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. By understanding how scope shapes audience reach and how emotional relatability fuels momentum, attendees will learn how to intentionally design stories that resonate on a larger scale .
Through clear frameworks and memorable examples, this session equips writers to move beyond instinct and into purposeful craft. Attendees will gain insight into aligning character wants and needs, building meaningful opposition, and creating stories that feel both deeply human and widely accessible. The result: writing that not only matters—but moves the commercial sales needle.
Takeaways for Attendees:
How to balance scope and plot to increase the commercial reach of a story
A practical understanding of wants vs. needs and how they drive transformation and reader satisfaction
Tools to build compelling opposition (physical, emotional, systemic, or relational) that strengthens narrative impact
The Plot Wheel
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.
Attendees will leave with a practical, scene-by-scene understanding of how to build tension, deepen character, and deliver a satisfying resolution. Whether you’re drafting your first novel or refining a manuscript, The Plot Wheel offers a roadmap and checklist that aligns character transformation with reader emotion—ensuring your story doesn’t just work, but resonates.
Takeaways for Attendees:
A clear 8-step framework to structure any story from opening “Handshake” to final Resolution
Tools to increase reader engagement by aligning character goals with emotional stakes
Practical strategies to strengthen pacing, tension, and commercial appeal in your writing
Beyond the Happy Ending: The Psychology of the Rom Com
You already know they’ll kiss in the rain. You know she’ll overcome that self doubt with a moment of empowerment (and maybe a new outfit). You know he'll realize he was wrong all along. And you'll feel it every single time.
This course digs into the psychology behind why romantic comedies work so well on us—the attachment science behind the slow burn, the dopamine hit of the first kiss, and what our favorite on-screen relationships say about what we actually want in real life. This journey through the tropes and the psychology of the genre will aid the way you write and cause you to think twice about the lessons we have taken away about love.
The Said and the Unsaid: Writing Your Characters Through Dialogue
Great dialogue works on two levels: what’s said on the surface and what’s happening underneath.
A smile that doesn’t reach the eyes. A pause that stretches too long. A joke that hides a wound. Dialogue isn’t just conversation, it’s character, conflict, and subtext on the page.
In this session, we’ll explore how great dialogue reveals motive, deepens relationships, and drives plot. You’ll study memorable exchanges, analyze what makes iconic lines unforgettable, and learn how to translate body language and subtext into compelling prose.
Perfect for writers who want sharper, more dynamic dialogue, this session will give attendees practical tools to strengthen both verbal and nonverbal communication in their work.
You’ll learn how to:
Write dialogue that sounds natural
Use dialogue tags effectively (and avoid common mistakes)
Reveal character through subtext and contradiction
Craft dialogue that creates tension and moves the plot forward
Layer action and body language into conversation
Put wisdom into the mouths of your characters
Shape your characters’ distinct voices
You’ll leave with stronger dialogue instincts and techniques you can apply to your current and future projects.
Deconstructing Books for Craft and Marketability: Read Like a Writer
“Read, read, read,” William Faulkner famously advised.
But reading alone is not enough. To grow as writers, we have to study the page and ask not just what we loved or hated, but why it worked and how it was built.
In this session, you’ll learn how to turn every book you read into a craft lesson. We’ll analyze openings, character construction, themes, and endings to uncover the mechanics beneath the magic.
Because the truth is, one of the most powerful (and affordable) ways to improve your writing is by studying published books. Instead of guessing what works, you’ll learn directly from stories that have already earned their place on the shelf. Think of it as a hands-on education in craft without the price tag of an MFA.
Together, we’ll “take apart” successful novels to see how they function: how authors hook readers, build momentum, and deliver satisfying endings that helped them secure publication in the first place.
You’ll learn how to:
Move beyond “I liked it” to meaningful craft analysis
Deconstruct powerful opening lines and scenes
Identify themes and motifs
Diagnose why an ending succeeded or fell short
Break down published works to understand what makes them marketable
Apply what you learn directly to your own writing
By the end, you’ll have a practical framework for reading with intention, analyzing like a writer, and turning every book you pick up into a masterclass in storytelling.
What Attendees Have Said ...
"I especially liked the use of examples to show (in addition to telling...) Lauren's points. I will use the slides to not only dissect other works, but use the points to improve my own writing."
"Great presentation by someone well read with a lot of critical thinking and analysis experience. Great PowerPoint. In recent years, I've seen some writing classes presented by experienced authors and editors who just talk. I really appreciate classes that are accompanied by a good quality, well-organized and informative PowerPoint, so that I can refer back to it whenever I want to. This PowerPoint was extraordinary, really miniature craft articles."
"I loved how Lauren broke everything down and offered clear examples of the way stories work and how fully realized characters and themes need to be delivered to readers. The elements were presented elegantly and clearly."
"The clear presentation of points to evaluate as I read and view was more helpful than other presentations I've attended on this topic. The encouragement to explore the 'why' of my likes and dislikes made 'analysis' feel less daunting."
Proven Framework for Successful Collaboration
Writing can be lonely. You brainstorm alone, draft alone, revise alone. Maybe you are lucky enough to have a beta reader or editor at the end. But what if you could build the story with someone from the beginning?
We know what you’re asking: Will I lose creative control? What if our styles clash? What if one of us writes faster? How do we even start?
In this candid, craft-focused session, authors Lauren Nossett and Rea Frey share what they have learned from co-writing together, from early brainstorming sessions to managing deadlines and dividing responsibilities.
Attendees will walk away with a practical, step-by-step framework for successful collaboration.
You will learn how to:
Find the right creative partner and build a strong author community
Brainstorm collaboratively without sacrificing your voice
Establish a writing schedule and clear expectations
Divide tasks strategically based on individual strengths
Navigate creative disagreements productively
Give and receive constructive feedback in service of the storyUse collaboration to expand reach and strengthen promotion
By the end of the session, you will have the tools and confidence to decide whether co-writing is right for you and, if so, how to do it successfully.
Directing Actors: Practical Tools for Writers and Emerging Directors
Improve your writing with deeper insights into the filmmaking process.
Directing actors is often viewed as something that happens only after a script is finished and production begins—but understanding the actor process can dramatically improve storytelling long before cameras roll.
In this educational session, writer and director Anthony DiBlasi breaks down the fundamentals of working with actors in a way that is accessible to writers, emerging directors, and storytellers at any stage of their career.
The session focuses on practical tools that help translate intention on the page into authentic, playable performance. Using real-world examples from rehearsals and set experience, this session explores how directors communicate with actors, how actors interpret scripts, why certain types of direction unlock stronger performances, and how writers can shape scenes that invite behavior rather than simply describe emotion.
By the end of this presentation, attendees will gain actionable techniques for writing and directing, and leave with a stronger understanding of how story is translated from the page into human behavior.
The session will cover:
The director’s primary responsibility: shaping story through performance.
How actors interpret scripts and translate text into behavior.
Why emotion-based or “result” direction often fails—and what to use instead.
Rehearsal, blocking, and finding playable beats within a scene.
Letting go of rigid ideas and allowing actors to become collaborators.
How writing with performance in mind leads to stronger, more producible scripts.
Q&A with practical, real-world advice.
What attendees have said ...
"I liked the concrete examples he gave from his own experience. I also enjoyed him going though his scripts line by line and sharing the prompts he'd shared with the actors to get them to approach their performance in a certain way."
Surveillance: What is It, How to Write It
This symposium explores the reality of physical and technical surveillance so authors can write more compelling mysteries and thrillers. Additionally, as an indirect benefit, attendees will also learn how they can better protect themselves against cyber criminals and identity theft, and ensure safety and security for all the tech in our daily lives.
Adam Sikes is a former paramilitary officer with the CIA and an expert in physical and technical surveillance, and he will examine the following topics:
What is surveillance and what is the point
The different kinds of surveillance
Surveillance methods and techniques
What makes us vulnerable
How to protect against surveillance
Q&A
At the conclusion of this class, attendees will have a deeper understanding of how to follow someone, detect if someone is following them, monitor phone and social media activity, the vulnerabilities of location sharing and GPS, password and identity security, commercially available technical and surveillance tools, and a host of skills and methods. These insights will make your writing more compelling and authentic to readers, helping hold them to the page.
What attendees have said ...
"Truly could have talked about all of this for hours."
"Adam's presentation was amazing! It's invaluable to get insights from an actual former spy!"
"Far exceeded my expectations, not only for authenticity in my writing, but also for protecting myself from cybercrime."
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
10 Questions to Figure Out What Your Memoir is REALLY About
Memoir is a deeply challenging genre for any writer seeking to parlay real-life events into a story that connects with total strangers. As Mary Karr observes, “a fiction writer starts with meaning and then manufactures events to represent it; a memoirist starts with events, then derives meaning from them.” Deriving meaning is a lengthy, complex process and not at all obvious to any writer who attempts it.
One big challenge at the outset is figuring out the “container” for your book: Where to begin, where to end, what to include, what to exclude, and how to tell a compelling story about your transformational journey.
This is a tall order! This symposium explores a framework of 10 essential questions to help you make critical choices about your book’s structure and to see the big picture.
This presentation will cover:
A step-by-step overview of the 10 questions addressing a range of considerations, including your “why” for the book, its point, the archetype shaping your story, nailing your book’s concept, defining the ideal reader, and more.
Brief analysis of how well-written memoirs are put together.
A chance to work on one or two of the 10 questions and receive group feedback.
You will learn:
Strategies for putting your story into a deeper, broader context
To understand the strengths and weaknesses of your approach to your story
To recognize common pitfalls of the memoir genre
Factors to consider when deciding the scope of your story, including the beginning and ending.
What attendees have said ...
"As with a good author, a good speaker is one you can connect to; one who can bring feelings bubbling to the surface, and one who leaves you satisfied with the content covered but also wanting to know more. In this webinar, Amy L. Bernstein covered familiar topics in a way which seemed to carry more weight, more meaning and more impact than other presentations I have attended on the same topics. I am grateful for the time invested. I will be on the look-out for more of her work, as well as more offerings from SYMPOSIUM. I trust them to find speakers with equal impact as Ms. Bernstein. Thank you for this offering."
"Very informative. Redirected my thinking related to several ideas related to my memoir story 'plot.'"
