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Finding Your Niche: Buck Trends to Build a Career with Purpose

June 24, 2026
Zach Bandler will offer a practical framework for identifying the thematic lane you’re uniquely positioned to explore, and connecting that work to communities, institutions, and ecosystems that are actively seeking those stories. Attendees will learn how to move beyond chasing traditional industry pathways and instead build a personal storytelling identity that attracts collaborators, funding, and audiences. Because the goal isn’t to do everything. It’s to do something that only you can do, and build a career around it.

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.

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

Scheduled

Wednesday, September 2, 2026

Time

7 pm EDT / 4 pm PDT

Duration

2 Hours

Cost

$35

Subject

Publishing

Topic

Business

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

Questions about registration? Check our handy FAQ page.

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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 Your Niche: Buck Trends to Build a Career with Purpose

June 24, 2026
Zach Bandler will offer a practical framework for identifying the thematic lane you’re uniquely positioned to explore, and connecting that work to communities, institutions, and ecosystems that are actively seeking those stories. Attendees will learn how to move beyond chasing traditional industry pathways and instead build a personal storytelling identity that attracts collaborators, funding, and audiences. Because the goal isn’t to do everything. It’s to do something that only you can do, and build a career around it.

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.

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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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