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.

Symposium Community Writing Sprint Night

August 5, 2026
Join us for two hours of writing on Zoom (free), with breaks to discuss our progress and struggles. We'll be using the Pomodoro method (25 minutes of writing, with a 5-minute break). You can choose to have your camera on or off. No judgment! Just a community of writers to support each other. You don't need to participate for a full two hours. Pop in and out, as needed.

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 Said and the Unsaid: Writing Your Characters Through Dialogue

Recorded

May 13, 2026

Duration

2 Hours

Cost

$35

Subjects

Publishing, Screenwriting

Topic

Craft

Great dialogue works on two levels: what’s said on the surface and what’s happening underneath.

A smile that doesn’t reach the eyes. A pause that stretches too long. A joke that hides a wound. Dialogue isn’t just conversation, it’s character, conflict, and subtext on the page.

In this session, we’ll explore how great dialogue reveals motive, deepens relationships, and drives plot. You’ll study memorable exchanges, analyze what makes iconic lines unforgettable, and learn how to translate body language and subtext into compelling prose.

Perfect for writers who want sharper, more dynamic dialogue, this session will give attendees practical tools to strengthen both verbal and nonverbal communication in their work.

You’ll learn how to:

  • Write dialogue that sounds natural 
  • Use dialogue tags effectively (and avoid common mistakes)
  • Reveal character through subtext and contradiction
  • Craft dialogue that creates tension and moves the plot forward
  • Layer action and body language into conversation
  • Put wisdom into the mouths of your characters
  • Shape your characters’ distinct voices

You’ll leave with stronger dialogue instincts and techniques you can apply to your current and future projects.

What attendees have said ...

"Lauren Nossett's symposium was jam-packed with relevant, articulate and wonderful examples. She mixed citations from both novels and movies to drive home takeaways that demonstrate how good dialogue—and, as a bonus,  'voiced' body language—can advance a story. Loved how, right out of the starting gate, she showed Tolkien's mastery of dialogue with Gollum's 'My Precious,' and how those two simple words convey intimate obsession and a consuming corruption that lay the ground work for the magnificent Lord of the Rings saga. Brilliant! Look forward to listening again."

"The detailed examples Lauren gave to illustrate what works and why. As an emerging screenwriter with three scripts that I have yet to sell, Lauren gave me invaluable advice on how to effective revise my work. Great presentation!"

"All of the deep dives into examples were fabulous."

"This is the fifth webinar I’ve had this week and BY FAR the best. Fabulous. Beneficial and relatable."

Host

Lauren Nossett
Lauren Nossett is a professor turned novelist and the award-winning author of the thrillers The Resemblance and The Professor. Described as "elegant and thoughtful" by The New York Times and "impossible to put down" by Paste Magazine, The Resemblance won the ITW Thriller Award for Best First Novel. Her next novel, Indie Darling, will be released in July 2026. Lauren is the […]

Education for creators.

Join Symposium for notifications about upcoming events hosted by professionals in film, TV, publishing, and beyond.
Subscribe

Upcoming Events

Symposium Community Writing Sprint Night

August 5, 2026
Join us for two hours of writing on Zoom (free), with breaks to discuss our progress and struggles. We'll be using the Pomodoro method (25 minutes of writing, with a 5-minute break). You can choose to have your camera on or off. No judgment! Just a community of writers to support each other. You don't need to participate for a full two hours. Pop in and out, as needed.

Author Platform Essentials for Writers Who'd Rather Be Writing

August 12, 2026
Building a platform doesn't have to be complicated, time-intensive, or soul-crushing. In this practical seminar, author and podcaster Courtney Kocak will help you cut through the noise and focus on the platform-building activities that actually matter. Rather than trying to do everything, you'll learn how to identify the handful of activities that best align with your strengths, goals, and bandwidth.

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.

Latest Streaming

Screenwriting Essentials: Improving the Read

July 29, 2026
Professional screenwriter Tom Vaughan (Winchester, starring Academy Award-winner Helen Mirren) shares critical advice to elevate your writing to a more pro level.

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.

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.

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.

© 2026 Pipeline Media Group
Contact