The Magic of Milestones: Why Celebrating Writing Wins Matters

Why am I seeing cake?

There’s a little cake I'm imagining, that will be sitting on my kitchen counter. I dream of a bundt cake, to be exact.

This weekend, I plan to savor every delicious bite. Why? Because I hit 40,000 words on The 19th Prince, and I've decided that these little wins deserve a celebration!

Writing a novel can feel like crossing a desert with no map. Sometimes the oases are few and far between, and sometimes you lose sight of just how far you’ve come. That’s why I’ve started making a big deal over my 20K milestones.

Why Treats (and Treating Yourself) Matter

Marking progress reminds me this work is more than deadlines and edits—it’s also about my own growth and the magic happening on the page. Plus, bundt cake honestly tastes better when I know each slice is a reward for pushing through sloggy middle chapters, and those days when every word is a small battle. Seriously, sometimes I stare at the screen trying to determine how to write the scene in my head. How can I make it seamless in my reader's mind? What does my reader need to know?

I used to brush past my milestones, always chasing that final “The End.”, I say No More!! The journey itself deserves confetti. Or cake. It's better than death. (At this point, we'll run out of cake.) And if you don't get the reference, just toss it off as one of my SQUIRREL moments. 

Little rewards keep the creative flame burning. A coffee, a donut, or a good slice of cake is sometimes all it takes to remind me of how far I've come! 

How I Celebrate (Spoiler: Food is Involved)

A friend of mine would scold me about food as motivation. Dude, I’m motivated by snacks. I'm not perfect and we all need food, so step off. 

Sometimes the gift is bigger—commemorative art for a series, or a movie night just for me and my characters. Other times, it’s simple: an hour in the sun, or some extra-fancy tea during my next writing session. Celebrating doesn’t have to mean spending money. Pausing, looking at how far I've come, and letting being proud for a minute helps me recognize the effort I've put in. 

Milestones Matter (Especially on the Hard Days)

I love writing. It is, in itself, a reward. But I'm not a fast writer. Most days, it’s more of a slow burn. On the tough days, I look back at my past milestones—seeing how those 1,000-word mornings add up make me want to stretch to a higher word count. Celebrations are signposts I can look back on when I want a gauge to see how I’m doing. These milestones make the process more memorable. 

What About You?

Do you celebrate your own milestones? What kinds of rewards push you over the next hill? Whether you’re writing a novel, learning a language, or just tackling your TBR pile, I challenge you to mark those little wins. Share your favorite way to celebrate—big or small—in the comments below!

As for me? I’ll be enjoying cake and prepping my next big milestone for The 19th Prince. Here’s to every word, every moment, and all the small victories along the way.

Keep writing, keep celebrating, and—most importantly—don’t forget the cake.

Until next time...
...happy reading!

​~ Stephy