A strong pitch is only the beginning. Once you can succinctly articulate your story, the next step is transforming that short pitch into a compelling query letter that captures and holds an agent or publisher’s attention.
In this practical session, author Angela Douglas will show you how to take the key elements of a strong pitch: your logline, comparable titles and bio and turn them into a clear, engaging query letter that stands out in a crowded inbox. Writers who attended her pitching workshop can build on what they’ve already created, but this session also stands on its own.
You’ll learn the essential elements of an effective query, including the opening hook, story summary, comparable titles, and author bio, along with guidance on personalization, what metadata to include, and finding those strong comps.
Beyond the letter itself, Angela will walk you through the querying process: how to research and choose agents; whether to query agents, publishers, or both; and strategies for submitting via QueryTracker and email, organizing batches, and following up after pitch sessions or when deadlines pass.
Because querying can feel daunting, Angela will also talk honestly about rejection, expectations, and how to maintain momentum and positivity throughout the process.
Whether you’re preparing to query soon or just starting to explore the submission process, you’ll leave with a clear framework, actionable strategies, and the confidence to turn your pitch into a polished submission.
The Anatomy of Representation: Everything You Need to Know
For most writers, getting repped represents a critical career step aimed at building that all important bridge into the industry that will lead to becoming a bonafide working industry professional.
To pursue representation effectively and get your work the exposure and advocacy it deserves, it’s important to understand the industry landscape, what reps are looking for, and how to get their attention in order to land meaningful representation that will help push your career to the next level.
In this symposium, we will explore the representation landscape, determine what type of representation is right for you, and identify the requirements and all-important next steps you should take to build a lasting career-spanning relationship with the right rep that will help make the difference in your career.
REGISTER FOR A CHANCE TO WIN:
One lucky attendee will be chosen at this live event to win an original Sinners caricature by artist Jeff York. The winner will be announced at the conclusion of the session.
Note: To be eligible you must attend the live event on June 3rd.
Better Your Chances of Getting an Agent, Manager or Mentor
We all know the struggle. It feels harder than ever before to find an agent, or even a mentor to help with a little advice or guidance. On top of that, we send out a million polite emails hoping for a nibble. Ghosting's getting worse. And 9 out of 10 of our emails aren't even read or responded to.
It's frustrating and exhausting. But something can be done about it. You just need the right insight and tools to find someone who is a great fit for you.
This session will give you that insight and those tools. It'll be equal parts irreverent, fun, and really useful. Packed with practical things you can do to differentiate yourself from the masses, and make yourself more of an undeniable catch.
We'll be covering things like:
Biggest mistakes people make during the quest - the biggest problem with their early decisions about reaching out, why not doing a little secret research on them works against you, the things writers and artists do that makes them an instant "no"
Why the expectations between agents/managers/mentors and us have changed - how the industry works now versus a few years ago, why the opportunity squeeze is not all it seems and how you can get around it, what their day-to-day lives are like now, and the things they think make an attractive client/mentee
Figuring out exactly what you need to do - Understanding where you are in your career, what you have to offer, your past attempts to get an agent/mentor, and your challenges.
The biggest question - What's in it for them? - How to flip the "I need you to help me get what I want" to "I am here to help you meetyour goals and here's why." How to learn what motivates an agent/mentor and give yourself a huge advantage.
How to write that first email that will get their attention and get an actual flippin' response - Learning how to structure an email from the subject line to the sign-off so that your email will get read and responded to. And how to follow-up once that happens.
You'll leave the session with the tools you need and stronger confidence in finding an agent or mentor. You'll also leave with multi-level insight that most people don't have.
What attendees have said ...
Amanda’s session was really informative, actionable and funny, too. There was plenty of practical advice I can put into practice straight away.
I'm a playwright, trying to go to the next level and this symposium gave me some steps toward getting an agent.
Ms. Graham did a fantastic job and offered a LOT of very helpful insights.
The Art of Pitching
Pitching your book isn’t just for landing agents, it’s a skill that carries you through every stage of your writing career. Whether you’re approaching an agent, publisher, bookseller, or reader, a confident, polished pitch can open doors.
In this practical session, author 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.
It is never too early or too late to learn how to pitch with confidence. Angela will walk you through the exact criteria she uses to prepare for agent or publisher pitch sessions, giving you tools you can use immediately to talk about your book with clarity and impact.
You’ll leave this session with a deeper understanding of hooks, loglines, and short verbal pitches and practical strategies to reduce nerves.
Bring something to take notes with, and your questions. This is a session you won’t want to miss, no matter what stage of writing you’re at.
What attendees have said ...
"Angela Douglas was an excellent speaker. Knowledgable, relatable and empathetic. Angela came prepared. Her pacing was great. I enjoyed her talk very much."
One-on-One with Literary Agent Cecilia "CeCe" Lyra
*NOTE: Zoom played tricks with CeCe's calendar, so we got the party started a little late. You can watch the first 10 minutes of Jeanne's impromptu AMA, or skip to the 10-minute mark when CeCe's genius starts.
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. To say we're thrilled to have her on Symposium is the understatement of the year.
At Symposium we have one important rule: To tell people what they need to hear not necessarily what they want to hear. Hard truths will get you farther in your career than false hope, and CeCe politely puts her Grinch hat on to deliver the honest advice you need to improve your odds at publication.
We'll dive into the world of a lit agent, the advice writers need to improve, and you'll even get to ask questions, too!
Cecilia “CeCe” Lyra is a literary agent at Wendy Sherman Associates representing adult fiction and non-fiction. She is drawn to books with strong hooks and smooth writing, told with originality, nuance, and authenticity. A long-term strategic thinker, CeCe prioritizes the creative reach and sustainable longevity of her authors’ careers, and she is especially looking for clients with whom she can build fruitful, lasting relationships.
Both a storyteller and a storyseller, CeCe believes that stories are empathy-generating machines capable of healing, connecting, and enacting true change. As a mixed race Latinx immigrant, CeCe understands the power of seeing oneself reflected in books, hence her passion for championing under or misrepresented voices and narratives that contribute to a larger cultural conversation. CeCe is a member of the Association of American Literary Agents (AALA). The popular podcast The Shit No One Tells You About Writing, for which CeCe is a co-host, has over four million downloads. CeCe is also a recovering lawyer, but asks that you do not hold that against her.
“The Shit No One Tells You About Writing” Substack
Screenwriting Success: Start Your Year with a Plan
A new year brings with it new opportunities. By our estimation, and the estimation of the Script Pipeline staff fulfilling the requests of industry, it's critical to make a focused, dedicated push to start your screenwriting year with a strong strategy, building momentum as the year progresses.
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.
In this focused session, we'll explore how to best strategize for the screenwriting year, with the aim of creating and building meaningful opportunities and forward motion that every writer wants to see for themselves.
The 2-hour event will include:
Assessing your body of work
Developing supporting materials
Exploring brand and your writer identity
Unique strategy for every pilot and/or screenplay
Your submission plans
Query tips
Literary representation
Seeking producers
What attendees have said ...
"Lee was so helpful!! I've watched all her videos and just signed up for the consultation. Can't wait for her to come back for another symposium."
"The speaker was knowledgeable, covered all the topics and answered questions, is a wealth of knowledge which I look forward to working with in the future."
" Valuable Information on many facets of the business."
Demystifying Audiobooks: A Workshop for Authors
How to Bring Your Book from the Page to the Aural Stage
If you're an author who's ever thought, "Should my book be an audiobook?"—the answer is probably yes. Audiobooks are one of the fastest-growing segments in publishing, and if you’re not tapping into that market, you might be leaving money (and listeners) on the table.
In this live webinar, professional audiobook narrator and producer Megan Tusing of Little But Fierce Productions®, LLC—who brings nearly a decade of industry experience—will guide authors through the essentials of audiobook creation. Whether you're looking to hire a professional, understand the audiobook production process, or make informed decisions about your audio rights, this workshop will give you the clarity and confidence to move forward.
In this session, authors will learn:
Why audiobooks are an essential part of your book’s journey
How audiobooks are made—including the full production process
Key audiobook terms and lingo every author should know
DIY vs. hiring a pro vs. selling your audio rights: which path is right for you?
What “narrator approval” means, and why it matters
Tips for marketing your audiobook once it’s published
How to avoid common mistakes new authors make in audio
There will also be time for live Q&A, so come with your questions!
Whether you're just getting started or already exploring audiobook options, this seminar will help you move forward with confidence.
What Attendees Have Said ...
"Megan was very articulate in explaining the process and used specific examples. She shared the names of service providers and pricing as well as tips for researching narrators. Though i had an audio book included in my publishing package, I never knew how much was involved."
"I like that she shared so many details of creating an audiobook. I'm looking forward to watching it again."
Signing Smart! What Authors Should Know About Contracts
From publishing deals to agent agreements, film/TV deals, merchandise licenses, and even cover art commissions—contracts can shape your author career.
In this webinar, we’ll break down what rights and obligations you’re taking on, how to spot risks, what key terms really mean, and how to protect yourself when the other side doesn’t deliver.
Together we’ll demystify tricky topics like representation and warranties, indemnification, reserved rights, reversion, naked licensing and implied licenses.
Whether you’re signing your first deal or renegotiating, this session will help you approach contracts with clarity and confidence.
What Attendees Have Said ...
"Lauren Emerson is extremely knowledgeable, and she brought to light contract and IP considerations that I didn’t even realize I might have to think about! She presented information in a way that was very approachable (even to someone like me, who has no background in law) … and she packed A LOT of information into a 90-minute webinar. I’m so happy I had the chance to be part of this Symposium course."
"Amazing!"
"Super insightful in what to look for when looking over a contract!"
Marketing the Big 5 Way
So you’ve written the book of your heart, queried into the slush pile and successfully found an agent, who then sold your book to an editor at a Big 5! Ever wonder what happens behind the scenes once your book is acquired?
Leila Siddiqui has spent ten years working in marketing in two of the Big 5 publishers and will walk you through what to expect when the book has passed acquisitions and finds a publishing date. The publishing journey is often referred to as a “hurry up and wait” with moments of intense marketing activity and then maddening calm.
You’ll learn about what marketers do at acquisitions, after the book is acquired, how they partner with the sales team to position the book to retailers, and how they bring the book the audiences. Whether you’ve self-published, on the editor submission journey with your agent, or a seasoned traditional author, there’s always something to learn about the publishing process from an insider.
Privacy for Writers: Why Writers Should Care about Privacy in a Connected World and What They Can Do About It
Facebook. Twitter. Tiktok. Snapchat. You’re a writer and you thought writing books meant, well writing books. But now you have to be online, build a platform and be accessible. But in today’s hyper connected world, the risks to an author’s privacy are exponential.
But privacy is hard and its designed to be hard by the companies that profit from surveilling our lives. How do you protect your privacy so that you can both have an online platform and connect with readers while protecting yourself, your family, and your reputation?
As an author and a privacy professor, she understands that privacy often doesn’t matter to people - until it does.
By the end of this presentation, you will be better prepared to understand what you’re giving up when you sign click agree to the terms and conditions, why it matters for actors, and specifically what the minimum steps are to take to raise the bar on personal privacy without having to sell your firstborn to hire a personal security consultant. You’ll get actionable steps to take to start protecting your privacy, cleaning up your information from the internet, and giving yourself piece of mind that in the event you end up going viral for something you didn’t plan, you’ll be better able to keep the conversation online instead of showing up on your doorstep.
This presentation will cover:
Understanding the commercial surveillance economy
Real world examples
Risks of social media
Examples of data collected from common apps
Myths that prevent action
Best practices
Q&A
What Attendees Have Said ...
"The speaker was super informed, I only wish we had had more time for discussion around the specificities of writers sharing/virtual rooms, etc."
"Depth of information more than expected. I appreciate that we will get Jess’ slides as there is much to absorb."
"The speaker knows her subject matter; the content is excellent."
