SSWS 2025 - The Beginning

This year, I was able to attend the Superstars Writing Seminar, courtesy of their incredible scholarship program. I went in a bit of a skeptic - what is this tribe thing anyway? - and I left a full convert.

The conference was held at the beautiful Cheyenne Mountain Resort in Colorado Springs and despite being in early February, we had gorgeous weather the entire time. (Ok, there was one night and day of pretty intense wind, but nobody ended up in Oz so we'll call it a win).

Because of the scholarship, I was able to attend Skills Day before the conference officially began, and started the day with an Eggs Benedict breakfast hosted by the legendary, and delightful, James A. Owen. It set the tone for the rest of the week.

Credit for this photo goes to another conference attendee.

Over the course of breakfast, James told the story of an unforgettable Eggs Benedict he had at a hotel, and what made it so good. I won't try and tell the story here, because I won't do it justice, but the story served as an example of what happens when you value your work, and give it the respect it deserves.

"You're Eggs Benedict are GOOD," he told us, referring to our stories "and there are people out there who need them."

When we sell ourselves short, we not only do our ourselves a disservice, but we do a disservice to the people who would find joy, belonging, hope, comfort, or anything else good from our stories. "No one ever inspired someone to greatness by pretending to be less awesome than they asd

I didn't expect to cry at a writing conference, but when James A. Owen looks you in the eye and says with all sincerity: "Value what you do, and others will too." there really isn't any other choice. I left feeling like I not only belonged at that conference, but that I had a duty to myself, my stories, and the people who need them, to learn everything I could.

And the learning came like drinking from a firehose.

While Skills Day began the deluge, there was one interaction that will stick with me beyond the tips and tricks I learned about craft. Michael La Ronn taught a "Honing Your Writer's Third Eye" class all about finding and analyzing the prose and structure patterns in mega-best sellers. The best part wasn't when I won a prize for the best written sensory paragraph, but an interaction he and I had during one of the breaks:

In a vulnerable moment while he and I were talking, I broke through the imposter syndrome and shared with him that I was pitching my first novel to publishers that week. Rather than a canned encouraging remark, or even worse - a self deprecating statement about the quality of first novels - he grinned and said, with sincere excitement: "Your first book is magical! You only get to write your first book once."

And I think that's the magic sauce of this conference. People say things and they really mean it. We were all there to learn and lift where we stood, no matter how far up the mountain path of success we were.

Keven J. Anderson gave the keynote address and talked about this concept - so often when we are pushing for a goal, and finally reach it, we find that it is a false summit. Someone is always ahead, someone always appears to be better than us, there is always another goal to stretch for. But similarly, there is always someone behind us on the mountain that we can turn around and help.

No matter who I sat with in a class, at dinner, or while waiting for my pitch appointment, there was only sincere support. And somehow I found that even though I have just begun to climb, I was able to offer support at well.

*****

The next time I cried was also James's fault, and was during his Drawing out the Dragons presentation. Part of me wishes I had recorded the whole thing, but at the same time I'm glad that I'm left only with what stuck out to me in that moment. Most of the stories can be found in his book, but there is something magical about hearing a person tell their own story.

It was during this presentation that I realized the meaning of something he'd said during the Eggs Benedict breakfast. When we'd finished eating, he had each of us draw a slip of paper with one of the takeaways from his Drawing with Dragons book/presentation. At the time, I didn't really understand mine, and the magic of the moment - the destiny of it all - was lost on me.

But after the full presentation, it hit harder.

The choices we make now, even the small ones, build on each other and have the power to reach back into the past and magnify previous choices. The choices I'm making today about my writing, my career, my family, might seem small. They might not seem like enough in the moment. But if I keep making them, if I keep adding lines to my drawing, then eventually they will compound to create something wonderful.

I have to trust the process.

*****

When I applied for this scholarship, I'll admit that I didn't think I had a chance. While I've been writing my whole life, I didn't start taking it seriously, or sharing what I'd written, until early summer 2024. When the email came through with the scholarship offer I realized that it was exactly the kick in the butt I needed - an actual deadline.

I had a novel mostly finished, and was determined to be ready to pitch it to agents and publishers at the conference. And pitch it I did! With great success!

While getting an agent or publisher to ask for sample pages is only the first of many possible hurdles, it was incredible to share what I had to offer, and see that it was appreciated.

Hopefully... there will be some announcements on that front in the future...

*****

The last thing I want to share about the conference was a conversation so meaningful to me that I put it on my About page.

The conference offers opportunities to pitch to agents and publishers, but also to have career counseling appointments with industry professionals. I had the privilege of speaking with Toni Weisskopf of Baen Books. Her question and then answer were exactly what I needed to hear:

You can't lose the writer inside you. It's not going anywhere.

*****

THANK YOU...

... to the fellow writer in the coffee shop who reminded me of the moral of Eggs Benedict when I started downplaying my science fiction ideas.

... to Fred Hughes for taking time on multiple occasions to talk with me about my career and the choices before me.

... to Anne Fonteneau of Blackstone Publishing for a delightful conversation at the VIP banquet. I learned so much about the relationship between author and publisher.

... to Jayrod P. Garrett for the time they spent teaching me about building rich cultures and worlds, and for the insight they were willing to share about some really difficult topics.

... to my new writer friends who invited me to join them at lunch and dinner, who sat with me in the classes and celebrated with me when my pitches went well. Please keep in contact, and I wish you all the best of luck.

... most especially to everyone who has ever had anything to do with the scholarship fund for this conference. There is no way I ever would have been able to attend on my own dime, and this truly was life changing - not just in what it might do for my career, but also in how I view myself, my work, and what I have to offer. Thank you.

*****

The last time I cried was when I left. I felt like I'd been given a glimpse into the best that humanity has to offer, and the warmth and inclusivity that comes with it. Heading back to the real world was difficult.

I've found my people. Not just here at this conference, but in my writer's groups, the retreats I've attended, and the friendships I've made at each place.

Be good to each other.