The Power of Short Story IP—From Concept to Execution

Short stories are emerging as essential IP for an intro to the studio system, and some of our most iconic films began with only a handful of pages. Using short fiction references from Stephen King and more, this course explores how writers can recognize the cinematic engine (and core dilemma) inside a short story and to brainstorm or refine an idea of their own. 

We’ll examine how great stories create momentum, and what you might need to take out a pitch after generating interest in your story. Attendees will learn to identify the story’s central source of tension, discover what its characters truly want, and use escalation, and cause and effect to create a story that moves through emotion instead relying solely on plot, and how short stories remain a powerful way to get to the core of your movie. 

Additionally we will tackle developing a strong thematic question, POV/ and choosing the type of story that best suits your premise, tackle how to work in a compressed page environment (considering all the elements of a feature that actually need to be left out), how the reversal can also be viewed as a midpoint or act break when brainstorming the moment of reversal for your own piece, and how high concept/ big hook may actually take you further than literary voice when it comes to writing for adaptable film IP.

You will leave with a workable logline and key moments of your story identified along with a glance at a pitch book for pitching out a short story and knowing what you will need if you plan to expand the story into a feature or TV idea. 

Lindsay's most recent short story BRING A FRIEND can be found in The Sweater's latest short story compilation. Available here.

Finding the Ritual That Gets You Writing

As someone who once hated the writing process herself, Script Pipeline-winning filmmaker and meditation teacher Erin Cantelo knows that the struggle to write is real.

You want to write but haven’t started. You write for days, weeks, or more but can’t stay consistent. You used to write but fell off the writing-train and can’t figure out how to get back on track. You’d write, if only you had the time! You write consistently but you’re miserable doing it.

Any of this sound familiar? You are the hero in your own story and just like your protagonists, you do have what it takes to overcome your obstacles and get writing consistently and even joyfully.

Come ready to explore, reflect, and get curious about what does and doesn’t work for your writing process as you create a personal ritual that works for you.

What you’ll get:

Your stories deserve to be told.

What attendees have said ...

"Erin Cantelo is an articulate, insightful and very engaging leader with very specific steps to take explained in clear terms. So helpful! I'm excited to read- and start using her worksheet! Jeanne Bowerman added some compelling points at the end too - and listed upcoming events that sound great."

"This session was something I personally needed for such a long time, and honestly, I feel like if I hadn’t taken it, in a few years I would have said, 'I NEEDED THIS SO MUCH BACK THEN.”'

"Erin truly cleared the mental fog I had, and helped me understand the concept of ritual, as well as the physiological process happening in our brains that deserves to be understood and attended to so it can actually support us and make our writing more effective."

"I feel like this profession is filled with extremely conceptual and abstract ideas and processes, and Erin not only gave us a very tangible way to approach them, but also tools I’m already dying to implement. They make writing feel like a space of so much more joy and enjoyment."

"Her perspective felt like the excitement of a first date with writing all over again. I left with nothing but the desire to fall in love with it again and again."

One-on-One: Explore Historical Fiction Writing with Adam Sikes

Writing historical fiction requires great amounts of research, understanding when to toss the facts in favor of fiction, and how to organize all of the voluminous files you'll collect.

Then there's the question every historical fiction writer asks ... When is it okay to fictionalize real, historical figures?

Jeanne Veillette Bowerman chats with novelist (and former CIA) Adam Sikes to dissect the processes they each use when writing their historical novels.

Join us for a casual conversation, including your questions, as they dive into the strategies that have helped them as well as the challenges of bringing history to life in a dynamic, and fictional way.

Resources:

Daily Life ... resource books by era/region
Sears Roebuck & Co. Catalog
Session Chat

Adam's Symposium Host Page

What attendees have said ...

"As someone who is working on a first draft of a historical fiction novel, I enjoyed ALL of it. Excellent conversation!"

"Excellent conversation. The guest was fabulous, I took tons of notes."

"I think both presenters where great, engaging and talk about relevant matters. Also, they address interesting questions. I had to leave earlier (unfortunately), but I’ll finish the presentation as soon as I get the recording. THANK YOU!"

"So many thoughts--your research methods, varying perspectives, accuracy of historical periods, varying cultures, varying fictional supplements, A.I. I'm grateful I can relisten to several sections and take better notes."

"I love candid discussion about real historical fiction writer’s processes with emphasis in what works for them and what does not."

"The wonderful chemistry between the author and the interviewer. Both so bright articulate."

"Loved their energy. It was very informative. You felt like they knew what they were talking about. They covered briefly something I was interested about which was different time lines."

"I loved the discussion at the end about other primary sources you might not have thought of, including novels published in that time. That opened a whole new door of ideas for me!"

A Book Proposal Coach’s Secrets to Selling Your Non-Fiction (or Fiction) Book

Beneficial for ANY writer working on a book project—fiction or non-fiction!

Even your fiction book can benefit from examining it like a business person. Because that's what editors and publishers do.

Learn how to dissect your fiction and nonfiction from the lens of the publisher to increase your odds of a sale.

*****

Non-fiction books are almost always sold to publishers “on proposal.” That means you get to show publishers what you plan to write, but don’t actually have to write it until you get a book deal. It's pretty awesome.

But there’s a catch.

Your proposal, which outlines your project for a publisher, has to be so good that editors fall in love with it and believe that readers will, too. In fact, writing a proposal will set you up for success even if you plan to self-publish.

The problem? Most writers have no idea how to create a winning proposal. They simply don’t think like business people which is exactly what's needed. And this is a problem for authors. 

But Amy Scher is going to change that. 

What's covered:

Goal-Setting and Goal-Getting for Writers

To get what you want, you need to know what you want. Setting the foundation for your writing goals is key. Whether you’re starting a new project, finishing a manuscript, building your author platform, or figuring out your next steps, having clarity and a game plan will help you move forward.

Hosted by goal strategist, author, and The Book Proposal Expert Debra Eckerling, this session will introduce you to The DEB Method®, her system for goal-setting simplified. DEB stands for Determine Your Mission, Explore Your Options, and Brainstorm Your Path. Writers will define their goals, prioritize projects, and create a plan to turn their vision into reality.

During this session, you will:

Whether you are just starting out, working on a current project, or planning your next chapter, this workshop will set you up for success for the new year and beyond. 

How a Book Becomes a Movie: What Authors and Screenwriters Need to Know

The filmmaking business is complex and baffles many—even those working in it. The reality is, there is no single way to get a film made. But there’s no question that Hollywood loves adapting intellectual property. The more authors and screenwriters understand the different adaptation paths, the better their odds of success.

One major hurdle is the overabundance of scammers looking to exploit an author's dream of getting their work published or produced—making them a perfect target. But the best way to protect yourself is to understand how the book-to-film process works and how to identify a scam when you see one.

As a screenwriter, Jeanne Veillette Bowerman has adapted other author’s work, including a Pulitzer Prize-winning book, and she’s also worked closely with authors, guiding them on how to navigate Hollywood. She’ll dive deep into the processes to help writers come to the negotiation table well-informed.

What we'll cover:

Who would benefit from this session?

Substack as a Writer's Swiss Army Knife: How to Build Your Email List & Beyond

If you're a writer, you've probably heard that you need an email list. You've probably also heard that you need to build an audience, grow your network, market your work, and still somehow find time to write.

What you may not realize is that an email list remains the most valuable asset a writer can build—and that growing one can actually be fun (seriously). Better yet, your newsletter can help you accomplish all those other goals, too.

In recent years, Substack has evolved from a simple newsletter platform into one of the most powerful tools available to writers. It can help you connect with readers, expand your network, promote your work, test ideas, generate new revenue streams, and build a sustainable creative career—all while maintaining direct ownership of your audience.

In this practical presentation, author, podcaster, and writing instructor Courtney Kocak will show you how to use Substack as a writer's Swiss Army knife, whether you're just getting started or looking to get more out of the platform.

By the end of this presentation, you'll understand what's possible, which strategies make the most sense for you, and exactly where to focus your energy. You'll leave with a clear plan for using Substack to support your writing goals and turning it into the hub of your creative ecosystem. You'll also receive take-home resources to help you put your plan into action.

This presentation will cover:

What attendees have said ...

"I've heard of Substack over the years, but didn't know what it was or how effective it might be. Courtney really explained it very well and gave a very good overview of how to use it, what to expect, etc. I especially liked her realistic approach and advice about being authentic and not stressing out about perfection, constant posting, unscribers, etc. It was refreshing to hear the truth, since so many presentations about social media make it sound crucial to post, post, post. I loved her comment that if she posted every day it would "kill her soul" because I feel that way, too! But she made me understand the value & I can now imagine using Substack to promote my novels and build my audience. This was a very worthwhile presentation and very affordable. Thanks!"

"Great writing exercises to build out our Substack. Feel energized and excited after listening!"

"The speaker clearly knew her stuff. Her presentation was full of useful information and she was incredibly generous with her time."

Multidimensional Comp Titles

Has anything ever felt as baffling as finding Comp Titles! Planning and writing your book is hard enough, and then you need to identify books to compare to yours... or that will compete with yours... or both? (You wonder, what does "comp" even mean, right?) If you've found yourself in this too-familiar, bewildered situation, this Symposium session will bring calm to your chaos and offer clear guidance not only on what comp titles are, but also how to find the best ones to showcase the best parts of your book.

Caroline Malloy's dynamic presentation is designed to help you weed through overwhelming possibilities to hone in on the books that will make yours shine. Her comp title secret: it's not about working to show what you know about other books; it's about getting the books to work for you. Comp titles, ultimately, prove your book is a deep, thoughtful, pleasurable, multidimensional read.

Over the course of our time together, we'll cover:

Author Platform Essentials for Writers Who'd Rather Be Writing

Building an author platform can feel overwhelming. Writers are often told they need a newsletter, social media presence, podcast appearances, events, a personal brand, and a marketing plan—often before they've even finished their manuscript.

The good news? 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.

Think of this as Author Platform Essentials: the easy, effective, paint-by-numbers version of platform building. A clear, actionable roadmap for creating visibility, community, and career momentum—and ultimately selling books—that still leaves plenty of time for what you actually love: writing.

By the end of this presentation, you'll have a better understanding of the platform-building options available to writers today, which activities deliver the greatest return on investment, and how to create a sustainable strategy you can begin implementing right away.

This presentation will cover:

What attendees have said ...

Tons of information including an inspiring number of ways to use my brand and connect it in various ways to your platform. Courtney was really personable and easy to listen to!

The information was robust, applicable, and thorough. Excellent session, as usual! I think Courtney was very professional and a clear expert in her field. I learned more than I even expected and feel motivated to tackle social media and marketing myself, rather than dreading it like usual.

Gave me a thorough understanding of author platforms and how to create and shape an integrated personal brand so that it reflects the most up-to-date social media, podcasting and Substack newsletter trends.

The energy of the speaker and her professionalism in how she unpacked a very layered marketing plan across multiple platforms.

The Art of the Thrill: Essentials for Writing Exciting Thrillers

It begins with a knock at the door.
A body discovered.
A startling crime.

But how do you keep readers turning pages long after that inciting incident? How do you build tension that tightens chapter by chapter, plant red herrings without losing track of them, and deliver twists that surprise and satisfy?

In this session, thriller-award-winning author Lauren Nossett will break down the architecture of a gripping story. She’ll discuss how to raise the stakes, design layered characters, and craft suspense. 

You’ll learn how to:

You’ll leave with practical tools you can immediately apply to your manuscript and a clearer roadmap for keeping readers up all night.

What attendees have said ...

"Very thorough presentation of crafting a thriller. The examples helped illustrate the topics."

"Symposium brings on some great writers to talk craft. Lauren Nossett is one who comes with her own insights on story development and a candid rendition of what a writer must tackle in the course of a project. Always informative."

"I liked the exploration of imperfect characters and this multi-level cause and effect on the story."

"The instruction was detail-oriented and not vague. I don't want an overview. I want specifics. This did a great job hitting all the notes with examples."

"Loved the explanation of the three-act arc and how to write strong sub characters. This gave me a lot of ideas for the novel I'm writing."

"It was succinct and to the point, accompanied by examples that illustrated the ideas. She was great, thorough, informative."

"Superbly done. The basics and foundation for writing a good mystery-thriller. Thanks!"