“Çağla delivered an invaluable workshop at Central European University in Vienna, where she engaged students from various disciplines, from undergraduates to PhD candidates, in a two-hour creative writing and critical response session. Her ability to make the material accessible and engaging for all participants, combined with her charisma, breadth of knowledge, and exceptional presentation skills, made the workshop a resounding success. I highly recommend her tailored, professional workshops.”
Dr. Gilchrist Hall, lecturer & writer
“It has been a joy to work with Çağla and benefit from her editing services. She has been timely, committed, and professional, approaching the work with curiosity and passion. Throughout the process, she offered insightful edits, asked thought-provoking questions, and provided wonderful suggestions. How could the work be improved? How could I dig deeper into the story? Her comments challenged me to evaluate my writing critically, helping me decide what to keep and what to cut. She encouraged me to experiment with my language, making my writing more engaging and creative, rather than dull—especially when I tended to open chapters with similar scenes. Her love for and dedication to her craft is truly inspiring. I am genuinely happy to have worked with her.”
Ahmad, writer & activist
“I’ve come to realise that writing isn’t about knowing the right words immediately, but about listening closely enough to notice the ones already murmuring within. And that exploring between languages, even in all its imperfection, can be a space where we meet ourselves — and others — anew. In Çağla’s courses “From Draft 0 to Publication: 10 Weeks of Prose and Poetry” and “English and Turkish – Creative Writing | İngilizce ve Türkçe – Yaratıcı Yazarlık”, she gently guided me to a voice I didn’t know I carried — one that seeks to speak across and beyond languages and places. Her open, passionate yet sensitive way of holding space allowed me to explore writing not as an outcome, but as a living practice — a porous ground for curiosity, feeling, and risk. Through her encouragement, I came to realise that writing might actually be an integral part of my performative vocabulary — ironically, and beautifully, a way to write toward that which I once assumed resisted being captured in words. With care and precision, Çağla creates spaces where writing can become not just a tool, but a comrade. And isn’t that what we long for — to make space for the unspoken, a gesture of connection?”
– Vivien Tauchmann, movement artist & cultural worker
“Çağla provided valuable insights and tips as well as thought-provoking prompts, and private writing time was balanced with sharing our work with the group and exchanging helpful feedback. As an instructor, Çağla is warm and approachable, and the friendly environment established within the workshop made me comfortable with this kind of sharing—something I usually shy away from. I was also grateful for Çağla’s ability to address and work through common but rarely discussed emotions like self-doubt that can hinder writers from pursuing their goals, which is not something I’ve encountered from instructors in other writing workshops I’ve taken. Çağla’s genuine passion for helping new writers grow was both enriching and inspiring, and I highly recommend her workshops to anyone seeking a push to take their work to the next level.”
– Agnesa S., artist & writer
"I joined an online writing and zine workshop series led by Çağla at a time when I felt uninspired in my writing practice. Her prompts, the way she structured the sessions, and her supportive approach unlocked my creativity, and I ended up writing a heartfelt, eight-page short story during our time together. She has immense literary knowledge and a hands-on approach that makes the writing process easier for participants. I highly recommend her workshops to anyone seeking inspiration, encouragement, practical tips, or theoretical knowledge—you can find all of that in Çağla's sessions. She is also genuinely interested in connecting with participants, which I deeply appreciate." Cemre Nur Öztürk, Author and Workshop Host
“This seminar was a great inspiration for me, regarding my creative process during this time. The instructor created a completely safe space for us to express ourselves and share personal thoughts, concerns and experiences. The seminar was also enriched in writing material, references, and instructions regarding its main topic. I would happily attend it again.” Polyxeni, writer & filmmaker
“During the days when I was overwhelmed with stress, Çağla truly saved me. She was a tremendous help in organizing and developing my project. I couldn’t have done it without her support. Her realistic and compassionate approach sets her apart from everyone else.”
Seda Y.“Çağla and her courses are truly brilliant. I had the chance to attend one based on a friend’s recommendation, and it exceeded my expectations. She structures her course in such an unorthodox way that it unexpectedly unlocks my creative expression. She perfectly balances theory and practice, giving enough freedom while being rightly critical of “overstudied craft.” Her feedback is thoughtfully articulated, never missing a detail. Thanks to her guidance, my work has reached the next level.”
Anne-Marie, writer & academic & artist
“I participated in a writing workshop series led by Çağla. The sessions were truly amazing, thanks to her professional approach. They were well-structured with spot-on contents enriched with artistic references and transmitted in a way to inspire and motivate participants. I particularly admired her coaching style which I believe shows that everybody can create texts when guided via well-designed prompts. Çağla, as a gentle and humble soul, also led the creation of an intimate atmosphere during the workshop sessions, which helped us to feel at ease and to express ourselves fully. It was a great pleasure to meet and work with her.”
D. Drouet, writer & academic
“Attending the “Prose & Poetry Workshop with a Reading Event and Zine Publication” was an unforgettable experience! Çağla was incredibly helpful and brought so much joy and energy to each session. Her guidance made the creative process seamless and inspiring—I never realized how quickly time passed while we worked together.
What truly stood out was the supportive atmosphere Çağla fostered, which allowed all course members to produce amazing pieces by the end of the workshop. The final reading event and zine publication were the perfect culmination of our efforts. Thank you, Çağla, for such a wonderful journey in prose and poetry! I would strongly recommend it to whoever is interested!” Aras
"Working with Cagla during a weekend-long writing workshop was an enriching experience. I have left the workshop with so much more writing, future inspirations and draft ideas than I thought I would have had. Cagla was very flexible to the needs of our group, changed the content according to our tendencies and kept us interested throughout the course. Her guidance helped me write a short story in English for the first time, which I was not expecting to do. It was both informative and interactive. Cagla is genuinely interested in the writer in her students and it shows in how she leads the space. She followed up even after the class to make sure we did not leave with any hanging questions. I am glad to have worked with her." Gizem
“Çağla has a talent to make you ask questions to yourself about your own writing style you never knew you actually had a clear answer to. I enjoyed getting to know myself a little better in her workshop. Highly recommended!” – Alexander Ossia
“I was so impressed by Çağla’s course and your insightfulness! I honestly didn’t expect so much from a VHS course, but this was far above my expectations. I really enjoyed it, and your feedback was incredibly helpful. I left feeling inspired and wanting to learn more.” Gertruda G.
caglaaribal.com 