Allyssa Carlton 3 weeks ago

I loved this course! I hadn't completed any sort of structured writing course before so this was an incredibly helpful and confidence inspiring place to come to.

Nat was great. I think her way of providing feedback may have cured my fear of it. :) She appears to be very knowledgeable and eager to provide help, and she was very easy to understand and made her points clearly. I would definitely like to attend any other courses she tutors.

To my great surprise, I enjoyed the writing the most. I was quite content to sit down and complete the homework assignments and put them up for feedback. Already I know that my knowledge and skills have improved.

I feel a lot more confident in sitting down to write, knowing that it doesn't have to be perfect on the first pass, and knowing that there is guidance out there for me for future projects.

Grant Saxon 3 weeks ago

The course has inspired me to go to the next step to expand my writing horizons and make writing a bigger part of my life.

Nat was great. Her feedback was clear and considered, and she was very timely posting it each Monday morning.

Thanks for the course. Keep doing what you do!

Grant Follett 3 weeks ago

I have often thought about doing more writing but felt I needed a push. Because of a move overseas, I have more time to devote to it.

I found it really helped dislodge some blockages for me on writing. It gave me some exercises to try to get writing - and I really loved the message that the number one reason your book won't be published is because you haven't written it.

I really liked how it got me in the 'mode' for writing. I also liked how flexible it was.

It has turbocharged my desire to try to dedicate some time to writing and really try to finish something. It gave me an impetus to keep writing, and tips and tricks to enable me to do so.

Julie Scanlon 1 month ago

Excellently presented course and feedback was valuable and constructive.

It has given me a depth of understanding into character development and writing structure.

Lauren Goh 1 month ago

I enjoyed everything about this course! Everything from the lessons, and assessments to the feedback sessions.

The tutor was very friendly, passionate and positive.

It has inspired me to start writing again. It has also taught me some valuable ways to make my writing and stories better.

I would say it's a great way to get started. It's also a fun, low-pressure way to learn more about writing.

Alison Fletcher 1 month ago

I'm not sure what type of writing I want to do, so I thought this was a good general starting point. The course structure was another attraction. Originally I was looking at local in-person courses (eg through CAE) but none appealed. I liked the fact that while this course was online and involved asynchronous learning, there was a weekly assignment with personalised feedback, to keep me accountable.

I liked the video feedback and the fact that we could read everyone's submissions and listen to the feedback for each. I learned a lot this way.

I was very happy with Nat's role. She gave well-considered feedback that always offered something new to consider, and which I could apply immediately.

It's reminded me how much I enjoy the process of writing, and has encouraged me to consider doing further courses.

The courses are professionally constructed and informative. I liked the way the information was structured and how encouraged I felt. In many ways it demystified the writing process and made me feel as if writing a good story or novel was an achievable goal, rather than one restricted to a genius.

Hugo Toro 1 month ago

I like the fact that the course avoids setting a writing formula or recommended practice. It is very much left to the individuals to extract from it what they need.

The tutor was very smart and gives precise feedback. I trusted her knowledge base.

I think the exercises are challenging but in a good way. I can see improvements and new skills emerging after each module.

I already have in almost final form a collection of 23 stories. This means that I can now take the learnings from the course and review the characters, scenes and structure.

I have already recommended this course and organization to others. They talk about writing but find it hard to make a start.

Shaun Burgess 1 month ago

The personalized feedback was invaluable in affirming what I am working on. The tutor was bang on every time and delivered positive feedback.

I enjoyed seeing other people developing and the common support.

I now have the confidence to keep going on and pushing myself further.

John Stanton 1 month ago

I have a manuscript and I've gotten it as far as I can take it for the moment, but knowing that it's flawed and still needs (a lot) of work. I was hoping to get some understanding of basic plot / character / structure tips which might help me improve my work.

Nat was really great. Her comments were clear and justified. It was good to listen to the feedback she gave everyone else, too, as there were many things which did not apply to my writing which were useful to know.

I enjoyed doing the actual writing! And getting feedback on it. I've never had someone give objective feedback before, and it was helpful to experience that. Having someone else pick out the details which don't work is unbelievably helpful. It meant that I could go back and make small changes to gain great improvements.

AWC courses are practical, interesting, and safe!

Pam Cramer 1 month ago

This is a great entry level course that opened up so much to me, both in listening to the fantastic audios (great voice, easy to listen to), and that I can go back and listen to them again. The exercises were a real confidence booster and enabled me to put in to practice the week's lesson content. And I could use the exercises repeatedly.

Jo was great and I always felt that she was having a one-on-one with me during assignment feedback.

Samantha Frederiksen 1 month ago

I want to write a novel but didn't know where to start. This course looked like the perfect foundation for me. And it was!

It definitely exceeded my expectations. Nat's feedback got me thinking about the small things (like, can your character 'actually' see what you're saying they're seeing). Those small things are extremely valuable!

I am so grateful that Nat spent the time and energy to provide feedback. The feedback incorporated both what WAS working in my writing, and what needed improvement. She can definitely help anyone become a better writer.

I just love learning. I loved the lectures. The actual writing felt daunting given the time constraints, but really pushed me to submit something by a certain time. I probably wouldn't have written anything otherwise!

It made me want to be a writer and learn as much as I can about writing. Especially Nat, her feedback has made me think of things in my writing that I hadn't thought of previously.

The best investment you'll ever make. Even if it's just for a hobby or out of interest.

Kath Woolley 1 month ago

Nat has been awesome in providing constructive criticism as well as being nice enough not to point out everything that is wrong with the assignments! She knows what she is talking about and has been supportive which is very much appreciated.

I enjoyed all aspects, really. From the information to the classroom chat, it is well presented and easy to follow. I especially liked the feedback even though it initially scared me!

It has given me confidence in writing and my passion has come back. It has also taught me that nothing I write is wrong, and I have to keep writing to get to where I want to be.

It's brilliant! A welcoming and creative area where you can write anything and feel safe. You learn a bit about yourself as well as many aspects of writing to get you started.

Simone Wilson 1 month ago

I have been writing stories all my life and finally decided at 61 to actually do something, to learn and hope to complete a novel. I really had no idea what to expect. Actually thought I could be wasting my money. It was not a waste at all!

Jo was great, easy to listen to and clear with all her feedback.

I believe I can write. I have a lot to learn still, but I have a self-belief that I didn't have before. I can accept feedback. I can put myself out there.

Give it a go. It's friendly, kind and so easy to follow and learn.

Jacqui Hawkins 1 month ago

I really enjoyed the weekly exercises and feedback from the teacher. Jo was lovely, positive and constructive.

I also really enjoyed learning more about creative writing, completing the exercises and receiving weekly feedback.

I intend on doing more AWC courses and now want to write a novel.

There was so much I learnt that was new to me. Each lesson taught me something I didn't know and had 'aha' moments. I didn't know how much theory went into writing a novel. I also really liked the message that you won't ever write a book if you never sit down and put pen to paper. You actually have to sit down and dedicate yourself to the task.

I have already recommended AWC to some friends. It's a fantastic way to start learning about creative writing and it definitely gives you incentive to start and/or keep going with your writing dream.

I really enjoyed the course and have already started Novel Writing Essentials.

Alexandra (Alex) Murphy 1 month ago

I was attracted to the course because it was for anyone and everyone. I was a complete beginner and hadn't written anything creative since I was a child, so I was pretty nervous about writing and sharing my work. I knew this course would give me the foundational blocks needed to not only enhance my writing, but to think creatively and find my voice. I also knew that I would improve by sharing my work. I needed that push to get started and stay motivated.

I definitely had hesitations about enrolling, but more to do with my own self confidence. Initially, the idea of sharing my work was really scary.

Jo is a fabulous tutor. I really enjoyed learning from her and appreciate all the time and effort she put into our feedback. Jo is constructive but also very kind and encouraging.

I enjoyed the feedback sessions. Not only getting feedback on my work but listening to everyone in the group. There were many times where the feedback was something I hadn't thought of, and sometimes they were glaringly obvious mistakes. Every feedback session was an opportunity to learn and improve my next piece.

I think Creative Writing Stage 1 is set out exactly how it needs to be. As an absolute beginner, the layout of content made sense and wasn't overwhelming.

Writing has become a daily part of my life, both through learning to write and actually writing. The coursework and the AWC podcast have helped me learn more about the craft of writing and what it takes to become a writer. I also spend time writing and coming up with ideas most days. The course has drastically improved my confidence and my writing.

AWC is a supportive and extremely informative place to learn how to be a writer. There are so many courses available and the tutors are wonderful. Highly recommend for anyone wanting to start or improve their writing skills.

Thank you for putting together such a wonderful course. I think many of us forget the creative and imaginative voices we have as children when we become adults. This course has given me back that creative spark and has encouraged me to keep thinking and writing.

Scott Devenish 1 month ago

I've been attempting to write novels for the last few years and keep finding myself getting stuck and feeling like what I was writing wasn't engaging enough. I wanted to take the course to learn more about the fundamentals, become a better writer and use what I learned to help me finish a book.

Nat is a fantastic tutor and I really appreciate the time she took to review our work and provide feedback. There were things I have been missing in my writing that she would identify and clearly explain, and then it would all make sense. She also pointed out strengths in my writing that I didn't even realise were there. Not only did I gain more knowledge and skills to improve my writing, but also an unexpected boost of confidence in my abilities. I would highly recommend Nat to anyone who wants to explore writing. Nat, thank you sincerely.

I really enjoyed and appreciated the handouts for use in developing our stories outside of the course.

I am reading books differently now - noticing stylistic features that I previously wouldn't have. I feel like I'm now getting more out of reading. This course has also really helped me with developing my awareness and confidence in my own writing.

If you are thinking about writing, this is where you should start. The course provides an excellent foundation and will teach you what you're good at and what you need to make your writing better in a supportive environment.

David Kurt Huppert 1 month ago

I enjoyed the interactions. Great feedback from the tutor. Nice and specific.

Easy to achieve tasks. Well set out. Nice progression.

Feedback is not something I have had in the past so really nice to get writing out there and receive comments.

A positive experience.

Natalie Keane 1 month ago

Nat Newman was great. Her feedback was honest, thoughtful and delivered in a gentle manner

I enjoyed sitting down and putting in to practice the tips that were outlined in the modules. Bringing to life characters that have been brewing in my subconscious.

I now am a little less afraid and I have a more thorough grasp on the reality of the drafting process.

I would say it is a great crash course in getting your work critiqued.

Charlotte Panton 1 month ago

Even as a child, I have always loved to be creative and have loved writing, but I've never pursued it. So, when I found the Australian Writer's Centre and looked through the courses, I couldn't help but enrol into the course.

I didn't really know what to expect, but it was more than I could've hoped for coming in with no experience in writing.

I thought Pamela was awesome. She gave great, clear feedback which I could easily understand and that allowed me to see my writing and the writings of other published authors differently.

This course has really helped me understand the basics on how a book is written. Learning to trust your readers will help me to go over my own work, rephrase sentences and think about how to describe things in future.

The major learning I had with this course was about the different points of view and the advantages and disadvantages they have with readers.

The Australian Writers' Centre is a great place to start, if anyone wants to learn how to write. The centre has numerous courses from the very basics to more advanced forms of writing and teachers that will help answer any questions and provide feedback on assignments.

I'm looking forward to doing more courses in future.

Jim Myhill 1 month ago

The course was well paced, exercises very useful but not onerous.

Pamela provided very useful and thoughtful feedback on the assignments.

I enjoyed the opportunity to learn new things - and put them into practice each week in the assignments, including valuable feedback.

I didn't know the basics before, so now I can write more confidently using the right POV, and use more colourful descriptions of settings.

Very useful and enjoyable introduction, especially from a starting point of no formal creative writing study.

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