Writing Superstars

Superstars

Last month, I had the privilege of attending a very special writing conference. Most seminars about writing focus on how to write, ways to get better at telling your stories, and things along those lines. Superstars Writing is very different. A group of New York Times bestselling authors, with names you’ve probably heard (Kevin J. Anderson, Eric Flint, James A. Owen, Jim Butcher, just to name a few), focus on the business end of writing, something almost no one teaches. Contracts, what to look out for if you get offers for movie or tv adaptations, and what agents are looking for are some of the topics covered. They are also great at adapting as things change, and this past year included presentations on story structure, how to run a Kickstarter, what the different types of editors do, and more.

The focus being on business instead of actual writing technique (although they have added a craft day in the last few years that does that, too) is just one way this is unlike any other seminar. There are plenty of times to get practice pitching your work, career counseling, and actually get to know publishers, editors, big-name authors. The chances to network are utterly unique. I presently have four novels out, and at least two of them are directly traceable to Superstars.

Superstars stands apart from any other seminar, convention, or anything else you want to call it in many ways. I mentioned networking above, but it’s more than that. Things start impressing you from before you even arrive. There’s a volunteer program, run by one of the attendees, coordinating rides from the airport. No other program I know of does that, and it’s increasingly complicated as the numbers grow each year. If you go, you’ll hear them refer to the gathering as “Tribe.” That’s not some cool catchphrase or marketing slogan. The people that go to this are there to learn, and further their careers, sure. That’s the point. But everyone, from the big names to people you’ve never heard of (like me, so far) will, and do, go to extraordinary lengths to help each other out. It’s not something they have to do. Everyone there chooses to do it. It’s an amazing feeling, utterly inspiring, and has concrete results, not just some vague good vibes. There are scholarships every year, a charity anthology writers contribute to in order to help others be able to afford to go, and a charity auction to raise funds.

There are a few things to know before you go. It’s not cheap. In my opinion, it’s worth every penny, but it’s an investment. In your career, your future as a writer. It’s in Colorado Springs, in February, so you have to deal with being at high altitude and, usually, it’s cold. It is, in my opinion, not for amateurs. If you’re not sure about writing, if you’re not able to get words down and meet deadlines, you might not be ready for this. That’s not judgement, it’s advice. Free advice, worth what you paid for it.

But if you’re serious about writing, if you’re trying to make a career out of it, if you’re truly committed to the craft, this is something you absolutely need to check out. I’m not on staff for Superstars. I don’t get paid to talk them up. All these opinions are my own. And in my opinion, going to Superstars is the second-best thing you can do for your writing career.

The first, of course, is actually writing.

 

For more information about the seminar, go to: https://superstarswriting.com/