San Miguel Virtual Workshop

Virtual Workshops

Social Media for Shy Writers: What you Need to Know to Sell Your Book with Sara DiVello

Memoir
Highly-Interactive Online Workshop
Saturday, October 3, 2026
12:30 – 3:30 p.m.
3 hours
$150 USD

Whether you love it, loathe it, or have yet to even join it, social media is a necessary, effective, and free tool you can use to help land an agent, net a book deal, and ultimately sell more books. In her corporate career, Sara built and ran PR programs for multi-billion-dollar companies. Now this former PR executive will share how these hard-won, insider hacks can help writers build a brand and attract followers. We will look and what works, what doesn’t, and why, as well as address common questions and worries such as: What if you can’t think of anything to say? What should you post, how often, and when? How do you attract the #Bookstagram community (book influencers) and how do you reach readers? Sara will demystify social media so you understand how to powerfully leverage this tool to best meet your goals.

How to Jump Start Your Memoir with Ann Hood

Memoir
Highly-Interactive Online Workshop
Saturday, October 10, 2026
12:30 – 3:30 p.m.
3 hours
$150 USD

You have a story that you want to tell, but don’t know where to start. This online workshop will help you identify that story and find the best way to begin telling it. Through readings and class discussions, you will gain a better understanding of structure and story arc and the elements of memoir writing and be ready to jumpstart your memoir.

Seven Literary Strategies for Depicting Trauma or Seven Ways to Write about Trauma with Susan Brown

Memoir
Highly-Interactive Online Workshop
Saturday, October 17, 2026
12:30 – 3:30 p.m.
3 hours
$150 USD

One challenge for writers of literary memoir and fiction depicting a pivotal physical, mental, or emotional trauma without traumatizing readers. A high percentage of readers will balk at nightmarish graphic details. The great writers understood this. In an interactive workshop with Joyce scholar Susan Brown, PhD, study how canonized and Nobel-Prize winning literary masters from Boris Pasternak and William Faulkner to Lorrie Moore solved this problem. Based on prompts from Dr. Brown, workshop members will attempt to apply any or all of seven literary techniques for depicting a traumatic event essential to their storyline.

The Memoir Writer’s Playground with Hope Edelman

Memoir
Highly-Interactive Online Workshop
Saturday, October 24, 2026
12:30 – 3:30 p.m.
3 hours
$150 USD

Most writers have a dominant style, cadence, and voice they rely on. It’s like an individual, literary default position that feels comfortable and works. At the same time, more of the same doesn’t challenge us to stretch and grow as writers. That’s why changing up one’s style with intention can lead to some fun and unexpected surprises. And who doesn’t like to play? In this workshop we’ll experiment with three non-traditional nonfiction forms that will stretch your brain in new directions and expand your concept of story. Let’s see what comes up!