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.

The Art of Pitching

February 18, 2026
Angela Douglas will break down what pitching really is, why it matters, and how to craft a clear, compelling hook and logline that works whether you’re drafting your first novel or preparing for a major pitch event. You’ll learn the core elements of effective pitching, the different types of pitches you’ll encounter online and in person, and how to make the most of the elevator pitch and the typical three minutes you’ll get to sell yourself and your manuscript.

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.

Surveillance: What is It, How to Write It

Scheduled

Wednesday, April 15, 2026

Time

12 am EDT / 9 pm PDT

Duration

2 Hours

Cost

$35

Subjects

Publishing, Screenwriting

Topic

Craft

This symposium explores the reality of physical and technical surveillance so authors can write more compelling mysteries and thrillers. Additionally, as an indirect benefit, attendees will also learn how they can better protect themselves against cyber criminals and identity theft, and ensure safety and security for all the tech in our daily lives.

Adam Sikes is a former paramilitary officer with the CIA and an expert in physical and technical surveillance, and he will examine the following topics:

  • What is surveillance and what is the point
  • The different kinds of surveillance
  • Surveillance methods and techniques
  • What makes us vulnerable
  • How to protect against surveillance
  • Q&A

At the conclusion of this class, attendees will have a deeper understanding of how to follow someone, detect if someone is following them, monitor phone and social media activity, the vulnerabilities of location sharing and GPS, password and identity security, commercially available technical and surveillance tools, and a host of skills and methods. These insights will make your writing more compelling and authentic to readers, helping hold them to the page.

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

Adam Sikes
Adam Sikes is a former paramilitary officer with the CIA and a U.S. Marine Corps combat veteran. He has operated around the world, and his experiences now inform his writing. His first novel, Landslide, was a finalist for the National Indie Excellence Awards, and his latest novel, The Underhanded, was a finalist for the American Fiction Awards. Adam holds […]

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Upcoming Events

The Art of Pitching

February 18, 2026
Angela Douglas will break down what pitching really is, why it matters, and how to craft a clear, compelling hook and logline that works whether you’re drafting your first novel or preparing for a major pitch event. You’ll learn the core elements of effective pitching, the different types of pitches you’ll encounter online and in person, and how to make the most of the elevator pitch and the typical three minutes you’ll get to sell yourself and your manuscript.

Logline Workshop

February 25, 2026
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.

10 Questions to Figure Out What Your Memoir is REALLY About

March 11, 2026
Memoir is a deeply challenging genre for any writer seeking to parlay real-life events into a story that connects with total strangers. As Mary Karr observes, “a fiction writer starts with meaning and then manufactures events to represent it; a memoirist starts with events, then derives meaning from them.” Deriving meaning is a lengthy, complex […]

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Book Idea Workshop: Critical Steps to Examining an Idea

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Finish Your Project This Year

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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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