How to Determine the Best Medium for Your Story

You know the basics of storytelling. You’ve mastered the art of imbuing the Who with specific needs and desires. You’re expert at the art of structuring the What with conflict and reversals. You’re old hat at using verisimilitude to fill out the Where and interrogating the spectrum of ethics for the Why. 

But what about the How? 

What medium is the best fit for your story? Is it a play? A screenplay? A TV show? If it’s best told using narrative prose, should it be a short story? A novel? Somewhere in between? 

We'll go over the specific strengths and weaknesses of each medium, using successful (and less-than-successful) examples to highlight the importance of marrying the right content to the right form, as well as the additions and sacrifices required for adapting a story from one medium to another. 

This presentation will cover:

Spies, Lies, and the Secrets We Keep – Spy fiction, what is it and how do we write it?

Two-Part Event:

This two-part symposium explores the unique elements and techniques for writing spy fiction.

Adam Sikes, a former paramilitary officer with the CIA and a U.S. Marine Corps combat veteran, opens this symposium with a discussion about the real world of espionage and intelligence agencies, but the focus is to examine the following:

At the conclusion of this two-part event, the intent is for attendees to have a deeper understanding of what makes a novel fall into the spy fiction genre, as well as how to write stories that possess the basic elements of spy novels.

Additionally, although the majority of the discussion will be around spy fiction, the principles discussed are applicable to thrillers and mysteries in general.

What attendees have said ...

Loved it. I didn't think I had it in me to write a thriller when I signed on to the program (I wasn't in the CIA or FBI), but Adam's presentation makes the genre feel more approachable. I'm finishing work on a YA novel these days, but I'm thinking about the next book—a thriller. Thanks for the inspiration!

I was very pleased with Mr. Sike's two presentations. I'm currently working on my new MS which is a political thriller with an espionage twist. His information came at an ideal time for me which I will use to strengthen my MS. Keep these valuable webinars coming.

Writing for Comics

In this session with comic writer and founder of Avina Comics John Avina you will learn how to tell stories in a sequential manner, and write for not only your audience but also for an artist.

John will cover panel layouts, budgeting space for dialogue and telling a character arc across one issue. The goal is to get you on your keyboard and ready to take your idea from a thought to a completed comic.

  1. Introduction to sequential storytelling:
    • Taking a look at Familiar Dungeons
    • Pacing a page
    • Design
  2. Scripting:
    • Looking at Familiar Dungeons Script
    • Laying out a page
    • Description
    • Dialogue
  3. Completing a narrative:
    • Looking at Familiar Dungeons arc
    • How many pages should your comic be?
    • Does it tell a full story?

What attendees have said ...

John gave me an idea of how the business end of the Comics industry works. His information and examples are appreciated.

I learned so much and feel more confident in what I am doing after coming here today.

Unique solid content from someone genuinely willing to share a lot practical, high-value information.

Señor Aviña presented the ideas clearly and with good examples.

Writing Your Second Draft: Elevating Your Story

After an author types “the end” on the first draft of a novel, the real work is about to begin. You’ve heard the adage that writing is revising, and that’s largely true. The difficulty is knowing how to begin the revision process. Where do you start? How do you identify weaknesses in your first draft? Is there a right way and a wrong way to go about this? 

In this workshop, you’ll learn the following:

What attendees have said ...

"Amy's succinct advice was invaluable to relieve my anxiety about tackling this rewrite. And the handouts are a wonderful reference!"

"Amy and Jeanne were both warm, inclusive, and knowledgeable. I attend a lot of webinars and this one felt like I was hanging out with friends, uplifting each other."

Writing Great Dialogue

Writing believable, compelling dialogue is one of the hardest parts of constructing fictional narrative.

In this session, you’ll learn:

There will be hands-on exercises and tools to create and shape snappy dialogue that will engage your audience.

What attendees had to say ...

Great organization for a sound approach to the art of dialogue.

It was inspiring. I particularly remember the sound of silence. That it can be full of stuff. And ways to check your dialogue to not be boring.

Julia and Jeanne were very responsive to all questions and provided a different slant on writing dialogue.

A Crash Course in Novel Writing

One of the biggest obstacles any writer faces is writing the first draft of a novel. As Nora Ephron said, “I think the hardest part about writing is writing.” 

Your story matters, and "someday" is not the time to write it. If something has been holding you back from writing your novel—whether it be lack of time, lack of motivation, lack of knowing how to write it, or just plain fear—then Grant Faulkner, former Executive Director of National Novel Writing Month, can help you get your creative juices flowing and take the first steps to planning your novel.

The first half will explore what's holding you back, and the second half you'll do a burst of writing exercises to break through your fears and demonstrate how quickly you can not only get words on the page, but also come up with a long list of ideas for character creation, conflicts and plot, so be prepared to write.

The presentation will cover:

What attendees have said ...

"Loved the writing exercises! Instructor was terrific—very generous in sharing his expertise."

"Very useful information was conveyed. The exercises helped tie it all together. He was easy to understand and congenial."

"If you're doing a writing challenge like National Novel Writing Month, or just a personal challenge to push through your first draft, Grant's advice will help!"

One-on-One with J.T. Ellison

J.T. Ellison is not only a New York Times and USA Today bestselling author of more than 30 novels, she's also an EMMY® award winning co-host of the literary TV show A WORD ON WORDS, and one of the most generous professional writers in the industry.

As always, our Symposium one-on-one conversations are a community event. While Jeanne Veillette Bowerman and J.T. converse, your questions will be addressed, too!

Pour a beverage, sit back and relax. Join the dialogue.

Resources from this session:
J.T. Ellison's Website
J.T.'s Substack
J.T.'s Newsletter
Reckless Creatives Podcast with John Truby
Symposium: "Self-Publishing: The Fundamentals and Beyond"

Concept is King: Elevating Story Concepts

Marketable stories need elevated concepts.

We're all told the logline is important. But what makes the logline so crucial is the concept the logline contains. It’s the easily communicable concept that gets producers and executives excited. Why? Because they know they can more easily sell that concept to their bosses and eventually the audience.

But what makes a good concept? And how do you make sure you fulfill its promise on the page?

In this symposium, veteran screenwriter and teacher Tom Vaughan defines concept and shows how to exploit it in your narrative projects.

This session will offer a whole new insight in what is meant by commercial viability.

The presentation will cover:

What attendees have said ...

"Picked up some useful writers tricks. And strengthened my conviction in keeping concept front and center."

"Great stuff! Tom definitely knows his stuff.  I'm familiar with nearly everything he discussed, as I'm a veteran screenwriter myself, but it was nice to hear it from someone else! "

"I loved everything about this! It's something I can take with me in every screenplay I write in the future."

"I loved the concise information that I can put to good use."

"I learned aspects that I can apply to the screenplays I have already written in order to improve them."

"Fantastic talk. I loved the whole thing. Tom is extremely knowledgeable and conveys his thoughts/teachings clearly. Overall, one of the best talks I have attended."

"Probably one of the best classes I have taken. Immediate ACTIONABLE instruction."

"Concept is King; Elevating Story Concepts has already impacted the way I'm thinking about my next screenplay. I'm confident that following the information Tom shared will help ensure my story ideas are marketable, attractive to other industry professionals, and worth spending the necessary time and effort on a story idea before I put in all the work. I wish I had understood these concepts more fully before writing my first screenplay, but I will incorporate this knowledge into every story idea I test out from the moment going forward. As an industry Reader, I can appreciate how Tom has put into words what often goes wrong in a story, and understanding how much impact the story's concept has on it's overall success is a powerful tool. I can't say enough about how helpful this event has been in terms of how I will relay feedback to other writers and how I will approach my own writing from this point on."

Indie Filmmaking Crash Course, Part 2: Navigating Post-Production

In Part Two, we delve into post-production essentials that can elevate your film to new heights. From the intricate art of editing and sound design to the transformative power of music and color grading, this symposium offers a comprehensive exploration of the creative elements that shape the final product.

Discover strategies for navigating film festivals, understanding distribution channels, and mastering marketing tactics to ensure your film reaches its intended audience.

Gain valuable insights into selling and self-releasing films, and learn how to seamlessly transition from one project to the next in the ever-evolving landscape of independent filmmaking.

Topics Covered:

Indie Filmmaking Crash Course, Part 1: From Script to Screen

In this symposium, we delve into critical aspects of independent filmmaking, guiding you through the transition from script to production, engaging with investors, crafting pitch decks, managing rewrites, networking, casting, budgeting, and scouting locations.

Discover the intricacies of SAG regulations, contracts, and administrative processes, as well as the importance of physical and mental health during the filmmaking journey. Uncover the secrets of routines, habits, and creative processes that contribute to successful filmmaking endeavors.

Gain insights into the Hollywood landscape, the art of communication, and the significance of setting the right energy on set.

And explore the dynamics of relationships, crew chemistry, and handling unforeseen challenges, empowering you to navigate the unpredictable journey of indie filmmaking with confidence and finesse.

Topics Covered: