If your experience exceeds the highest ranks, contact ali to receive your personalized Black Belt!
BOYS:
| White Belts | Yellow Belts | Orange Belts |
|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
| • Decided to call yourself a writer OR • Actually started writing | • Completed at least one of the requirements for the previous belt • Have been blogging for a year or more OR • Joined a writer’s association | • Completed at least one of the requirements for the previous belt • Joined a critique group OR• Have at least five writer-friends |
 |  |  |
| • Completed at least one of the requirements for the previous belt • Started a blog OR • Started visiting writing blogs | • Completed at least one of the requirements for the previous belt • Complete the first draft of your first WIP OR • Read at least ten books in your genre | • Completed at least one of the requirements for the previous belt • Entered a writer’s contest OR • Finished revising your first WIP |
 |  |  |
| • Completed at least one of the requirements for the previous belt • Have been writing in earnest for six months or more OR • Have been blogging for longer than six months | • Completed at least one of the requirements for the previous belt • Attended a writer’s conference or workshop OR • Have your work critiqued by another writer | • Completed at least one of the requirements for the previous belt • Been an active member of a critique group for six months OR • Read at least 50 books in your genre |
| Purple Belts | Blue Belts | Green Belts |
|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
| • Completed at least one of the requirements for the previous belt • Attended a 2nd writer’s conference or workshop OR • Sent your WIP out to beta readers | • Completed at least one of the requirements for the previous belt • Queried your first WIP OR • Critiqued someone else’s WIP | • Completed at least one of the requirements for the previous belt • Attended your 3rd writer’s conference or workshop OR • Critiqued a second novel for someone else |
 |  |  |
| • Completed at least one of the requirements for the previous belt • Entered a second writer’s contest OR • Prepared your first query package | • Completed at least one of the requirements for the previous belt • Expanded your circle of friends in the blogosphere OR • Finished revising your second WIP | • Completed at least one of the requirements for the previous belt • Sent your second WIP out to beta readers OR • Helped a novice blogger set up, manage and promote their blog for an extended period of time |
 |  |  |
| • Completed at least one of the requirements for the previous belt • Been an active member of a critique group for a year OR • Finished a second WIP | • Completed at least one of the requirements for the previous belt • Pitched to an agent or editor in person OR • Contracted with an agent | • Completed at least one of the requirements for the previous belt • Prepared your second query package OR • Mentored a novice writer, either online or in person, for an extended period of time |
| Red Belts | Brown Belts |
|---|---|
 |  |
| • Completed at least one of the requirements for the previous belt • Read at least 100 books in your genre OR • Finished the draft of your third WIP | • Completed at least one of the requirements for the previous belt • Published a short story or article OR • Revised your third WIP |
 |  |
| • Completed at least one of the requirements for the previous belt • Queried your second WIP OR • Made your own choices regarding your writing career, regardless of public opinion | • Completed at least one of the requirements for the previous belt • Published your second short story OR • Contracted with an agent |
 |  |
| • Completed at least one of the requirements for the previous belt • Been a member of an active critique group for two years or more OR • Participated in a hands-on masters class at a writer’s conference | • Completed at least one of the requirements for the previous belt • Prepared your full-length work for publication (i.e. self-publishing) OR • Been accepted for publication at a major house |
GIRLS:
| White Belts | Yellow Belts | Orange Belts |
|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
| • Decided to call yourself a writer OR • Actually started writing | • Completed at least one of the requirements for the previous belt • Have been blogging for a year or more OR • Joined a writer’s association | • Completed at least one of the requirements for the previous belt • Joined a critique group OR• Have at least five writer-friends |
 |  |  |
| • Completed at least one of the requirements for the previous belt • Started a blog OR • Started visiting writing blogs | • Completed at least one of the requirements for the previous belt • Complete the first draft of your first WIP OR • Read at least ten books in your genre | • Completed at least one of the requirements for the previous belt • Entered a writer’s contest OR • Finished revising your first WIP |
 |  |  |
| • Completed at least one of the requirements for the previous belt • Have been writing in earnest for six months or more OR • Have been blogging for longer than six months | • Completed at least one of the requirements for the previous belt • Attended a writer’s conference or workshop OR • Have your work critiqued by another writer | • Completed at least one of the requirements for the previous belt • Been an active member of a critique group for six months OR • Read at least 50 books in your genre |
| Purple Belts | Blue Belts | Green Belts |
|---|---|---|
 |  |  |
| • Completed at least one of the requirements for the previous belt • Attended a 2nd writer’s conference or workshop OR • Sent your WIP out to beta readers | • Completed at least one of the requirements for the previous belt • Queried your first WIP OR • Critiqued someone else’s WIP | • Completed at least one of the requirements for the previous belt • Attended your 3rd writer’s conference or workshop OR • Critiqued a second novel for someone else |
 |  |  |
| • Completed at least one of the requirements for the previous belt • Entered a second writer’s contest OR • Prepared your first query package | • Completed at least one of the requirements for the previous belt • Expanded your circle of friends in the blogosphere OR • Finished revising your second WIP | • Completed at least one of the requirements for the previous belt • Sent your second WIP out to beta readers OR • Helped a novice blogger set up, manage and promote their blog for an extended period of time |
 |  |  |
| • Completed at least one of the requirements for the previous belt • Been an active member of a critique group for a year OR • Finished a second WIP | • Completed at least one of the requirements for the previous belt • Pitched to an agent or editor in person OR • Contracted with an agent | • Completed at least one of the requirements for the previous belt • Prepared your second query package OR • Mentored a novice writer, either online or in person, for an extended period of time |
| Red Belts | Brown Belts |
|---|---|
 |  |
| • Completed at least one of the requirements for the previous belt • Read at least 100 books in your genre OR • Finished the draft of your third WIP | • Completed at least one of the requirements for the previous belt • Published a short story or article OR • Revised your third WIP |
 |  |
| • Completed at least one of the requirements for the previous belt • Queried your second WIP OR • Made your own choices regarding your writing career, regardless of public opinion | • Completed at least one of the requirements for the previous belt • Published your second short story OR • Contracted with an agent |
 |  |
| • Completed at least one of the requirements for the previous belt • Been a member of an active critique group for two years or more OR • Participated in a hands-on masters class at a writer’s conference | • Completed at least one of the requirements for the previous belt • Prepared your full-length work for publication (i.e. self-publishing) OR • Been accepted for publication at a major house |
