Aga is a sharp, kind, engaging person, who sets the tone in her workshop immediately with calm and focused energy. She easily navigates the range of personalities in the room, encouraging us to discuss our differing opinions and styles in a constructive manner. Aga is widely read and well-versed in many films and television shows that she easily integrates into the conversation to serve as examples for topics we covered, such as conflict, character development and point of view. Her instructional style does not feel like lectures, but open discussions of the building blocks of storytelling. After learning about a certain topic, we were invited to practice with a writing prompt and then share aloud with the group. In my own prior fifteen years as a writing educator, I’ve never seen a more inventive or effective set of writing exercises. They gave us freedom to use different voices while also slyly requiring us to look inside and tap into our core selves. I’ve attended many workshops, seminars and conferences and have taken graduate courses in creative writing, and oftentimes the instructor’s ego has steered the focus on him/herself. However, Aga was more than willing to talk about her own writing and teaching journey with humility and heart. She made us feel that we were the most important people in the room.
In the one-on-one sessions, she asked the bigger questions about concepts in my novel. Working through the questions has allowed me to get over some stumbling blocks in my manuscript. She took the time to get to know me as a person as well as a writer, really digging into what I was trying to say in my work as a whole. I came away from the experience energized and ready to keep writing.
AGA Lesiewicz - WRITER 