SUPERSTARS Writing Seminar

Posted by: @rschibler

Anyone who is going to Superstars who is interested in having lunch and/or dinner once or twice, find me on Facebook or Twitter and send me a message! Last time we set up a forumite group chat in messenger and it helped a lot, would love to do that again!

*raises hand* same here! Love to meet some folks in person at SSWS. We can hijack a table or two, I believe!

I'll be at SSWS, sitting in the back with the bad kids.  😀  It's roughly my 10th one, and it's my number one, don't-miss-it, annual event.

If any of you are new or nervous and want help meeting people, hit me up!

Seriously, y'all best meet Kary while you're there. And, @karyenglish, correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Martin Shoemaker going to be there this year as well? Guys - these two are the nicest, and also the absolute best pep talkers. I got to hang with them during WotF workshop week and if I could infuse you all with the amount of "WHEN you <accomplish a thing>" they infused me and others with, you'd all be on top of the world, lol.

Which reminds me - now that I am sort of alive again, and chewing through some of the massive amount of work I've had to do lately, I need to sit down and write something on workshop week and the gala. Feel free to shout at me if I don't because I really want to share some things with you folks!

Posted by: @rschibler

Anyone who is going to Superstars who is interested in having lunch and/or dinner once or twice, find me on Facebook or Twitter and send me a message! Last time we set up a forumite group chat in messenger and it helped a lot, would love to do that again!

Omgosh, what a great idea @rschibler!

I'm down for this also! I can almost always be found with this same group anyway (Becky, Leah, Liz, and the rest of us) LOL.

Many of us were new last year at SSWS, and it helped so much to have inviting people that we "knew" there—to sit next to in panels, have meals with, go to the First Pages Party with (lol, one of my favorite things at SSWS), and sit around with at barcon, etc. It just made the whole experience more better. 😉

So, yes, please, anyone attending SSWS, find us forumites! You can reach out to me anytime, I'm on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram (@aliciacaywrites), PM me on here, anywhere!

Warmly,
~A. ♥

Posted by: @swiftpotato

Seriously, y'all best meet Kary while you're there. And, @karyenglish, correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't Martin Shoemaker going to be there this year as well? Guys - these two are the nicest, and also the absolute best pep talkers.

Kary and Martin are the BEST.

That is all.

Carry on.

~A. ♥

History lesson and disclaimer about Barcon: Cons tend to be held in hotels, right? And most hotels big enough to host a convention tend to have a lounge / lobby / bar area where people can hang out and socialize. In the con and workshop world, socializing after sessions usually happens in the bar / lounge / lobby, and hence is called 'barcon.'

Everyone of any age is welcome at barcon, and there is zero expectation that anyone will drink alcohol. If you come, you can drink water, seltzer water, iced tea, soda, hot chocolate, or whatever else you might like. The goal is not to drink alcohol, but to socialize with fellow attendees (also called networking - hint: networking is just another name for making friends).

I mention this only because it came up at the recent WOTF event that when we said "Come to barcon," some people were put off because they didn't drink or were underage. So, our bad - still come to barcon. Drinking or not is entirely up to you.

You'll be welcome no matter what's in your glass. 

Disclaimer to the disclaimer: Alicia's post only reminded me about this. I'm not suggesting that she said anything out of place. 

@karyenglish 

Such a good reminder! It didn't even occur to me to clarify, thank you!

Yes! what Kary said. I don't (really) drink, so I sip seltzer water with a slice of lime. Plus, lots of talking loud happens so it helps to keep the throat lubricated ... It's a very come-one-come-all, make friends, laughter, talk shop environment. (It's my favorite!)

~A.

Posted by: @doctorjest

Darnit, I'm going to have to nix this after all--it's become apparent that the timing of this will cause me problems. Six months later and I'd be fine, but the current Feb 2022 timeline is going to present a problem. I'm going to plan to push out to the 2023 seminar instead, assuming that all goes ahead as expected, but will miss the chance to meet up with those of you attending in 2022.

Aww, man, I'm sorry it's not going to work out.  Do what's best for you, though! Hopefully we'll get other chances to meet in person.  

Posted by: @swiftpotato

Posted by: @rschibler

Anyone who is going to Superstars who is interested in having lunch and/or dinner once or twice, find me on Facebook or Twitter and send me a message! Last time we set up a forumite group chat in messenger and it helped a lot, would love to do that again!

*raises hand* same here! Love to meet some folks in person at SSWS. We can hijack a table or two, I believe!

I'm in for this.  

Yes yes yes. What they all said. Go to barcon! I have never had alcohol at a single barcon "session" and no one has given me grief about it (and if they do, they're not worth barconning with anyway).

Okay - I'm going to go through this thread and make myself a list of people who seem to be coming to SSWS, and I'm going to make us a group chat on Facebook. IF YOU ARE COMING TO SUPERSTARS AND HAVE NOT YET SAID SO HERE: Please say so! And if we are not yet Facebook friends, please make it so! I am relatively easy to find. If you do not have a Facebook, feel free to PM me with an email address or other preferred contact method, and I will make sure you're included in planning. In addition, if you prefer not to be in the group chat, please let me know and I will make sure that is respected!

For those who are unable to attend, Superstars sells audio recordings of their past seminars. I have bought them on 2 occassions. You can buy bundles of multiple years as well. It does not give the one-on-one experience that I hope to get by attending in person one day, but it gives a TON of useful information in a format that you can listen to over and over. I have.

In the meantime, my fingers are crossed for a scholarship for 2022. If I am not one of the chosen, then I will keep saving and keep planning for the future. 

@swiftpotato I will be there! Please add me in to whatever antics are being considered. This will be my first real life writing seminar and I am extremely excited to meet everyone from this forum.

@nvhaskell You're going to LOVE it! I can't wait to meet you!

@rschibler me too!! I will probably look lost and overstimulated the whole time so feel free to provide unsolicited guidance. 

@nvhaskell Overstimulated is the SSWS way. But if you're lost, someone from the forum will help you! We'll probably get a group chat going so we can all be in touch as needed! It'll be great!

@nvhaskell you're on my list! You can't escape now. No, but really, I second Becky - SSWS can be very overstimulating, but folks there are very, very kind. SSWS was my first writing con and it couldn't have possibly been a better first con experience. You're always welcome to ping group chat or tap me on the shoulder if you need a friendly/familiar human!

@swiftpotato Thank you! 

  I am super excited for SSWS 2022!  

For those of you who have not been, I am a huge proponent of getting involved in this particular writing community. They provide great opportunities to network with people who are not only knowledgeable but very supportive. Most of my publications have been the direct or indirect result of connections in the SSWS community. In the last year, I have also been volunteering with them to host off-season NaNoWriMo-style events, which has led to a lot of finished projects (and some publications) from active members of the community. Let me know if you're thinking of attending SSWS interested in getting involved in our NaNo support network.

If you have any questions, feel free to message and ask me anything--with the understanding that I am biased ? 

@mikejackstoumbos do you want to be in the SSWS forumite group chat?

Side note: I have PMed a bunch of folks on Facebook that look to be part of the SSWS 2022 group and the forum, and am adding to the group chat as I hear back (don't want to add anyone who doesn't want to be added). We've got me, Becky, Liz, Alicia, Kary, Ari, and NV Haskell so far! If I missed you, let me know - here, Facebook, wherever you have contact with me is fine!

@karyenglish Save me a spot in the back - and a space for the stroller! I'm bringing a very good baby but she'll still need to be by the exit....

Maybe I'll try for this the following year. What is an estimate of total cost for the 2022 superstars seminar for housing, the classes, etc. Also, how many alacart things to people normally do? 

Wish I were one of the cool kids going...

Maybe next time.

@physa You have always been one of the cool kids, Amy. I’m proud to call you a friend. Keep shining. ?

Superstars Writing Seminar just announced results are concluded for the scholarship applications. Look for the call for those of you that applied. I wrote letters of recommendation for four this year. Hoping all make it, but it sounds like only six scholarships are available, so that would be high hopes indeed.

Best of success to those that applied!

Fortune favor the brave,

Wulf Moon

Posted by: @wulfmoon

Superstars Writing Seminar just announced results are concluded for the scholarship applications. Look for the call for those of you that applied. I wrote letters of recommendation for four this year. Hoping all make it, but it sounds like only six scholarships are available, so that would be high hopes indeed.

Best of success to those that applied!

Fortune favor the brave,

Wulf Moon

Wulf Moon! YOU ARE KILLING ME!!!

I mean, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, for all your support of me and all of us. And thank you for keeping us updated. 

BUT I AM DYING HERE!!!

Not really. Not much. I know my chances are slim on all fronts, and I have plans to turn stories and opportunities around and send them back out as soon as I have confirmation of results.

BUT THE WAIT!!!

Actually, the wait is half the reason I do this. I am adicted to twitching. But I might have overloaded this time. I am babbling. I will stop now.

Posted by: @jvashley

Posted by: @wulfmoon

Superstars Writing Seminar just announced results are concluded for the scholarship applications. Look for the call for those of you that applied. I wrote letters of recommendation for four this year. Hoping all make it, but it sounds like only six scholarships are available, so that would be high hopes indeed.

Best of success to those that applied!

Fortune favor the brave,

Wulf Moon

Wulf Moon! YOU ARE KILLING ME!!!

I mean, THANK YOU, THANK YOU, for all your support of me and all of us. And thank you for keeping us updated. 

BUT I AM DYING HERE!!!

Not really. Not much. I know my chances are slim on all fronts, and I have plans to turn stories and opportunities around and send them back out as soon as I have confirmation of results.

BUT THE WAIT!!!

Actually, the wait is half the reason I do this. I am adicted to twitching. But I might have overloaded this time. I am babbling. I will stop now.

Best of success to you, Julia! Whatever happens, you're still a winner in my book!

Cheers!

Posted by: @wulfmoon

Best of success to you, Julia! Whatever happens, you're still a winner in my book!

Cheers!

Thanks, Wulf
*hugs*

I'm IN! 

Although, I didn't receive a full scholarship, I did get a nice discount and addons, thanks in large measure to a lovely LOR from @wulfmoon. My husband and I crunched numbers, and we agreed this is the time for me to go. 

Now, to search for a roommate. I have a discounted room that I acquired, just in case, back in October. If anyone here needs a roomie in the main hotel, you can snuggle with me. Or take the other bed if you like.  

Still recovering from Superstars (and about to have my wisdom teeth removed tomorrow, so I'll be recovering from a variety of things for the next week or so), but it was definitely good. I connected real-time faces with people I've previously only known online, made new friends, and rekindled friendships with people I've met before. I'll probably put notes from one or two of my favorite classes up on the forum at some point.

@disgruntledpeony  - And we will be looking forward to reading them. Good luck with getting your wisdom removed (I do that at least once a weekend). ?