Sunday, June 7th, 2026

Live Zoom Seminar from 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM ET

🌍 Class Times by Time Zone: Los Angeles (PDT): 7:00 AM – 10:00 AM / Chicago (CDT): 9:00 AM – 12:00 PM / New York (EDT): 10:00 AM – 1:00 PM / London (BST): 3:00 PM – 6:00 PM / Berlin (CEST): 4:00 PM – 7:00 PM

Any questions about this class? Use the Chat Button to talk with us.

The session will be recorded and available to watch after the seminar concludes. The recording will be available for 30 days (and you can download it and watch whenever, but you need to download within 30 days).

Instructor Bio

Instructor Sanibel Lazar's self-published debut, To Have and Have More, achieved bestseller status thanks to relentless social media campaigning. Her second book, Does This Make Me Look Rich?, is forthcoming from Union Square (2027). Sanibel's writing appears in NYmag, ELLE, Air Mail, Literary Hub, and more. You can find Sanibel on TikTok, Instagram, and Sad Rich Girls (via Bindery).

Meet the Teaching Artist:

In the Writer's Studio: Sanibel Lazar on Transforming Literary Talent into Digital Currency

Who is this class for?

This online writing seminar is for authors at any stage — debut or established — who want to build an audience on social media but don't know where to start (or have started and feel stuck). Whether you have a book coming out, a manuscript in progress, or a backlist that deserves more attention, this class will give you a practical framework for creating content that actually works. No prior social media experience required.

What to expect:

Being a brilliant writer doesn't automatically make you a social media natural. Why does creating a social media post feel Sisyphean when you're capable of writing an entire book? Because catering to ultra-short attention spans and writing great prose are not quite the same skill. Success on social media requires a combination of brand building, self-promotion, and a clearly defined product — your book.

In this live Zoom seminar, Sanibel Lazar will spend roughly 60% of the session covering the basics of video content (Reels, TikTok, YouTube). You'll discuss how the algorithm works, what's considered a "good" amount of views, the best time to post, how to engage with followers — and you'll get the tools to make your first videos.

The remaining 40% will focus on how to develop a content strategy that aligns with the book or collection you're selling. The most common mistake Sanibel sees writers committing on social media — including bestselling authors far more established in their careers — is making ads for their book. If you're a fledgling writer, you most likely won't build an audience if all you're talking about is yourself and your writing. To get eyeballs on your content and to amass followers, you need to provide what people scroll for: entertainment.

What are the writing goals?

In this seminar, students will come away with a working content strategy tailored to their book, the practical skills to film and edit their first video posts, and a clear understanding of how to translate their writing into engaging social media content. Sanibel will provide real-time feedback on strategy questions throughout the session.

COURSE OUTLINE

This is a single three-hour session covering both practical skills and big-picture strategy.

Part 1 — Practical Skills: You'll discuss the categories of video content (writer life / educational / trends / montage) and how to turn your book into digestible, compelling content. Sanibel will share her best practices for engagement (the art of strategic reduction: making complex themes and ideas graspable), the traps she fell into, and the differences between posting on TikTok and Instagram. She'll also describe what she's learned about how social media followers translate beyond the app (pre-sales, podcasts).

Part 2 — Big-Picture Strategy: The session will shift to how to approach social media with the same clarity and intention you bring to your writing. You'll discuss how to think like an editorial director, treating your content as a mini publication dedicated exclusively to featuring you and your book. Sanibel will break down the difference between video and static posts (and how to use both effectively), plus how to create engaging content that doesn't rely on the same tired milestone posts. You'll also cover the parasocial dynamic — what to share, what to withhold, and how to maintain boundaries while keeping potential readers invested. Finally, you'll analyze why bestseller status doesn't necessarily translate to success on social media.

COURSE TAKEAWAYS:

• Think like a product marketer: positioning yourself and your work
• Establishing name and book recognition (without being repetitive)
• Differentiating yourself from the sea of other authors online
• Analyzing performance: what's working, what's not, and how to adjust
• Logistics of content: best practices for filming, how to edit efficiently, how often to post
• What to avoid: common writer content mistakes and why bestselling authors don't automatically succeed on TikTok
• How to use "clickbait principles" to make content that "stops the scroll"
• Write catchy headlines

Can't Make It Live?

No problem! The session will be recorded and available to watch after the seminar concludes. The recording will be available for 30 days (and you can download it and watch whenever, but you need to download within 30 days).

PAYMENT OPTIONS:

Tuition is $99 USD. You can pay for the course in full or use Shop Pay or Affirm to pay over time with equal Monthly Payments. Both options are available at checkout.

ONLINE COURSE STRUCTURE:

• Instructor: Sanibel Lazar
• Sunday, June 7th, 2026
• Live Zoom Seminar from 10:00 AM - 1:00 PM ET
• Tuition is $99 USD.
• Seminar is fully ONLINE and meets via Zoom.
• The session will be recorded and available to watch after the seminar concludes. The recording will be available for 30 days (and you can download it and watch whenever, but you need to download within 30 days).