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January 7, 2025

The State of Hollywood: A 2025 Primer for Film & TV Writers

Screenwriting career coach Lee Jessup brings a new Symposium, exclusively for film and TV writers—both new/emerging and semi-established—focusing on the current state of the industry, the hard truths rarely discussed (yet every writer has to confront), and exploring all that is required to move your writing—and your career—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.

Storytelling Essentials: How to Write Compelling Backstory

Recorded

February 13, 2024

Duration

2 Hours

Cost

$35

Subjects

Publishing, Screenwriting

Topic

Craft

All characters walk into your novel with a past.

Compelling characters enter a novel with a specific past that impacts everything about who they are, what they think, and what actions they take. Without compelling backstory, your characters will read flat, lifeless, and generic.

In this workshop, Isabel Sterling (traditionally published author and master certified author coach), walks you through the fundamentals of creating engaging character backstory. You’ll learn where to look for relevant details, how and when to write backstory scenes, and how to get your character’s backstory on the page without info dumping or using excessive flashbacks.

Participants of this workshop will:

  • Learn how to avoid common character & backstory mistakes
  • Understand how to develop a distinct character desire rooted in their backstory
  • Have a process for creating relevant backstory
  • Know how to get backstory on the page in a dynamic way (no info dumping required!)

Host

Isabel Sterling
Isabel Sterling (she/they) is a master certified coach, the host of The Author Burnout Cure podcast, and the founder of The Confident Author Academy. Their traditionally published novels include THESE WITCHES DON’T BURN, THIS COVEN WON’T BREAK, and THE COLDEST TOUCH. She lives with her spouse and fur-babies in Central New York, where the winters are frigid, […]

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Upcoming Events

January 7, 2025

The State of Hollywood: A 2025 Primer for Film & TV Writers

Screenwriting career coach Lee Jessup brings a new Symposium, exclusively for film and TV writers—both new/emerging and semi-established—focusing on the current state of the industry, the hard truths rarely discussed (yet every writer has to confront), and exploring all that is required to move your writing—and your career—forward.
January 15, 2025

Troubled Waters: Navigating the Agent/Author Relationship

Agent Stacey Graham from 3 Seas Literary Agency will share how to recognize the signs of when your agent/author relationship may be headed for the rocks, what to try to right the ship, and when it's time to head for the lifeboat in this fast-paced presentation. 
February 19, 2025

Logline Workshop

You may have been banging your head against the wall trying to construct a great logline, but you’re frustrated you can’t quite hit the mark. Merridith with teach the components execs want to see in a logline, and provide tons of insights. You’ll leave with the tools you need to whip them into shape.

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Writing for cable networks such as Hallmark, Lifetime, or UpTV is specialty writing. Same with any of the streaming services looking for a “Hallmark” type of Christmas film—and they all are. They each have their specific brand. For their specific audiences. They have guidelines you have to write to. This class will lay those out […]
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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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