Some grad/doc students know exactly what they want to write about, but most don't. It seems nearly impossible to narrow down your readings, your field experiences, and your interests to something manageable. But the sooner you decide on your focus, the better.
But choosing a topic that you will live and breathe for the next several months, or maybe even years, is daunting. Scary even. You could choose some obscure topic that only you and your advisor/committee are interested in, and spend your your time and money becoming an expert in something no one will ever need or use. Or you could pick something that is relevant and important in your field, and could even help change the world.
You need to find the "itch" in your particular field. What questions or issues are burning up that area of study? What problems persist in your part of the academic world? What is bothering people?
Then, design your paper or study to "scratch" that itch, and answer those questions. Find a solution to the problem or a method that could lead to a solution. Don't you want to spend your time and money creating something people, and yourself, can actually use?
So, what are you going to write about?
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