This is meant to be a fun guide to help you see where you are in your publishing journey.
I intended all the steps to be an "or", so you could skip a bunch of steps.
I'm positive this list is nowhere near complete. :) If you have an idea of a step that ought to be included here, shoot me an email!
Also, if you've earned a black belt rank, let me know so I can create a customized black belt badge just for you!
| White Belts | Yellow Belts | Orange Belts |
|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
| • Decided to call yourself a writer OR • Actually started writing | • Have been writing for a year OR • Have exceeded 100 followers on your blog | • Read your second book on writing OR • Have exceeded 200 followers on your blog |
 |  |  |
| • Started a blog OR • Started visiting writing blogs | • Have passed 40, 000 words in your first WIP OR • Read your first book on writing | • Attended a writer's conference or workshop (online or in person) OR • Finished the first revision your first WIP |
 |  |  |
| • Have been writing in earnest for six months OR • Have been blogging for six months | • Finished the first draft of your WIP | • Joined a critique group OR • Exchanged pages for critique with other writers |
| Purple Belts | Blue Belts | Green Belts |
|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
| • Finished the third revision of your first WIP OR • Entered a writing contest | • Entered a second writing conference OR • Been an active member of a critique group for a year | • Revised based on agent/editor notes OR • Learned how to format an eBook |
 |  |  |
| • Sent your first WIP to beta readers OR • Been an active member of a critique group for six months | • Prepare your first query package OR • Researched self-publishing | • Queried and queried some more OR • Finishing revising a second WIP |
 |  |  |
| • Attended a 2nd writer's conference or workshop OR • Finished revising your first WIP based on reader's notes | • Queried your first WIP or short story | • Attended your 3rd writer's conference or workshop OR • Sent a second WIP to beta readers |
| Red Belts | Brown Belts |
|---|---|
 |  |
| • Critiqued another writer's entire novel OR • Finished revising your second WIP based on reader's notes | • Queried your second WIP |
 |  |
• Traditionally published a short story or article | • Mentored another blogger OR • Formatted your novel/short story for eBook |
 |  |
• Prepared your second agent/editor query package OR • Designed the cover for your self-published work | • Mentored another writer OR • Formatted your novel/short story for POD |
BLACK BELT
email ali for your personalized badge
- Published your first book
- Published your second short story
- Presented at a writer's conference
BLACK BELT 2ND DAN
email ali for your personalized badge
- Published your second book
- Published your third short story
- Presented at a second writer's conference
MASTER BLACK BELT
email ali for your personalized badge
- Published your third book
- Published your fourth short story
- Keynote speaker at a writer's conference
5 karate chops:
Aloha Ali,
Found you via Mel Fowler's "Adventure Writes" blog and her interview with you. I wanted to stop by and say hi (or aloha!)
Anyhow, you've a great blog and I wanted to wish you best success with "Become."
I *might* also - if you don't mind - many moons from now ask to pick your brains about the world of opera... (I'm co-writing opera singer Donald Braswell's memoir.)
Regards, and Happy Thanksgiving.
Oooh, I thought I'd be right at the beginning but I'm not :-)
I'm only a white belt. But I have done one or two things under the other belts too x
And I take it black belts are published?
Oh...look at me, I'm in the browns. This is awesome, Ali. I hope all is going well with your book tour!!!
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