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.
April 30, 2025

The Book Skeleton Workshop: How to Structure Your Story Before Writing a Single Word

In The Book Skeleton, bestselling author and book coach Rea Frey will guide you through building the invisible structure that every strong book needs. Before you write a single word, you’ll design the "bones" of your story—giving you a clear, flexible blueprint to move forward with confidence, momentum, and creative flow.

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.

Booking Author Speaking Engagements

Recorded

October 23, 2024

Duration

2 Hours

Cost

$35

Subject

Publishing

Topic

Business

You’ve written your book, gotten it published and even done a book tour, congratulations! You are probably noticing that some authors are popping up at conventions, conferences, colleges and at the local library but don’t seem to be talking about their newest book, so what gives?

They have probably been invited by someone like me to speak for a literary event and now a whole new world of literary engagement is unfolding for them. So how do you get on this side quest and find other ways to connect with audiences?

Led by a literary events expert, this workshop will teach you how to:

  • Spotlight on You: Learn how to create visibility around yourself as a speaker by putting together a clear route for engagement from initial contact to speech.
  • Crafting the Perfect Talk: Discover the key elements of an effective title and talk that grabs attention and gets you invited back.
  • Networking Strategies: Tips on how to connect with the right people and expand your speaking opportunities.
  • Overcoming Rejection: Learn how to turn a no into a maybe for a different engagement.
  • Everybody’s Doing It: How to get your literary friends to recommend you when the
  • opportunity arises.
  • Q&A Session: You’ve heard me talk for a while now so let’s hear from you!

By the end of this workshop, you will have a better understanding of different types of speaking gigs, how to connect with the right people, and how to make a great impression at your first or next speaking gig.

What Attendees Have Said ...

"This was lovely. So many generous tips that emerging authors need to hear. Thanks especially for sharing the realities of gig compensation/honorarium rates ... Thank you for putting this together and sharing from your industry experience."

"Ashley Wilkin's class was great and it opened me up to thinking on a larger scale about what I would speak about and how I can get the word out about my debut novel."

"I felt like Ashley's tips were very practical and she really dove into the nitty-gritty about speaking and how to engage once you have been contacted. Great points!"

"I confess to being a Pipeline Symposium aficionado. They are always interesting. And Ashley's calm, informative presentation hammered in some things I can't forget."

Host

Ashley Wilkins has been professionally dedicated to the literary world for the majority of the past decade. Known for her passion for creating inclusive writing spaces and seamlessly blending the creative and practical aspects of literary events, she specializes in writing workshops focused on the business of writing and the best tips on writing from […]

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Upcoming Events

April 30, 2025

The Book Skeleton Workshop: How to Structure Your Story Before Writing a Single Word

In The Book Skeleton, bestselling author and book coach Rea Frey will guide you through building the invisible structure that every strong book needs. Before you write a single word, you’ll design the "bones" of your story—giving you a clear, flexible blueprint to move forward with confidence, momentum, and creative flow.
May 7, 2025

How to Determine the Best Medium for Your Story

What medium is the best fit for your story? Is it a play? A screenplay? A TV show? If it’s best told using narrative prose, should it be a short story? A novel? Somewhere in between? We'll go over the specific strengths and weaknesses of each medium, as well as the additions and sacrifices required for adapting a story from one medium to another.

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April 1, 2025

Spies, Lies, and the Secrets We Keep – Spy fiction, what is it and how do we write it?

In this 2-part event, get a a deeper understanding of what makes a novel fall into the spy fiction genre, as well as how to write stories that possess the basic elements of spy novels. The principles also apply to thriller and mystery genres.
March 18, 2025

Writing for Comics

In this session with comic writer and founder of Avina Comics John Avina you will learn how to tell stories in a sequential manner, and write for not only your audience but also for an artist. John will cover panel layouts, budgeting space for dialogue and telling a character arc across one issue. The goal […]

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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