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The Plot Wheel: More than Just Structure

July 15, 2026
The Plot Wheel is more than a structure—it’s a storytelling engine designed to create connection, momentum, and reader satisfaction. In this engaging presentation, Court Stevens breaks down the eight essential movements of story into a clear, repeatable framework that helps writers move from idea to fully realized narrative. Writers will gain the power to intentionally shape both the emotional journey and the commercial appeal of their work.

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.

Multidimensional Comp Titles

Scheduled

Wednesday, September 23, 2026

Time

7 pm EDT / 4 pm PDT

Duration

2 Hours

Cost

$35

Has anything ever felt as baffling as finding Comp Titles! Planning and writing your book is hard enough, and then you need to identify books to compare to yours... or that will compete with yours... or both? (You wonder, what does "comp" even mean, right?) If you've found yourself in this too-familiar, bewildered situation, this Symposium session will bring calm to your chaos and offer clear guidance not only on what comp titles are, but also how to find the best ones to showcase the best parts of your book.

Caroline Malloy's dynamic presentation is designed to help you weed through overwhelming possibilities to hone in on the books that will make yours shine. Her comp title secret: it's not about working to show what you know about other books; it's about getting the books to work for you. Comp titles, ultimately, prove your book is a deep, thoughtful, pleasurable, multidimensional read.

Over the course of our time together, we'll cover:

  • defining "comp" titles and what they do for your book
  • determining the key themes of your book worth comp-ing
  • identifying common mistakes in selecting comp titles (and how to avoid making them)
  • mapping out strategies to research your comp titles
  • crafting formats that best make those titles work for you
  • Q&A

Questions about registration? Check our handy FAQ page.

Events are recorded and emailed to all who register.

*NOTE: If you want the recording sent to you, do not check off the box in the Zoom Events registration process that restricts us from obtaining your email address and do not unsubscribe from Symposium emails.

Confirmation emails come from Zoom Events—search your inbox for noreply-zoomevents@zoom.us—not Pipeline Media Group.

Host

Caroline Malloy, Ph.D.
Caroline Malloy, Ph.D., is a Chicago-based book coach, editor, and historian who helps great women write great nonfiction. Her motto: Nevertheless, she published! Caroline is a specialist in strategizing book proposals, and loves digging into developmental edits of both books and proposals. She authored the chapter on book coaching in The Art of Academic Editing: A […]

Education for creators.

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Upcoming Events

The Plot Wheel: More than Just Structure

July 15, 2026
The Plot Wheel is more than a structure—it’s a storytelling engine designed to create connection, momentum, and reader satisfaction. In this engaging presentation, Court Stevens breaks down the eight essential movements of story into a clear, repeatable framework that helps writers move from idea to fully realized narrative. Writers will gain the power to intentionally shape both the emotional journey and the commercial appeal of their work.

Commercially Driven Decisions: Being Intentional with Story Choices

July 22, 2026
The Commercially Driven Choices session by Court Stevens reveals what separates stories that are simply well-written from those that truly connect and sell. This dynamic session unpacks the strategic decisions writers must make to increase reader engagement—focusing on transformation, satisfaction, opposition, scope, and consumability as the core drivers of commercial storytelling.

Screenwriting Essentials: Improving the Read

July 29, 2026
It's called "A good read," and it’s the difference between a good story being easier to identify and one that gets buried in an avalanche of text. Professional screenwriter Tom Vaughn (Winchester, starring Academy Award-winner Helen Mirren) shares critical advice to elevate your writing to a more pro level.

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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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