Writing with Lesley

PLAY! is my credo as a writing instructor. Step into the sandbox of your imagination! Discover. Explore. Revise.

What matters most to me as a writing instructor is reinforcing your own faith in the importance your stories and in the power of your own voice.

I support generative in-class writing, using prompts that offer writers a wide berth. If you are a novelist, you use the prompts as they relate to your novel. If you are an essayist, you use them as the basis of personal essays. If you’re exploring creative writing for the first time, you let the prompt manifest in whatever style of written expression you like.

Because writers often face the paralyzing nature of our Inner Critics, mindfulness sneaks into my writing workshops, too. I share specific mindfulness practices that offer new ways in to disarming the Critic.

I believe good writing begins with good reading. All of my workshops include reading and discussing well-written published stories and poems and learning to read closely as writers.

I offer writing workshops throughout the year, generally through UCLA Extension Writers’ Program, Skirball Cultural Center and occasionally Runcible Pen private, small group workshops.

I also work with writers 1-1. My 1-1 work is best suited to writers making their way through a longer project and writers interested in creative writing but not comfortable in a workshop setting.