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Finding the Ritual That Gets You Writing

September 16, 2026
You write for a few days or even weeks but can’t keep it consistent. You’ve written in the past, fell off the writing-train, and can’t figure out why it’s so darn hard to get back on track. You write consistently but you’re miserable doing it. In this symposium, Script Pipeline-winning filmmaker and meditation teacher Erin Cantelo will guide you through a variety of habit-forming tools to discover your own personal ritual that gets you writing consistently and even… (gasp) joyfully.

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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.

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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.

Substack as a Writer's Swiss Army Knife: How to Build Your Email List & Beyond

Recorded

September 2, 2026

Duration

2 Hours

Cost

$35

Subject

Publishing

Topic

Business

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If you're a writer, you've probably heard that you need an email list. You've probably also heard that you need to build an audience, grow your network, market your work, and still somehow find time to write.

What you may not realize is that an email list remains the most valuable asset a writer can build—and that growing one can actually be fun (seriously). Better yet, your newsletter can help you accomplish all those other goals, too.

In recent years, Substack has evolved from a simple newsletter platform into one of the most powerful tools available to writers. It can help you connect with readers, expand your network, promote your work, test ideas, generate new revenue streams, and build a sustainable creative career—all while maintaining direct ownership of your audience.

In this practical presentation, author, podcaster, and writing instructor Courtney Kocak will show you how to use Substack as a writer's Swiss Army knife, whether you're just getting started or looking to get more out of the platform.

By the end of this presentation, you'll understand what's possible, which strategies make the most sense for you, and exactly where to focus your energy. You'll leave with a clear plan for using Substack to support your writing goals and turning it into the hub of your creative ecosystem. You'll also receive take-home resources to help you put your plan into action.

This presentation will cover:

  • Why every writer needs an email list (even/especially if you hate marketing)
  • Why Substack has become a writer's Swiss Army knife
  • Coming up with a newsletter concept that supports your long-term goals
  • Setting up a Substack that works for you
  • Low-maintenance content strategies that won't eat into your writing time
  • Simple ways to attract your first subscribers
  • Using Substack to build relationships and expand your network
  • Leveraging Substack to support books, bylines, podcasts, classes, and other creative projects
  • Examples of newsletters that are doing it well
  • How to get started without overcomplicating it
  • Q&A

Host

Courtney Kocak
Courtney Kocak is a writer, podcaster, and comedian who splits time between Austin and Los Angeles. She wrote for Amazon’s Emmy-winning animated series Danger & Eggs and Netflix’s Know It All. She’s produced a slew of highly-ranked podcasts and currently hosts three of her own with over two million downloads to date. Her bylines include The New York Times, The […]

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Upcoming Events

Finding the Ritual That Gets You Writing

September 16, 2026
You write for a few days or even weeks but can’t keep it consistent. You’ve written in the past, fell off the writing-train, and can’t figure out why it’s so darn hard to get back on track. You write consistently but you’re miserable doing it. In this symposium, Script Pipeline-winning filmmaker and meditation teacher Erin Cantelo will guide you through a variety of habit-forming tools to discover your own personal ritual that gets you writing consistently and even… (gasp) joyfully.

One-on-One with Professional Screenwriter Corey Mandell

September 17, 2026
Corey Mandell joins our Symposium converstaion to dive into the essentials every screenwriter needs to know, including what it takes to launch your career in the current marketplace. Plus, we'll sprinkle your questions into the conversation.

Multidimensional Comp Titles

September 23, 2026
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.

Latest Streaming

Substack as a Writer's Swiss Army Knife: How to Build Your Email List & Beyond

September 2, 2026
Substack has evolved from a simple newsletter platform into one of the most powerful tools available to writers. It can help you connect with readers, expand your network, promote your work, test ideas, generate new revenue streams, and build a sustainable creative career—all while maintaining direct ownership of your audience.

Professional Screenplay Formatting and Structure

August 26, 2026
Timothy Cooper walks you through everything he wishes he’d known when he started: the principles behind why formatting matters, his tried-and-true steps to building your story from logline to outline to script, and exactly what differentiates professional pages from amateur ones.

Mistakes Comedy Writers Make and How to Fix Them

August 19, 2026
Dive into the world of comedy writing. Amanda Graham explores the biggest mistakes in comedy scripts and how you can avoid them. For new and seasoned writers.

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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