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!"

More Info:
Pipeline Artists
New live Symposium sessions
Watch on-demand sessions
Enter Pipeline contests
Subscribe: YouTube Channel
X: @PipelineArtists
Pipeline OG Podcasts

Corey Mandell has long been considered one of the best screenwriting instructors in the industry. Jeanne should know ... she's taken his classes.

Jeanne chats with Corey, diving into essentials that every screenwriter needs to know, including what it takes to launch your career in the current marketplace. Plus, we'll sprinkle your questions into the conversation.

*Join Corey's upcoming webinar on October 10, 2026, "Become an Even Better Writer"

About Corey:

Corey Mandell is an award-winning playwright and screenwriter who has written projects for Ridley Scott, Harrison Ford, Julia Roberts, Matt Damon, John Travolta, Warner Brothers, Universal, 20th Century Fox, Fox 2000, Fox Family, Working Title, Paramount, Live Planet, Beacon Films, Touchstone, Trilogy, Radiant, Kopelson Entertainment and Walt Disney Pictures.

Corey is also a distinguished instructor at UCLA and teaches highly sought-after Zoom workshops offering cutting edge training to writers across the world.

Over 3,500 of his graduates have launched careers by selling spec scripts, getting staffed on top TV shows, writing hit movies, even winning Academy Awards.

*Get Corey's free masterclass on breaking in (the one he mentions in this session):“Launch Your Career: A Practical Roadmap That Works” where Corey shares the specific strategies writers have used to land their first ever writing job.

- Corey's website
- Sign up for Corey's emails
- Corey on X: @coreymandell
- Corey on IG: @coreymandellworkshops

Recorded September 17, 2026

More Info:
Pipeline Artists
New live Symposium sessions
Watch on-demand sessions
Enter Pipeline contests
Subscribe: YouTube Channel
X: @PipelineArtists
Pipeline OG Podcasts

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.

Resources:

Slideshow Presentation
Rea’s Website
Rea on IG: @reafreyauthor
Rea’s Book Coaching

Rea's new book, Dear Mother: A Thriller (out April 28, 2026)

Lauren's new book, Indie Darling (out in July, 2026)

Lauren’s Website
Lauren on IG: @laurennossett
Lauren on Substack
Lauren’s Developmental Editing Services

Nashville Authors

Rea’s Symposium Host Page
Lauren’s Symposium Host Page

Relevant On-Demand Symposiums:

“How to Approach Editing Without Losing Your Sh*t” by Rea Frey
"The Book Skeleton Workshop: How to Structure Your Story Before Writing a Single Word" by Rea Frey

More Info:
Pipeline Artists
New live Symposium sessions
Watch on-demand sessions
Enter Pipeline contests
Subscribe: YouTube Channel
X: @PipelineArtists
Pipeline OG Podcasts