Nicole Kelly was working as a teacher in Ballarat, Victoria, and had just become a mum when she first enrolled in the Australian Writers’ Centre’s Creative Writing Stage 1 course. She wanted to stay on track with her writing and invest in building her craft. Since then, Nicole has gone on to publish two novels: her adult historical fiction debut Lament, and her latest, a middle-grade novel called Shifters, (Hawkeye Publishing).
“It is easy to lose yourself when you become a mother and I wanted to use the courses at the Australian Writers' Centre as a way of keeping me on track and inspired with my writing,” Nicole says.
A course for every stage of the journey
Nicole first came to the Australian Writers' Centre when she was working as a teacher and had just become a mum. Writing has always been a creative outlet for her – never a source of pressure, always a source of joy – and the self-paced nature of the courses suited her busy life perfectly.
“I loved the fact that the courses could be completed at home in my own time – and I had access for a long time!” she says. “Life sometimes gets super busy and knowing the courses were there when I wanted them was always reassuring rather than putting pressure on me.”
What kept Nicole coming back was the sheer range of courses on offer. “I loved how many different courses are provided by AWC – when I was writing narrative I went through Creative Writing Stage 1. When I was wanting to expand my ability to write non-fiction I worked through Travel Writing and Freelance Writing. When I needed to get motivated, I did a Creative Writing 30-day Bootcamp. There is always something to suit my writing needs!”
“The courses are a wonderful tool for writers,” Nicole says. “Writing is a craft, one that you need to work on in order to get better. Learning from experts through the AWC courses is so beneficial and being online means I’m not disadvantaged because I’m a regional writer.”
Beyond the courses, Nicole found a wider community through the Australian Writers' Centre. “I have loved the AWC courses and the podcast So You Want To Be A Writer because it has given me a community,” she says. “Writing can be a lonely process – and a slow process. Being able to listen to the podcast and hear about other writers makes my walks or drives a little more inspiring.”
From Melbourne to Kyoto
Nicole’s latest novel, Shifters, draws on her lifelong love of Japan. She has been learning Japanese since high school and through university, has taught the language in Australia for several years, and has travelled to Japan many times.
“Most recently, my children and I went again to Kyoto and I was just mesmerised by how beautiful that city is. It seemed like the perfect setting for a story,” she says.
Shifters follows Emily, a young girl from Melbourne who moves to Japan with her father. Nothing feels familiar – she doesn’t speak the language, she doesn’t understand the culture, and she’s never felt more alone. But everything changes in Kyoto when she meets Koji, a boy with a mysterious connection to the spirit world. As ancient magic stirs and dark forces begin to close in, Emily is drawn into a hidden world of shapeshifters and secrets.
“I wanted to write a story with elements of whimsy and fantasy as well as the normal,” Nicole says. “Every child knows what it’s like to feel alone and the thrill of making a new friend – these are a central part of Shifters as well.”
Nicole is especially excited that her students will finally be able to read one of her books. “Shifters is my first middle-grade novel to be published and I am so excited that my students will be able to read this one! Previously I had an adult historical fiction novel released during Covid, which they weren’t able to read.”
Building networks and coming back to Hawkeye
“I was lucky enough to speak at the Port Fairy Literary Weekend, hosted by Blarney Books, about Lament and it was such an incredible feeling!” she says.
Nicole’s publishing journey began when her first novel, Lament – a fictional reimagining of the Kelly story if the Glenrowan siege had been a success – was runner-up in the Hawkeye Publishing manuscript prize. That led to a contract with Hawkeye, and despite the challenges of launching a book during lockdowns, it was an experience Nicole loved.
When Shifters was ready, Nicole didn’t hesitate to send it to Carolyn Martinez and the team at Hawkeye. “When Carolyn emailed back saying they would love to publish it, I still squealed in excitement,” she says.
“I think establishing networks with other writers, publishers and editors is a really important part of writing,” Nicole says. “Championing those around you and congratulating them on their success.”
Writing in stolen moments
Nicole works as a Learning Specialist in a primary school – a very busy job – and finds that writing comes in bursts, especially on weekends and over the holidays. “It means that often writing projects take a little longer, but it also means that I enjoy writing them! I try not to put pressure on myself, I write what inspires me.”
Her advice for anyone considering an AWC course is emphatic. “Do it! Calling yourself a writer is so incredibly difficult to do. Everyone has imposter syndrome, but completing an AWC course gives you the confidence and courage to start calling yourself a writer. It also, most importantly, gets you writing, talking about writing and meeting other writers!”
You can follow Nicole’s writing journey on Instagram and Twitter.
Courses taken at Australian Writers' Centre:
