This post was first published in April 2020 and updated in May 2023.

This post was first published in March 2012 and updated in June 2023.

The writing path is rewarding and varied – but it can also feel very long. If your definition of “success” is to be a best-selling author and you’ve only written a couple of chapters of your first novel, it’s easy to get discouraged.

Instead of thinking about your ultimate writing goal, focus on reaching new milestones on the writing path. These are nine that I think are well worth celebrating. You might not hit them in this exact order: that’s fine! Everyone’s path is different.

#1: First Completed Piece

Your very first short story or poem or article is a huge achievement, even if you wrote it years ago. Every time you tackle a new type of writing, you’ve got the chance to reach this milestone again.

I wrote plenty of short stories in school, but the first one I remember really liking was a modern-day retelling of the Beowulf legend when I was 12 or 13.

Try it: Have a go at something new this week. If you normally write non-fiction, try a short piece of fiction; if you normally write fiction, try poetry or a very different style. My Get Writing guide has very do-able action plans to help you.

Read the rest of the post here.