Publishing

Tune into live conversations with authors, editors, and literary agents sharing their journeys and expertise in the world of publishing.

Screenwriting

Watch live panels featuring screenwriters as they break down their techniques for crafting compelling scripts and navigating the entertainment industry.

Filmmaking

Discover live streaming events where directors, producers, and cinematographers discuss the creative and technical processes behind their films.

The Great Publishing Debate: Traditional vs. Self-Publishing and What No One Tells You

June 24, 2025
Publishing a book is no small feat—but choosing how to publish it? That might be the biggest plot twist of your career. In this no-fluff, myth-busting symposium, bestselling author and publishing strategist Rea Frey breaks down the fantasy, the fine print, and the facts behind both traditional and self-publishing—so you can stop spinning in indecision and start building your own path forward.

Book Pipeline

Book Pipeline connects writers to publishers, agents, and the film industry through competitions and workshops, providing hands-on support to bridge the gap between emerging authors and the industry since 2014.

Script Pipeline

Script Pipeline connects writers with producers, agents, and managers, facilitating over $8 million in sales through competitions and ongoing industry support, helping launch major films and secure high-profile representation since 1999.

Film Pipeline

Film Pipeline connects filmmakers and writers with agencies and executives, focusing on diverse storytelling and playing an active role in developing and promoting projects, reviewing thousands of submissions annually since its launch in 2018.

How to Build Complex Characters to Drive Plot/Story

Recorded

May 7, 2024

Duration

2 Hours

Cost

$35

Subjects

Publishing, Screenwriting

Topic

Craft

Complex, compelling characters are the essential element of every story we can’t put down or look away from.

In this session, Julia F. Green will discuss how to create well-rounded characters, exploring their origins, identifying key moments in their development, and getting to their core desires and fears. 

We’ll also discuss how to identify and escalate the stakes for each character and use them to create snappy scenes that add up to an irresistible plot. 

This presentation will include:

  • The essential elements every character should have
  • How to discover the secrets and strengths of your characters
  • The most important questions to ask each of your characters
  • How to use your characters’ internal and external qualities to drive plot
  • How to arrive at satisfying and believable endings for a wide range of characters.

Host

Julia F. Green
Julia F. Green (she/her) is an award-winning writer, editor, and instructor. She holds an MFA from the Iowa Writers’ Workshop and teaches creative writing at universities and arts organizations around the Triangle and online.

Education for creators.

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Upcoming Events

The Great Publishing Debate: Traditional vs. Self-Publishing and What No One Tells You

June 24, 2025
Publishing a book is no small feat—but choosing how to publish it? That might be the biggest plot twist of your career. In this no-fluff, myth-busting symposium, bestselling author and publishing strategist Rea Frey breaks down the fantasy, the fine print, and the facts behind both traditional and self-publishing—so you can stop spinning in indecision and start building your own path forward.

Creative Strategies for the Changing Screenwriting Landscape

July 9, 2025
To adjust to ongoing changes in industry dynamics, our symposium with Screenwriting Coach Lee Jessup will seek to help you define your most effective next steps in order to work smart and move your screenwriting career forward.

From Draft to Deal: What REALLY Happens After You Finish Your Book

July 15, 2025
Finishing your book is huge—but what comes next is what separates a finished manuscript from a published one. In this real-talk symposium, bestselling author and book coach Rea Frey takes you behind the curtain of what actually happens after you finish your draft—and why the real work (and magic) starts after the final page.

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Submitting to Small Presses and Literary Journals

June 17, 2025
Dennis James Sweeney, author of How to Submit: Getting Your Writing Published with Literary Magazines and Small Presses, will discuss the landscape of literary magazines and small presses, strategies for achieving your publication goals, and how to navigate the meaningful but difficult act of sending out the writing you’ve worked so hard on.

One-on-One with Producer Michael Peterson

June 10, 2025
Pipeline Senior Executive Matthew Misetich sits down with Michael Peterson, Vice President of Development for Phoenix Pictures, to discuss the art of screenwriting and filmmaking through the lens of a producer.

One-on-One with Literary Agent Kate McKean

June 4, 2025
Kate McKean is a literary agent at the Howard Morhaim Literary Agency in Brooklyn, but she's also an author and the creator of the popular Agents & Books newsletter. Get ready for the ultimate agent AMA. Pipeline exec Jeanne Veillette Bowerman conducts an intimate one-on-one dialogue with Kate, diving into the life of an agent, and also her new book, Write Through It: An Insider’s Guide to Publishing and the Creative Life, coming out in June.

Symposium, presented by Pipeline Artists, is a year-round virtual conference empowering creatives with honest, no-nonsense guidance across the arts. Through seminars, industry panels, and Town Hall discussions on screenwriting, filmmaking, publishing, and career-building, Symposium offers grounded advice from working professionals to help you forge your own unique path.

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