright so long as none of the actual work has begun. 

Here's a link to the team's chat for further investigation if needed: (Wannabe Chat | CloudNovel Thread)

Thank you, and I hope to hear a response soon.

That's completely fine, as long as none of the actual work has begun.

Alright, thank you!