Taught by Kevin J. Anderson
Kevin J. Anderson is well-known as a master worldbuilder in his bestselling novels. In this master class, he does a deep dive into the many different layers of creating a believable world, culture, history, and setting for your writing—a skill just as vital for setting a story in a “real” world city like Milwaukee, or an epic fantasy landscape. He’ll go through steps and exercises to develop intricate, believable fictional worlds, and how the process can spark numerous story ideas.
Taught by Michael LaRonn
Have you heard that dictation can skyrocket your word counts — but found yourself frustrated instead?
You’re not alone. Most writers try dictation, only to give up when it doesn’t deliver the magic they were promised. But here’s the good news: there’s a right way to do it.
If you’ve ever worried about "sounding weird," stumbled for words behind the mic, or gotten fed up with dictation software turning your sentences into a typo jungle, you’re in the right place.
In this first of its kind, hands-on workshop, prolific author and dictator Michael La Ronn will teach you how to unlock the power of dictation with the methods he’s used to dictate over 30 books of fiction & nonfiction.
You'll learn:
This workshop will help you speak your way to higher word counts. You’ll walk away with all the tools and knowledge you need to start dictating your next book…in your hotel room.
Taught by Chris Mandeville
This 3-hour workshop covers how to “pitch” your project to editors and agents. The class includes instruction and insight to help you hone your pitch, as well as pitch demonstrations, a library of preparatory worksheets, a “talking points” form you can use to guide you through a live pitch, and techniques for combatting any pitch-related anxiety you may feel. Importantly, during this class you’ll be invited to participate in hands-on exercises where you’ll work on your own pitch, and have the opportunity to ask questions and receive immediate feedback from the instructor. If you want to know how to talk about your project articulately and enticingly, join us for this comprehensive workshop and learn how to pitch like a pro.
All fiction genres and creative nonfiction welcome. Most, but not all, of the content will be applicable to pitching a nonfiction project.
Taught by Lisa Mangum
So you’ve written a book. Now what? Well, if you “pantsed” your way through the manuscript, you’re going to need to put a structured backbone into that story and revise all the stuff that doesn’t work. If you worked off an outline, you’re going to need to polish the story and make sure it doesn’t sound like you were checking items off a grocery list. In other words, it’s time to put on your Writing Pants and get down to the necessary work of structure and revision. We’ll cover a dozen essential elements of story—Protagonist, Antagonist, Needs, Theme, and Stakes (PANTS) and Promises, Obstacles, Choices, (K)onsequences, Empathy, Tension, and Surprises (POCKETS)—to make sure your story is perfectly tailored for presentation.
Taught by James A. Owen
In this workshop, James will discuss how to bring together all of the elements that make a successful, attractive cover, and then demonstrate by live workshopping up to four covers submitted by attendees.
Anyone wishing to have their cover(s) considered needs to to submit a PDF by no later than January 20 to info@sswri.com with the subject line: "2026 Cover Story Workshop Submission". James will choose up to four to workshop, and will probably comment on several more. No one is required to submit covers, since teaching attendees about what works is the point of the class—but if anyone wishes to, they may end up with all-new covers at the end of the session.
Taught by Jennifer Brody
Unlock the secrets of optioning your book for film and television in this dynamic three-hour session with film/tv producer and former studio executive Jennifer Brody. Jennifer studied film at Harvard and interned for a producer at Disney on "Donnie Darko," then moved to Hollywood to work for Michael Bay (Platinum Dunes) on the "Texas Chainsaw Massacre" remakes and New Line Cinema on "The Lord of the Rings" franchise and "The Golden Compass." Now, she mostly works to option and develop her own IP for TV and film.
In this class, learn the step-by-step process of how TV and film options work, from contracts to negotiations, and discover how to craft a winning pitch that captures Hollywood’s attention. We’ll explore what kinds of ideas thrive on the big and small screens, dive into the current market trends shaping the industry, and reveal why writing intellectual property (IP) is your golden ticket to breaking into Hollywood. We’ll also practice crafting “elevator pitches” and how to take your book idea and transform it for Hollywood. Whether you’re a novelist with a blockbuster idea or an aspiring screenwriter, this talk will equip you with the tools and strategies to turn your book into the next big Hollywood hit!
Taught by Jim Butcher
In this workshop, Jim Butcher reviews dialogue and pace in storytelling.
Taught by Kevin Ikenberry
Military planning offers frameworks for worldbuilding in speculative fiction. Topics include doctrine, leadership, logistics, and training, all translated for writers to build believable military structures and operations in sci-fi, fantasy, action/adventure, and thrillers.
In this workshop, writers will:
Taught by Mark Leslie Lefebvre
Have you written short stories and aren't sure what to do with them to maximize their potential?
Short stories not only remain a viable way for authors to earn income and establish a track record, but they can also be incorporated into your business plan for maintaining a successful author career. While submitting stories to paying markets such as magazines and anthologies is a strategy writers can still leverage, there's a lot more you can be doing with your short fiction within both traditional publishing and self-publishing.
This in depth workshop draws on Mark's more than 40 years of experience writing and leveraging short fiction in multiple formats and environments. The session will explore numerous ways you can make the most out of leveraging your short fiction IP for increased revenue, income, and award-earning opportunities while building a stronger author brand, as well as new ways to connect in profound ways with your readers. It will explore exploiting opportunities within traditional publishing, various levels of paying markets, as well as numerous formats that not only include print, eBook, and audiobook, but additional digital and analog market opportunities.
Taught by Jonathan Maberry
Scary is back and even the big publishing houses are gobbling up nail-biter novels for the mainstream audience. This workshop covers a lot of ground, including: cultivating Suspense; Pacing and Tone for Horror; Building the Perfect Antagonist; Action Thrillers; Horror Thrillers; Science Fiction Thrillers; the Psychology of Fear; Terror vs Horror; Character Creation; Setting and Place; Crafting and Sustaining Tension; and more!
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.
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