Superstars Writing Seminars is committed to diverse, equitable, and inclusive representation across the entire writing community, including BIPOC, LGBTQIA+, women, people with disabilities, neurodiversities, body sizes, religions, nationalities, ages, and all other marginalized and underrepresented people.
Superstars Writing Seminars seeks to be an inclusive and safe space physically, mentally, and emotionally.
Ongoing positive support across the Superstars family of instructors and attendees, not just during the annual in-person event but also within the virtual and digital year-long related platforms, is at the heart of this goal.
We’re actively working to bring onboard diverse instructors and offer reserved scholarships that will allow more marginalized people who might not otherwise be able to afford to attend the seminar to attend.
We’re proud to announce that we’re making space for marginalized communities to apply for a special branch of the scholarships for our seminars.
Our goal is to increase the diversity of Superstars and provide an opportunity for people of color, people with disabilities, and LGBTQ+ persons who might not otherwise be able to afford the conference. We want to see the industry open up to these unique voices and interesting perspectives. Superstars is proud to present the Expanding Universe Scholarship. Scholarship recipients will receive a free registration to the Intensive Skills Day and to the main business seminars that follow, for four full days of learning that will help them better navigate the pitfalls of publishing and enhance their career.
The window to apply for the Superstars Expanding Universe Scholarship will open this summer.
You can donate directly to the scholarship fund using the following link. Be sure to select the appropriate scholarship when making your donation.
We’re excited to welcome Jayrod P. Garrett as our new Diversity and Inclusion Coordinator!
Jayrod P. Garrett (they/him) is a poet, storyteller, educator with RISE Academy, and a poetry volunteer with Teen Author Bootcamp. Hailing from Northern Utah, Jayrod has performed with Next Ensemble, Salt Lake Acting Company, and is the current President of Northern Wasatch Oasis. They are currently writing a book of pictures and poetry. They hope to complete funding for its Kickstarter in late Summer 2023. They are also in the process of starting a publishing company.
Jayrod was the Managing Editor for Epiphany Nontraditional Student Literary Journal during their undergraduate career in Spring 2011 and 2013. They won first place in poetry with the journal in 2014. They were also published in Metaphor Undergraduate Literary Journal in 2014 and later by the League of Utah Writers in anthologies in both 2020 & 2021. They are currently a graduate student seeking their MFA at the University of Nevada–Reno and are set to graduate in the Spring of 2024.
October has stepped down as our DEI Coordinator to take care of his health. We will always be grateful for his foundational work in helping to structure our program for Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion.
October forged ahead as our first DEI coordinator, creating the foundation for a program that we continue to nurture and improve. He brought wisdom and opportunity to our faculty and our curriculum. One of the first things October did was create a team of trusted faculty and attendees to help underrepresented attendees feel safe and welcome.
We proudly maintain that team. As a Superstars speaker, October brought knowledge about crafting prose with Sensitivity in mind and led a workshop on Neurodivergency. He was a valued member of SSWS faculty. October assisted with augmenting our anti-harassment policy and procedures and was a member of our Safety Team. He was forever helping new members feel welcome from the moment they arrived at our event. He has a huge heart, and we will miss working with him. We wish him the best with his future endeavors.
October K. Santerelli is a fantasy author from Denver, Colorado. He is an LGBTQ+ writer and sensitivity reader. He writes primarily high fantasy but has dabbled in other genres. Such works include the graphic novel City of Day, available on Webtoon; and short story Mi Jaculpo, a historical LGBTQ+ romance.
Superstars Writing Seminars teaches writers the business of being successful in the publishing industry. Instructors are chosen from the top of the industry and include International Bestselling Authors, Top Editors, Indie Publishing Platform Managers, and many more. The primary goal at Superstars is to teach you how to have a successful writing career by sharing how those at the top of the industry manage their careers.
© 2024 Superstars Writing, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. All rights reserved.