Publish First Short Story
10 weeks · 0 milestones
Write and publish a short story in a literary magazine, anthology, or reputable online publication.
Milestone map
Milestone map
3 milestones
Write a complete short story (1,500–7,500 words) and put it through at least two full revision cycles. A revision cycle means making structural or craft-level changes — not just proofreading. Share the revised story with at least one reader for feedback before finalising it for submission. The story must be complete with a beginning, middle, and end — not an excerpt or scene.
Proof required
Submit: (a) the final story as a document (Word, Google Doc, or PDF), (b) a brief revision log noting what changed between draft one and the final submission version (minimum 150 words), and (c) one paragraph of feedback from a reader (can be anonymised) that identifies something specific about the story's structure, character, or prose. Word count must be stated.
What gets checked
- Revision log shows substantive changes — not just line edits but changes to structure, character, or plot
- Reader feedback is specific, not generic praise — 'I wasn't sure why the protagonist made that choice in the middle' is useful; 'it's really good' is not sufficient
- Story is complete — it has a clear ending, not a cut-off at an interesting moment