What’s it like to learn with AWC?

The course has given me a clearer idea of what is required to create a novel. Allowed my idea to begin materialising. Each lesson provided valuable insight that was completely new to me.

The tutor was professional, went above and beyond when providing feedback

Invaluable lessons, an experience that will result in you really starting to feel like a writer.

There were deep insights, which felt as though they were spot on for the stage of writing I'm at. The sequencing of modules looked illogical at first glance, but really delivered what I needed to know, when I needed to know it.

Margaret was very encouraging, and gave feedback that allowed me to progress my novel and further develop my writing skills.

I enjoyed giving and receiving feedback, plus the fact that this was self-paced.

This course has instilled the discipline to write regularly to meet deadlines. It also helped me develop a more critical eye for my work. When I began, I hoped I would move closer to finishing a novel. Now, I know I have a unique voice, a solid story and WILL write this book!

The Words at Dawn and Write the Night sessions have been an invaluable add-on to the course. I underestimated the power of sitting down in front of a group, setting a sessional goal and holding myself to account for it. It is incredible to have people there at varying stages of different courses and it's turned out to provide MUCH more encouragement than I anticipated. Nat Newman ensures we all get to work, but that fun, laughter and supporting each other is truly at the core. It's been the catalyst for making my writing habitual.

If you have a writing goal, the Australian Writers' Centre offers all the tools and support to help you achieve it. You'll never look back!

I had just completed Creative Writing Stage 1 and wanted to keep up the momentum I gained through doing that course. Feedback is something I find particularly helpful so this was a big part of my decision in moving forward with this.

Petronella was relatable and encouraging, and gave each of us excellent feedback and suggestions.

I enjoyed pushing myself to write a set amount of words for submission and receiving feedback.

It's helping me to stay motivated. I've stayed connected with most of the other course participants and we're going to try and continue giving each other feedback. It's also encouraged me to believe that it's possible to write a novel (and it's not just some lofty dream or hope in my head).

Great course to engage yourself in your writing, with the chance to connect with others who share the goal of one day getting published.

I feel like I can do this now. I was sceptical prior to enrolling as to whether or not I was capable, but given the tools and the ongoing feedback from Nat and also my peers, I'm much more confident in myself now.

If you're serious about becoming a better writer or fulfilling a dream to become a writer then these courses are brilliant. You'll learn about things you never thought about. Characters, structure, sub plots etc. Meeting people along the way was also a huge plus.

I wondered whether I should jump right into Write Your Novel, but I'm glad I did NWE first. I'm still developing my novel structure, but the course has given me confidence and tips which I didn't have before.

Nat was super enthusiastic and positive. Her feedback was practical and wise.

I enjoyed workshopping, and other people's stories. They are fabulous!

It's a practical fun course and you learn a lot. I now have more discipline, and I'm aiming to finish my first draft by Christmas.

I felt Nat was extremely clear and encouraging of all writers in her feedback. It was extremely useful to get her perspective on what we were all doing right and what we could all improve on as it helped in your own writing. Nat was also great about ensuring we all knew it was a safe space for our work to be shared and that if we ever had any issues or wanted to challenge feedback that this would also be welcomed. We were also constantly reminded to think of and refer to ourselves as writers which was almost like being given permission to step out of the "dream" and live the reality.

I loved the opportunity to read the very different stories and characters the other writers were developing. Some of them were genres I haven't read a lot of so was excited to see these come to life. The course overall gave me more confidence in writing that I think I had lost over the years so I feel on a good track to finish my first draft by the end of the year.

Although initially intimidated by the schedule, I found the timetable to be really helpful to keep me on track for my weekly word count. It doesn't always get met but I can see how much I need to pick up the pace in subsequent weeks.

Whether you're brand new to the world of writing, or you need to be reminded of the rules, or you want to take your skills to the next level, there is a course for everyone. If your aim is to be published or you just want to perfect stories for your own enjoyment, AWC encourages and supports everyone on that journey, and you'll get to meet some like-minded writers.

I had been planning to do this course after Creative Writing Stage 1 mid 2023 but wanted to be sure that I had enough content underway to keep up. So I completed Writing Workout first, which was excellent preparation, especially the last module on preparing the synopsis. So I felt really ready for Novel Writing Essentials when it started.

My tutor, Petronella, was excellent. My impression is that she is a very talented writer and a talented tutor. Her feedback was extremely detailed, both conceptual and technical and very kindly pitched. She also was very warm, welcoming and positive. A really warm, encouraging presence. Near the end of the course, another student and I had the chance to attend the launch of Petronella's fourth book and it was fantastic to see our end goal embodied in this wonderful way. Petronella was a huge highlight of the course for me.

I found most enjoyable the momentum that the course structure and assignments helped me to build towards my first full draft. I especially appreciated how the last assignment of Writing Workout fitted so perfectly into the first assignment of this course. The (shorter version) work I did there and the feedback I received was really helpful as I improved my synopsis for the submission in this course. I found the content in the modules extremely enjoyable, especially around the technical aspects of a novel and writing. I enjoyed Petronella's feedback and some of the feedback from fellow students very much. It was very insightful and led to big improvements in my work.

The course definitely increased my confidence and taking myself more seriously as a writer. By the end of the course, I felt confident enough to submit my first 3 chapters, synopsis and chapter breakdown to the Richelle Prize. My chances might be very slim but as Valerie always says, 'you can't publish, if you haven't written it'. Equally, 'I can't win the prize, if I haven't submitted'.

AWC courses have a perfect blend of tutor led or self-guided and, being online, are fantastic for people who are building a writing practice around busy everyday lives. The courses are taught by published authors and other experts and provide excellent step-by-step content on the practicalities of developing a novel and writing it.

My next goal is to join the Write Your Novel program when I have 1/2 my manuscript completed (I have about 1/4) and I'm accepted. I love everything I am learning via the AWC.

The tutor was knowledgeable and interested in each of our stories even though very different genres, which I'm sure everyone appreciated. She was encouraging.

Workshopping and theory all in one! It really kept me accountable and now I have almost half my first draft written and I know where I'm headed.

I will keep going!! I will write this book! I needed this course to keep me accountable so I'll enrol in the next one.

Petronella was fabulous. She was supportive of everybody. Her feedback was constructive and insightful. She highlighted things I hadn't considered especially about family dynamics. It was inspiring to be tutored by someone who has written four books.

I enjoyed the interaction with Petronella and the quality of the content in the modules. I particularly liked the frameworks you provided that I could apply to my writing. The overall structure worked well and gave me the impetus I needed to get my word count up. One of the best pieces of advice I took out was the comment 'don't be too writerly' - just get the story on the page.

I thought it was great and worked well for me. I went from about 15k before I started to over 60k. That was way beyond my expectations when I started. Of course, the million-dollar question is - is it any good!! but I feel motivated to get it down on the page and trust the process.

The course gives you an easily accessible structured approach designed to help you take your idea and turn it into a story people will want to read.

I was very impressed with Nat's tutoring, both for myself and the other students in my class. Her feedback was always insightful, helpful and easy to understand.

I enjoyed reading the submissions of the other students in the course. It was interesting to see the variety and styles of the stories that were being written. I also enjoyed Valerie's audio lessons.

I would say that the course will help a lot because you will have your own work evaluated through "fresh eyes" that will see things you might not have been aware of, but that you will also have the chance to examine and give feedback on the work of others which can be extremely helpful. The information included in the audio lessons and handouts is also of great benefit.

I have wanted to write my novel for a while now. I had the idea but didn't know how to start it.

Nat was fantastic. She was incredibly knowledgeable. Watching her give feedback for myself and other writers was a highlight. I learnt a lot through them. It made me aware of the problems in my work, and how to fix them.

The most enjoyable but also terrifying part was the workshopping. I loved reading the other writers' work and their feedback for me.

I am quite a socially anxious person so the layout was perfect. I only wished it was longer. I truly didn't want it to end.

It has motivated me to keep writing, and has given me the confidence that I can write a story.

You must do it if you want to write a novel! The knowledge and the experience that you gain will change the way you look at writing!

I finished the first draft of a manuscript last year, and although I believe the storyline is quite sound, I struggled with depth in the characters and my dialogue needed work. I wanted to learn more about the writing craft to edit the draft effectively.

Nat was very clear when she addressed both of my submissions, and those of my fellow students. Her style in critique was constructive and delivered with humour and sensitivity. She clearly outlined the problems I had with character interiority, transitions and dialogue. Her advice was light bulb stuff, and I'm very grateful for her input. I recommend her for a pay raise.

Although I struggled with the synopsis, it was very helpful. Receiving feedback was good for both my confidence and hesitancy moving forward. It has given me confidence in completing my first draft for my new story and editing my first manuscript later on.

Thanks to Nat and the team at the Writers' Centre for all your help in my writing journey. Also, I loved listening to Valerie delivering the modules. They were clear and very valuable.

I didn't realise how much I didn't know about the craft of writing until I did this course. I gained a lot of basic skills and knowledge on what I needed to look out for and how to structure my story and develop 'authentic' characters.

Very useful for people who are serious about writing a book. The workshopping element of the course was pretty useful. Nat was also a great tutor and her insights and feedback helped immensely. Her feedback is on point.

A very useful course to do if you are serious about becoming a published author one day.

I found Margaret to be very positive and encouraging, but also constructive - which as a new writer made me feel like I can actually do this!

I really enjoyed workshopping with my fellow classmates and Margaret's feedback videos.

It's encouraged me to keep writing and reassured me that I can write a good story.

Margaret was lovely, and obviously very knowledgeable.

I enjoyed making some lovely writerly connections. Being exposed to a variety of different genres (that I wouldn't usually read) as well as writing styles. Receiving both Margaret and my classmate's timely feedback on my work in progress.

I now have the confidence to workshop my classmate's work, and the tools in my kit ready to move forward to Write Your Novel, and ideally - write my novel!

There is a course to suit nearly every writerly need, with fantastic course structure and wonderful tutors, as well as the opportunity to build your bookish community.

Margaret was lovely and had heaps of experience in the publishing industry. All the talks were relevant and well thought out.

I enjoyed the group work and feedback as well as the professional tutor review.

Everything was great. I had a great time!

I have a clearer structure to work on my story and a better understanding of what I need to fix in my writing.

Take the plunge! You have fun along the way and learn more than you expect.

Really enjoyed the two online meetups, and the connection to other writers via workshopping throughout. Nat is a great tutor and gave fantastic advice and direction. She was experienced and offered meaningful and useful direction and advice.

I enjoyed the expert tuition, the positivity and encouragement, the weekly podcasts and the accountability.

I am much more focused on getting the first draft finished and have made significant progress during the course by prioritising it above all else. I just hope I can maintain the momentum now!

We are all writers - when Nat said this, I switched over to being a writer, rather than someone who is fitting in writing around everything else.

Brilliant experience - would highly recommend. I'm sad it's finished, but will still go back over the podcasts to help maintain focus and motivation and will keep in touch with the other writers.

Bernadette was really helpful and provided great feedback.

I enjoyed getting feedback from my classmates and getting new ideas for my story. I came into the class with an idea for my story and left with a completely transformed story that took on a life of its own.

The Novel Writing Essentials course is really helpful if you're looking for support getting started.

I really enjoyed the practical nature of the course. I'm starting to learn how to build scenes and plan structure. This is a big step forward for me as I have never tried to write a novel before.

Nat was great and provided really insightful, helpful feedback. She was always respectful and encouraging.

I think the course would be very helpful to anyone who wants to learn how to write a novel.

Jennifer was perfect. Prompt. Fair with criticism. For me it was picking over the fine points of the plot and that you can't get away with things.

It was great reading others' work. Seeing we all have the same difficulties and fears. Seeing there are some really good writers out there and I need to lift my game! Seeing what I liked and what I didn't like as much, and understanding why. It was great having other eyes on my writing. Seeing different opinions. Jennifer's opinion obviously was a big incentive to see if I'm on the right track etc.

I now know I have it in me. Having other (talented) writers reading my stuff made me really have to work on my own writing. It was much better after the course than it was before.

The course is essential. Better done sooner rather than later. Don't be embarrassed, we all started somewhere, better to get good, constructive feedback early and in a supportive environment.