Superstars Writing Seminars

What Superstars Writing Seminars does

Superstars Writing Seminars is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that operates an annual in-person writing conference and surrounding community platform for aspiring and professional writers. Founded in 2009 by bestselling authors Kevin J. Anderson, Brandon Sanderson, David Farland, Eric Flint, and Rebecca Moesta, the organization held its first event in 2010 and was reorganized under nonprofit governance in 2022 following the deaths of two founders. The core product is a three-day seminar at the Cheyenne Mountain Resort in Colorado Springs, expanded with a pre-conference Skills Day of intensive workshops, an alumni-driven TribeTalks program (TED-style 15-minute presentations), and a free public reader-facing event called Bookstravaganza. Revenue is generated through individual attendee registration processed via RegFox, a tiered sponsorship program (Bronze $250 to Diamond $3,000+) drawing publishing-industry partners, sales of charity anthologies published through WordFire Press, and tax-deductible donations funneled into seven named scholarship programs. The organization is governed by an all-volunteer Board of Directors and employs a single Executive Director (Marie Whittaker), with day-to-day operations carried out by volunteers and a small coordinator cadre covering scholarships, TribeTalks, and diversity/inclusion.

Name

Superstars Writing Seminars

Legal name

Superstars Writing

Website

https://superstarswriting.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2010

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Superstars Writing Seminars is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that runs an annual in-person writing conference in Colorado Springs, plus Skills Day workshops, TribeTalks alumni presentations, and a public Bookstravaganza event, serving aspiring and professional authors through education, networking, and a seven-program scholarship portfolio funded by sponsorships, registrations, and donations.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Professional Writing Education and Conferences

NAICS

Educational Support Services (61171), Professional and Management Development Training (611430), Book Publishers (513130)

SIC

Services-Educational Services (8200), Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)

akta.pro primary industry

Genre Writing Workshops (Sci‑Fi, Fantasy, Romance, Mystery, Horror) (EDAMAMAG)

akta.pro secondary industries

Writing Craft & Technique Workshops (Voice, Structure, Character, Style) (EDAMAMAH), Writing Retreats & Intensive Bootcamps (EDAMAMAK), Publishing & Submission Prep Workshops (Query Letters, Agents, Journals) (EDAMAMAI)

Keywords

• Writing conferences
• Publishing education
• Author community
• Creative writing seminars
• Writer scholarship programs

Headquarters

HQ city

Colorado Springs

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Others, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Conference Registration: Annual seminar registration fees for in-person writing business education. Registration processed through RegFox third-party platform.
2. Anthology Sales: Sales of anthologies (One Horn to Rule Them All, Dragon Writers, A Game of Horns, Undercurrents, X Marks the Spot, Hold Your Fire, Eat Drink and Be Wary) produced by alumni. All profits benefit scholarship funds.
3. Corporate Sponsorships: Tiered sponsorship packages (Diamond $3,000+ to Bronze $250+) from publishing industry companies providing funding in exchange for event visibility, presentations, and exhibitor opportunities.
4. Event-Specific Sponsorships: Coffee service, WiFi, Social Evening Mixer, Scholarship, Transportation, Swag, and VIP Dinner sponsorships at various price points.
5. Donations: Tax-deductible donations to scholarship funds. 501(c)(3) nonprofit status allows charitable giving.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Superstars Writing Seminars operates an annual three-day in-person writing conference in Colorado Springs that educates aspiring and professional writers on the business of publishing, featuring workshops, panels, and networking with bestselling authors and editors. The core offering is supplemented by a pre-conference Skills Day of intensive masterclasses, the free public Bookstravaganza author signing event, TribeTalks alumni presentations, and multiple scholarship programs funded through charity anthology sales and donations.

Product overview

Superstars Writing Seminars operates as a conference and educational platform offering multiple interconnected products and services for aspiring and professional writers. The core offering is the annual Superstars Writing Seminars conference (February 4-6, 2027 with Skills Day on February 3), a three-day intensive program teaching writers the business of publishing. Additional offerings include pre-conference Skills Day workshops, the free public Bookstravaganza author signing event, and TribeTalks alumni presentations. The organization supports writers through multiple scholarship programs (Endowment Fund, Eric Flint, Don Hodge Memorial, David Farland, Expanding Universe, Prodigal Tribe, and Young Superstars) and funds these through charity anthology publications (One Horn to Rule Them All, A Game of Horns, Dragon Writers, Undercurrents, X Marks the Spot, Hold Your Fire, Eat Drink and Be Wary).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Tribe Culture: The unique culture of Superstars Writing that emphasizes a tight-knit network of career-minded professionals, approachability of instructors, and long lunches for bonding among attendees.
• Skills Day
• TribeTalks
• Bookstravaganza

Products and services

• Superstars Writing Seminars Annual Conference Three-day annual in-person writing conference in Colorado Springs teaching writers the business of publishing, with workshops, panels, and networking with internationally bestselling authors, editors, and indie publishing platform managers. Designed for both aspiring and career-minded professional writers.
• Skills Day Pre-conference intensive workshop day featuring in-depth master classes on specialized writing topics such as worldbuilding, dictation, pitching, cover design, scene crafting, Hollywood adaptation, and live manuscript critiques. Held the day before the main conference (e.g., February 3, 2027).
• Bookstravaganza Free public event in Colorado Springs featuring author signings and meet-and-greet opportunities with 50+ bestselling authors in a convention-like ballroom setting, open to all readers.
• TribeTalks TED-style presentation program where selected alumni deliver 15-minute talks offering fresh perspectives and unique approaches to writing challenges.
• Scholarship Programs Portfolio of scholarship programs including the Superstars Endowment Fund, Eric Flint Endowment, Expanding Universe Scholarship, Don Hodge Memorial Scholarship, David Farland Endowment, Prodigal Tribe Scholarship, and Young Superstars Scholarship for high school students.
• Superstars Anthologies Charity anthologies including One Horn to Rule Them All, A Game of Horns, Dragon Writers, Undercurrents, X Marks the Spot, Hold Your Fire, and Eat Drink and Be Wary, published through WordFire Press with all profits going to scholarship funds.

Named customers5 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature2 records

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Better-Faster Academy with Becca SymecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Diamond Level Sponsor for 2026. Center for learning specializing in CliftonStrengths coaching for authors.
• Garden of the Gods Trading PostcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Diamond Level Sponsor for 2026. Oldest and largest gift shop in Colorado, local entrance to Garden of the Gods.
• BookFunnelcoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Diamond Level Sponsor for 2026. Author platform for reader magnet delivery, advanced copies, ebook fulfillment.
• Your Book Is Your HookminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Platinum Level Sponsor for 2026. Consulting practice for writing, editing, marketing, publishing guidance to Hollywood and media.
• CuriosminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Titanium Level Sponsor for 2026. Direct sales platform for ebooks and audiobooks with 100% sales retention.
• Warped Core StudiominorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Titanium Level Sponsor for 2026. Illustration services for author dreams and visions.
• Blackstone PublishingminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Titanium Level Sponsor for 2026. Publisher bringing authors, readers, narrators, and listeners together.
• Western Colorado UniversityminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Titanium Level Sponsor for 2026. Sponsoring Eggs Benedict Breakfast for scholarship recipients. Graduate Creative Writing Program.
• Draft2DigitalminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Titanium Level Sponsor for 2026. Self-publishing platform helping authors make publishing a reality.
• WordFire PresscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026Gold Level Sponsor and co-publisher with Kevin J. Anderson and Rebecca Moesta. Publisher of Superstars anthologies.
• Writers of the FuturecoreGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Gold Level Sponsor for 2026. Prestigious writing contest developing new professional writers for over four decades.
• Shadow MountainminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Gold Level Sponsor for 2026. General trade publisher known for Fablehaven children's fantasy series.
• BookvaultminorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Gold Level Sponsor for 2026. Print-on-demand services with bespoke options like sprayed edges, foiling, and ribbons.
• InAudiominorGTM or Marketing Partner · 1 January 2026Silver Level Sponsor for 2026. Audiobook business services for authors.
• RegFoxcoreTechnology or Integration · 1 January 2026Third-party registration vendor processing conference registrations to prevent scams.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves7 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Regional players

• James River Writers Conference: James River Writers runs an annual multi-day writing conference in Richmond, Virginia combining craft workshops, agent pitch sessions, and networking, with a strong community focus. Comparable to Superstars' Tribe Culture model and event-driven conference format, though serving a different U.S. region.
• Pacific Northwest Writers Conference: PNWA runs an annual writers conference in the U.S. Pacific Northwest featuring craft workshops, agent pitching, and publishing-industry panels. Comparable to Superstars as an annual multi-day writers conference teaching the business of writing, though serving a different geography.

Broad incumbents

• Association of Writers & Writing Programs (AWP) Conference: AWP runs the largest annual writing conference in North America, serving writers, MFA programs, and literary organizations across all genres. Comparable to Superstars as a multi-day writing education and networking event, though broader and academic-focused rather than genre/commercial-focused.
• Bread Loaf Writers' Conference: One of the oldest and most prestigious writers' conferences in the U.S., Bread Loaf offers multi-day workshops, lectures, and craft seminars for fiction, nonfiction, and poetry writers. Comparable to Superstars as a high-touch, community-oriented writers conference with elite author-instructors.

Direct peers

• ThrillerFest: International Thriller Writers' annual ThrillerFest is a multi-day writers conference with craft workshops, agent pitch sessions, and masterclasses for aspiring and professional thriller authors. Highly comparable to Superstars as a genre-specific writers conference with intensive pre-event workshops and an author community focus.
• Writers of the Future: The prestigious L. Ron Hubbard Writers of the Future writing contest has run for over four decades developing new professional SFF writers, including workshops and an annual awards event. It is a Gold Sponsor of Superstars and serves the same aspiring-genre-fiction audience with education and contest structures.
• World Fantasy Convention: An annual convention dedicated to fantasy literature, combining professional programming for writers with fan programming. Comparable to Superstars Bookstravaganza as a public-facing SFF author event, and shares the speculative-fiction professional-development focus.
• Romance Writers of America (RWA) Annual Conference: RWA's annual conference is a multi-day event combining craft workshops, industry panels, and networking for romance authors. Directly comparable to Superstars as a genre-fiction writers conference teaching the business of writing with high-profile author-instructor rosters.
• Odyssey Writing Workshop: Odyssey is an intensive multi-week SFF writing workshop held annually in New Hampshire, focused on craft and professional development for speculative fiction writers. Directly comparable to Superstars Skills Day in intensive craft instruction for SFF writers.
• Clarion Workshop: Clarion is the preeminent intensive six-week speculative-fiction writing workshop at UC San Diego, with alumni including many SFF luminaries. Comparable to Superstars Skills Day in its intensive workshop format and to Superstars' SFF genre focus.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/superstarswrite
• Facebookfacebook.com/SuperstarsWritingSeminars
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/superstars-writing-seminars

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Superstars Writing Seminars