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.

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.

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.

Isabel Sterling

Isabel Sterling (she/they) is a master certified coach, the host of The Author Burnout Cure podcast, and the founder of The Confident Author Academy. Their traditionally published novels include THESE WITCHES DON’T BURN, THIS COVEN WON’T BREAK, and THE COLDEST TOUCH. She lives with her spouse and fur-babies in Central New York, where the winters are frigid, the summers are too hot, and autumn is perfect.

Host of 4 Events

The Biggest Lie in Publishing: How to Avoid Pitfalls and Find Success
May 23, 2024
The grass isn’t actually greener once you sign with an agent. Burnout doesn’t vanish when you get that first book deal. Imposter syndrome doesn’t go away when you hit a bestseller list. In order to get—and stay—published, you need to stop relying on external success for motivation.

Storytelling Essentials: How to Write Compelling Backstory
February 13, 2024
In this workshop, Isabel Sterling (traditionally published author and master certified author coach), walks you through the fundamentals of compelling character backstory. You’ll learn where to look for relevant details, how and when to write backstory scenes, and how to get your character’s backstory on the page without info dumping or using excessive flashbacks.

How to Revise Your Novel (Without Wanting to Quit)
April 26, 2023
Revision is a fact of life for professional writers. Being good at revision, even enjoying revision, makes a huge difference in your writing career. So whether you’re revising a shitty first draft or implementing an editor’s feedback, knowing how to tackle the revision process without wanting to throw the whole novel in the garbage is essential.

Query with Confidence
February 3, 2022
In Query with Confidence, Isabel Sterling breaks down the query process into digestible pieces. You’ll learn how to write an effective query letter, research agents, and hit “send” so you can get back to doing what you really love: writing another book.

Education for creators.

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

Upcoming Events

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.

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

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.

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.

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