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.

Book Idea Workshop: Critical Steps to Elevating 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.

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.

Your First Draft is Done ... Now What?

Recorded

June 8, 2022

Duration

2 Hours

Cost

$35

Subject

Publishing

Topic

Craft

Congratulations! The first draft of your manuscript is finally done. A sense of self-satisfaction along with a well-deserved day of cloud floating should be the only thing on your to-do list as you proudly stare at that completed work for the unique piece of art it is.

But … when you start to feel a gentle tug, that's the next item on your list pulling your feet back to the ground asking, "What are you going to do with it?"

Editor and literary agent Latoya Smith might be the next step along your way to publication, and lucky for us, this editor/agent super-combo is here to share her wealth of knowledge and plant helpful guideposts for authors who are ready to get their manuscript out into the world, rather than let it sit on their desktop. Art is meant to be shared, after all!

In this course, Latoya will cover:

  • Types of editors: which one will you need?
  • Polishing the first draft
  • Common first-time author mistakes
  • Self-publishing vs. traditional publishing: which path is right for you?
  • The importance of building a strong network
  • Publishing is a business—important things to keep in mind

Host

Latoya C. Smith
Latoya C. Smith started her editorial career as an administrative assistant to New York Times bestselling author, Teri Woods at Teri Woods Publishing while pursuing her Bachelor’s Degree at Temple University. She graduated Cum Laude from Temple in August of 2005. She then attained a full-time position at Kensington Publishing in March of 2006. In October 2006, […]

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Upcoming Events

Book Idea Workshop: Critical Steps to Elevating 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.

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.

Nailing Your Pitch

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.

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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.

One-on-One with Literary Agent Cecilia "CeCe" Lyra

January 14, 2026
If you're a listener to the podcast "The Shit No One Tells You About Writing," you already know the amazing literary agent CeCe Lyra. We'll dive into the world of a lit agent and the advice writers need to succeed.

Screenwriting Success: Start Your Year with a Plan

January 7, 2026
Lee Jessup, a seasoned career coach and a Business of Screenwriting professor with the David Lynch Graduate School of Cinematic Art, will walk you through meaningful, actionable steps that you can take for your screenwriting career in the year ahead. 

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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