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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 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.

The First-Person Voice: Getting Past “I”

Recorded

October 8, 2025

Duration

2 Hours

Cost

$35

Subject

Publishing

Topic

Craft

Writing a novel in first-person seems easy at first. After all, how hard can it be to get inside just one character’s head and stay there? As it turns out, quite hard. To be sure, the first-person perspective is an exciting opportunity to explore your protagonist’s deepest secrets and drives and develop a sympathetic bond with the reader as they get to know your character from the inside. I bet many of our favorite books are told in first-person.

But from a craft perspective, writing in first-person is a potential minefield. Building an interesting and dynamic world full of believable characters can be extra challenging when the reader can only see that world through one set of eyes. Common pitfalls involve an over-reliance on telling rather than showing; not using inner dialogue strategically to build conflict and tension; and accidentally switching out of first-person, which can confuse the reader.

By the end of this presentation, you’ll be armed with a variety of techniques to help you use first-person effectively in a variety of genres and to recognize several pitfalls before you get too far along.

This presentation will cover:

  • Determining if first-person is the right POV for your story and genre
  • An understanding of how first-person works differently from other POVs
  • Hallmarks of great first-person POV work
  • Techniques to vary your writing style within first-person
  • Real-time writing exercise based on a first-person prompt 

What Attendees Have Said ...

"I was pleasantly surprised that Amy covered other POVs in addition to 1st Person. By doing that, she was able to compare and contrast the different POVs."

"Excellent presentation! Made the diverse POVs very understandable. The teacher was genial and terrific."

Host

Amy L. Bernstein
Amy L. Bernstein writes award-winning, genre-crossing fiction, poetry, and nonfiction. Her most recent book is Wrangling the Doubt Monster: Fighting Fears, Finding Inspiration, a hybrid work for self-doubting creatives, shortlisted for the Eric Hoffer Grand Prize. Her fifth novel, Seed, is forthcoming from Running Wild Press. Amy is also a professional book coach, helping nonfiction writers to develop […]

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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 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.

Directing Actors: Practical Tools for Writers and Emerging Directors 

March 4, 2026
Directing actors is often viewed as something that happens only after a script is finished and production begins—but understanding the actor process can dramatically improve storytelling long before cameras roll. In this educational session, writer and director Anthony DiBlasi breaks down the fundamentals of working with actors in a way that is accessible to writers, emerging directors, and storytellers at any stage of their career.

Latest Streaming

Polish Like a Pro: Self-Editing Strategies for Aspiring Authors

February 4, 2026
Join Sara Wigal, Director & Associate Professor of Publishing at Belmont University (a literary agent herself) for a hands-on, two-hour symposium designed specifically for aspiring professional writers who want to sharpen their self-editing skills.

Book Idea Workshop: Critical Steps to Examining an Idea

January 28, 2026
Amy Goldmacher will take you through an interactive process that will get you clear on your book idea so you can write it (or the proposal for it). Whether you're writing fiction, nonfiction, or memoir, Amy's strategies will give you the confidence you need to start writing.

Finish Your Project This Year

January 21, 2026
This year you CAN finish your project. If you have a plan. Explore what it means to finish a project, how to create structures that create forward progress, common obstacles that slow writers down, creative solutions to the ever-present challenge of finding time and space in this busy world, and what relationships are essential to getting to the finish line.

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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