Milestone map
Milestone map
3 milestones
Draft, Revise, and Prepare a Submission-Ready Story
4–6 weeks
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
Common mistakes
- Submitting a first draft without real revision — the revision log must show substantive changes, not minor edits
- Story is actually a vignette or scene without narrative arc — it must have a plot with tension and resolution
Resources
What a verifier looks for
- Read the story and the revision log. The revision log should tell you what the story's problems were in early drafts and how they were addressed — if it only describes word-level changes, the revision was superficial.
- Ask the submitter: 'What was the hardest structural problem you had to solve in revision?' A writer who has genuinely revised knows exactly what they struggled with.
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Submit to Literary Journals and Receive a Publication Offer
8–24 weeks
Submit your story to at least five distinct literary journals, magazines, or anthologies that have a real editorial selection process. Track your submissions. Acceptance to at least one publication is required to complete this milestone — simultaneous submission is permitted if the markets allow it.
Proof required
Submit: (a) a submission tracking log showing at least five distinct markets, submission dates, and responses, and (b) an acceptance email or publication notification from a journal or anthology confirming your story has been accepted for publication. The accepting publication must have an editorial selection process (not a pay-to-publish anthology that accepts everything).
What gets checked
- At least five distinct markets — not the same journal submitted five times
- Acceptance is from a genuine literary publication with editorial standards — self-publishing on your own blog does not satisfy this milestone
- Submission log shows dates, market names, and outcomes — not just a list of journals you considered
Common mistakes
- Only submitting to top-tier markets (The New Yorker, Ploughshares) without researching smaller journals where the work is competitive — rejection rate at top markets is above 99%
- Treating a pay-to-publish anthology or an unreviewed open submission as 'publication' — the acceptance must come from a publication with editorial selection
Resources
What a verifier looks for
- Check the acceptance email — it should come from a named editor at an identifiable publication, not a generic 'info@' address with no editorial identity.
- Look up the publication briefly — does it have a track record of publishing fiction? An acceptance from a publication with no previous issues, no named editors, and no editorial criteria is not a meaningful publication credit.
- The milestone passes if the acceptance is genuine and the submission log shows persistent effort across multiple markets.
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See the Story in Print or in Published Form
1–12 weeks after acceptance
The story is published — either in a print journal, an online literary magazine, or a qualifying anthology. Share the published link or publication. Write a brief reflection on what the submission and publication process taught you about your writing and about literary publishing.
Proof required
Submit: (a) a link to the published story online OR a photograph/scan of the relevant pages in a print publication, and (b) a written reflection (minimum 200 words) on what the process of submitting and being published taught you. The publication date must be confirmed.
What gets checked
- Publication is publicly accessible — a live URL or a print journal with a real ISBN or ISSN
- Reflection is specific — what did you learn about your writing from the editorial feedback you received (even a form rejection is feedback about market fit)
- Story is published under the submitter's real name or an established pen name — not anonymously
Common mistakes
- Publication URL leads to a private or paywalled page with no public access — the proof must be verifiable
Resources
What a verifier looks for
- Access the publication link or examine the print scan — verify the story appears under the submitter's name in a publication with a recognisable editorial identity.
- Ask the submitter: 'What would you change about the story now that you've seen it published?' A writer who has been through this process has opinions about their published work.
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