40 Writing Milestones to Celebrate

Or: 40 Excuses to Buy Yourself an Ice Cream

Holly Lyn Walrath

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Aug 28, 2019 · 3 min read

As a writer, it can be really hard to keep going. One way I keep myself motivated is by celebrating the small things. Sure, I was over the moon the first time I got a poetry acceptance. But I’ve learned that to keep going, you need to celebrate every little step. Every time I hit a new milestone, I try to appreciate that moment, because it validates all the hard work, long hours, and general malaise that being a writer sometimes entails. I love writing, but writing is hard.

So here are 40 things to reward yourself for as a writer:

1. The first rejection
2. The first personal rejection
3. The first acceptance
4. The first dream publication
5. The 20th Rejection
6. The 50th Rejection
7. 100 Rejections in a year
8. Your first critique group
9. Your second critique group because the first one fell apart
10. Your third critique group, this is the one, finally
11. Your fourth critique group that really is The One
12. When an editor solicits your work
13. When an editor accepts you, then says they like your other work
14. The first time you are asked to speak somewhere
15. Your first time as a panelist at a convention
16. Your first book draft
17. The first story you shelve
18. The first book you shelve
19. Getting an ARC in the mail
20. Getting paid a pro rate
21. Your first review
22. Your first bad review
23. Your first terrible, inexplainable, weirdly mean review
24. Your first fanmail
25. Your first angry fanmail
26. The first time someone asks you to sign a book
27. The first time someone dresses up in cosplay as your character
28. Your first reading
29. Your first reading where someone other than your best friend was in the audience
30. Finding your book in a bookstore… and signing it!
31. Landing an agent
32. The first time a librarian wants to archive your work
33. Being invited to be Guest of Honor at an event
34. Collaborating with an artist or other writer
35. Getting nominated for an award
36. Winning your first award
37. Teaching for the first time
38. Writing the second book, the third, the fourth …
39. When you get a movie deal
40. Revising your work with the audacity of J.K. Rowling & George Lucas (Just joshing, obviously.)

Holly Lyn Walrath is a freelance editor based out of Houston, Texas. She holds a B.A. in English from The University of Texas and a Master’s in Creative Writing from the University of Denver. She provides editing services for writers and organizations of all genres, experiences, and backgrounds, but enjoys working with new writers best. Find her on Twitter or visit her website.