Milestone map
Milestone map
3 milestones
Complete a full outline — story structure, characters, and chapter map
3–6 weeks
Complete a structural outline of the novel: a synopsis of the full story arc, the major characters with their roles in the story, and a chapter-by-chapter map of the plot. A novel outline is not a summary of what you would like to write; it is a working document that answers the question 'do you know where this story is going?' Most abandoned novels fail not because of prose quality but because the writer ran out of story — they wrote toward an ending they hadn't yet figured out. A full outline is the proof of a complete conception. The outline will change as the novel is written; that is expected.
Proof required
Share your novel outline: a synopsis of the full story (beginning, middle, end — 500+ words), a cast list with at least the protagonist and antagonist described, and a chapter map covering all planned chapters (title or one-sentence summary per chapter). The chapter map does not need to be final.
What gets checked
- Full story synopsis with beginning, middle, and end — a setup-only synopsis is not a full outline.
- Cast list covers at least the protagonist and antagonist with their roles in the story.
- Chapter map covers the full planned novel — even if approximate.
Common mistakes
- Synopsis covers only the setup: 'a young wizard discovers they have powers and must save the world' — this is a premise, not a synopsis.
- Characters described by appearance only: 'she has red hair and green eyes' — character descriptions should address their role in the story and their arc.
- Chapter map absent: 'I'll figure it out as I go' — this milestone requires a planned structure, not spontaneous discovery writing.
Resources
Foundationstart here
Depthgo deeper
What a verifier looks for
- The synopsis must cover all three acts — setup, rising action, and resolution. Ask what happens at the end of the story.
- Characters should be described in terms of their story role, not just physical traits — ask what the protagonist wants and what prevents them from getting it.
- The chapter map should demonstrate that the writer has thought through the middle of the story — middles are where most first novels fail.
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Write 40,000 words — the draft is past the halfway mark
3–6 months (depending on writing pace)
Write 40,000 words of the novel's first draft. 40,000 words is the conventional halfway point for a standard genre novel (typically 80,000–100,000 words) and a significant enough volume to prove that the novel is actually being written, not just planned. The quality of the draft at this point is irrelevant — the first draft exists to be revised. What matters is that the novel is past the halfway mark. The word count should be verifiable by sharing the manuscript.
Proof required
Share the word count of your current draft (most writing software shows this in the bottom bar or document properties). If you are comfortable sharing an excerpt, paste 500 words from the draft. Write one sentence on what surprised you most about the story since you started writing.
What gets checked
- Word count is at least 40,000 — demonstrated by a screenshot from a word processor or shared document.
- If an excerpt is shared, it should be from the draft, not the outline.
- What surprised you about the story since starting — demonstrates the novel is being actively written and evolving.
Common mistakes
- Word count is outline plus chapter notes, not prose: 'I have 40,000 words of planning material' — the milestone is 40,000 words of the novel itself.
- Chapter count used instead of word count: '20 chapters' — chapter length varies; word count is the standard measure.
- Draft not started: 'I'm still refining the outline' — at some point the outline must become prose.
Resources
Foundationstart here
What a verifier looks for
- The word count must be from prose, not planning materials — ask to see the draft file, not the outline.
- An excerpt is the strongest proof of 40,000 words of actual prose — ask for a page from the middle of the draft.
- What surprised you: this answer reveals whether the writer is actively engaged with the material or grinding through a plan.
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Complete the first draft — full manuscript at target word count
3–6 months after M2
Complete the first draft of the novel — a complete manuscript from first chapter to last. 'Complete' means the story has an ending, not that the prose is ready for publication. A first draft is finished when every scene in the chapter map has been written and the story has a beginning, middle, and end. The manuscript does not need to be clean, consistent, or polished. Most published novels go through significant structural revision after the first draft; the first draft's job is to exist.
Proof required
Share the word count of the completed first draft. Write a one-paragraph summary of the ending — what happens in the final chapter. Write one sentence on what you would change about the outline if you were starting the story again with the knowledge you have now.
What gets checked
- Word count of the completed manuscript is stated.
- Summary of the ending is provided — demonstrates the story reaches a conclusion.
- What would change about the outline — demonstrates honest reflection on the craft process.
Common mistakes
- Manuscript described as 'essentially complete' with the ending not yet written — an unfinished ending is an unfinished draft.
- Ending summary is absent: 'I don't want to spoil it' — this milestone requires proof that the ending exists.
- What would change is absent: 'nothing, it went to plan' — something always changes between outline and draft; the insight is the proof of engagement.
Resources
Foundationstart here
What a verifier looks for
- The ending summary must demonstrate that the story resolves — ask whether the main conflict from the outline is addressed in the ending.
- What would change about the outline is the most revealing question in this milestone — ask for specifics rather than accepting 'the pacing' as an answer.
- Word count: industry novel ranges are 70,000–100,000 for most adult fiction genres; a 40,000-word 'novel' is a novella — ask whether the story is complete at the current length or whether more is planned.
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