WriteHive Mentorship Program

AJ Super is a queer, disabled, neurodiverse author trying their best to write normative science fiction and fantasy worlds. Their belief in an inclusive community is reflected in their writing, as they attempt to write the world that they want to see—where LGBTQIA+ are accepted, disability is accommodated, and diversity is celebrated.

AJ debuted in 2021 with first in a trilogy, Erebus Dawning, and followed it with sequels A Star Reborn and Queen of the Black. Their current titles are published with Aethon Books and Blackstone Audio.

With two Bachelors’ degrees from the University of Idaho in English (Creative Writing) and Theater (Stage Management and Directing), AJ is a member of Brooklyn Speculative Fiction Writers (BSFW), the Science Fiction and Fantasy Writers’ Association (SFWA), and Authors Against Book Bans (AABB). They also run a newsletter collective called Swordfights and Spaceflights.

AJ has spoken on panels at the Nebulas, Flights of Foundry, WisCon, and WriteHive conferences on topics from burnout and self-care for creatives to gender in speculative fiction to creating a newsletter to co-leading a roundtable on book bans and challenges.

Recently, they have joined the AO Collective, a co-op writing group, and they are working on a new science fiction project with hopes to snag an agent in the future.

They live in the picturesque Sawtooth Mountains with their spouse and three fuzz-brained kitties while trying to support an obsession for many pairs of slippers.

What I expect from a mentee:

I require good communication above all else. If we can’t chat about an editing issue openly and honestly, we won’t be able to work well together. I prefer a mentee who is engaged and not afraid, or too stubborn, to edit. I want a mentee who isn’t sensitive to suggestions and takes a critique as a means to be helpful, even if it’s a YMMV situation.

I don’t believe in prescriptive advice or writing “rules,” and don’t expect my mentee to blindly do as I suggest. I also don’t believe in traditional writing structures/strictures (though sometimes traditional beat structures are easier to market for potential debut books), so mentees need to have the courage to experiment a little.

While I will endeavor for my critiques to be gentle and affirming, I require a mentee who can take critiques gracefully. I prefer to work with a person who asks questions and who isn’t afraid of truthful praise or constructive criticism.

BIPOC, LGBTQ+, AAPI, disabled, ND, and all other marginalizations are welcome and encouraged to submit to me. If I choose a mentee who wants to disclose their marginalization(s), I will do my best to help realize their voice in their story. However, I do understand my limitations as a privileged person, though I do have my own marginalizations. So, if the mentee’s #ownvoices isn’t a match (or a close match) to my own, we will likely look for another mentor or content/sensitivity reader to consult with during the mentor period so that I don’t mess with a mentee’s unique voice.

What I will provide:

I will send an email outlining timelines and expectations as determined by initial online contact via zoom, Discord, or other video media, or via email (or other text media).

I will read the MS once for development and a second time for development or copy/line edits as determined by the process required for edits. So, a total of two read-throughs will be provided.

I will be in contact once every other week to check on progress and mentee status. (It’s okay if it’s a “no progress” report.) Though I will make myself available between times for questions, concerns, and kvetching. Once the read-throughs, query, and synopsis guidance are completed, communication will be loosened, but I will still check in for a progress report at least once a month.

I will go over the mentee’s querying materials, provide guidance for agents and publishers to query, and help to guide the mentee’s final query list and publisher list.

I will be a cheerleader and support system as best to my ability during the editing and querying process. And, if the query process doesn’t yield fruit, I will be there through the process of submitting to independent publishers and/or agents.