What’s it like to learn with AWC?

I found the exercises to be very helpful - the layout of the course is great in the way it really guides you through each part of the self-editing process.

I thought my manuscript was done. I have learnt it is very much not. It's a little daunting but I'm very excited to do the work to polish my book into the best version it can be.

Go for it. You will learn skills that will serve you in every piece of writing that you create moving forward, whether creative or professional.

The step-by-step process took something that seemed really overwhelming and turned it into manageable chunks.

I didn't have any roadmap for bridging the gap between what I had drafted and what I wanted my book to be. I knew my manuscript needed work, but I didn't know where to start. This course felt like having Pamela and Angela in my pocket, breaking down something that seemed overwhelming into something achievable.

If you want to take your writing seriously, invest in yourself and your craft! Just do it!

I enjoyed having a set structure to follow through the editing process and through the course. Gave me structure and targets to meet when editing. It gave me motivation to get the job done.

I've cut, shaped, and polished my story through to the manuscript stage. It's been a satisfying journey on its own. My 'aha' moment is that I now believe that I have the skills required to become a published writer.

I was unsure where to begin with editing my manuscript and hoped that this course would point me in the right direction.

I like that the editing process was broken down into manageable steps which made it not feel so overwhelming. Also, the checklist was a handy reference and I loved that I could mark off the steps I completed as I went.

I feel like I have made some good changes in my manuscript as a result of going through this process.

The Key Issues and Changes List has been life-changing and I have used it so much as I work through my manuscript. I like having all my required notes and changes in one place and I can't believe that such a simple tool makes a huge difference.

Everything was really on point and very relevant. Every module struck a chord (sorry for the cliche!) It has really helped in developing my novel to the next step.

Every course I have done at AWC has helped me develop as a writer.

I enjoyed the intimacy of the course. Writing is often a space void of other people's voices and just listening to Valerie's voice felt very personal; like a character in a self-help script with Valerie as the POV narrator (writing doctor) helped with the diagnosis, cure and healing. I came away from the course with a sense of calm for what is a huge operation to dissect a manuscript.

No matter where you are with your writing, the AWC will meet you with the knowledge to take you to the next level.

I've been getting the newsletter for ages and thought it was about time I did a course. I chose Cut, Shape, Polish because I have self-published books and want them perfect. I also have two manuscripts that I am submitting to traditional publishers. I wanted them polished before I went the submission rounds.

There was a lot packed into the course. Everything I needed to correct the parts of my story that weren't working, improve the overall plot and revise until I am happy with the results.

I'm now confident to submit when I do my final read-through and proofread. I had lost confidence and had let the MS sit for about a year.

I know a lot of writers who use critique groups and beta readers and think it's enough to fix a manuscript. I recommend this course to cut, shape and polish until your MS shines like a diamond. You'll still have to send it to beta readers but it will be a much cleaner copy and close to publication standards. Thanks, AWC, Angela Slatter and Pamela Freeman for creating this editing course, and Valerie Koo for the lovely audios.

It was a very helpful guide in self-editing. The steps were laid out in an easy way for referencing. That chapter on characters was great as it made me look at my secondary characters differently.

There is a course for everyone. The content is clear and enjoyable and you will learn so much about writing.

I enrolled in the course because I had a newly finished manuscript and wasn't sure what to do next to tighten it up. I wasn't sure it was going to teach me enough... (but it definitely did!)

I enjoyed seeing my manuscript get better and better each time I followed the steps.

This course seemed to be perfect for me. I have written a novel and edited it many times. I also paid to have my novel professionally edited. She gave me loads of really useful information and advice that I painstakingly put into place. I was always worried though, that if I didn't start to really take on the 'how to' of editing myself, that I would never get anywhere with my novel.

This course offered a way to really attack my novel and get it to be the best it can be. I am really grateful for the information given.

It's pretty clear that if you follow all the steps properly, that you will end up with a far better novel than what you started with. I really liked how this course gave such a clear answer to the question 'what do I do now?'

I really feel ready to move my novel into the next phase. I already knew that my novel had significantly improved since being professionally edited. The advice that I was given after that read was so in line with what came out in this course that I wish I had have done this course first. Then I could have had her read it after I had done all these checks and changes.

So easy. You just jump on your computer whenever you have the time and start learning. You can do it all in a day, or a little bit every week. I also really loved how the language used in the audio really made me (the writer) feel completely normal for wanting to write a book even when I don't know if I have what it takes. It was reassuring.

There is so much content that I wish I knew before I wrote my first draft but it will definitely make it a faster writing process next time.

I like the fact that steps are fed to you in a particular way for a reason which you don't realise until you get to the end.

It has made me realise that all the mistakes, habits, patterns, etc are not unique to me - they happen to everyone, especially first-time writers. It was a great confidence booster in that regard.

The courses give you structure, a place to start, a roadmap. I have done many AWC courses and live workshops and all have been worthwhile.

I had no idea editing could be so fulfilling and enjoyable! The step-by-step structure of the course really appealed to me, and of course, having completed each step with my first-ever manuscript to show for it speaks for itself.

I bought this course as a "carrot" to push me to finish a manuscript. As in, I had half a dozen unfinished manuscripts sitting in my digital desk drawer that I kept neglecting because a) I didn't think they were particularly good and b) I was scared of the editing process. Buying the course was meant to make me accountable to achieve something.

I LOVE step-by-step, guided processes. Knowing you could literally tick a box once you'd completed a step was very gratifying. I also loved the feeling of empowerment, that I really could edit my own story, do it justice, and come out with a polished manuscript ready for beta readers!

As I was working through editing my existing manuscript, I could see how the course content provides not only a beautiful framework for work I have already completed but how easily applicable the knowledge will be to the words and stories that are yet to come. For example, for an idea I have been nurturing for a while, I am already starting to think about where my inciting event needs to occur, how I need to show the motivations of the main characters, and establish a compelling and unique voice from the get-go, among a myriad of other considerations.

Go for it! I have completed three courses now and the knowledge I have gained has been invaluable.

I like that there were different exercises that gave 'bird's eye views' of the manuscript.

It has given me new tools to approach editing (which will also affect how I plan and write in the future).

AWC courses are good and well designed for self-paced learning.

The course gave me so much more than I was thinking it would. I enjoyed the amount of detail. It confirmed I have done quite a bit right but there are areas that need improving.

As I am writing historical fiction, I have come to understand it takes a great deal of learning, research and being open to feedback and however many drafts it takes, to get to a point where I am ok with sending it out there!

The amount of detail is guiding me to make positive changes to my writing and has given me more confidence that I can get my story into good shape!

I had finished my first draft and wasn't sure where to go next. I enjoyed having clear steps to follow. As a person who craves organisation, the first draft was hard! Here I feel I've imposed some order on everything and made it better, step by step.

I'm getting deeper into POV on my rewrites. Keeping all I have learned in mind has made a huge difference to the quality of my story and my prose.

Highly recommended. I've learned so much from the courses with AWC. So much so I'm starting Write Your Novel in 2 weeks to try to develop even further. I wouldn't have this draft without AWC. I wouldn't have even had a first one!

I had just completed the first draft of a novel I'm working on. It was great timing, as I felt I needed help with the editing process.

It has opened my eyes to just how big a task writing a novel actually is. It's also provided tips that will hopefully prove beneficial in the future should I write another novel. Hopefully they will save me a lot of time.

The course material is easy to follow and the people working there really care about seeing you grow in your craft and having fun in the process, whilst being honest about how big an endeavour it can actually be.

Helped me realise what I'll have to do to edit my novel. I wasn't sure how to approach it (major rewrite several times!) but I really liked the clear steps and focus points of this course.

Editing is hard and it's not about rewriting a billion times - it's about being logical and proceeding through different stages to pinpoint problems!

Do it, it's helpful, don't leave it to the last minute like I did.

I knew I'd need this course to edit my manuscript when I finally finished it. It backed up what I learned in the Fiction Essentials - Scenes course. The handouts are an awesome tool to be used over.

During the course I found myself saying, "Yes! I did that in my manuscript." For example, the final segment - making sure the ending ties up answers asked in the first part of the book. It also highlighted areas I have doubts about - sagging middle.

The Australian Writers' Centre is the right place for all the write courses.

I've done quite a few of your courses and this one was a standout. Practical. Great to have a clear process to follow and templates to assist with editing. I will use this process and tools to edit manuscripts in future.

Well structured, clear, practical, great tools.