What’s it like to learn with AWC?

Nat's feedback was on point and she gave excellent examples of how to correct where I had gone wrong. She is an asset to the AWC. The professionalism in which she ran the course was second to none.

Although I wasn't sure how the student feedback component would work, I found it the best part of the whole course. It's one thing to read about how to write but seeing and reading feedback from others and giving thought to their works as well was an excellent way to learn.

I now know where I have been going wrong in my writing. Point of view is more important than I could have imagined. It was Nat's commentary that was a lightbulb moment for me regarding POV.

If you want to be a writer, you can't go wrong with a course run by the Australian Writers' Centre.

I feel like a new person and have a solid direction with my writing now. In 18-24 months' time I expect to have a decent draft for the Write Your Novel course.

Nat was able to pull my writing apart in a way that left me feeling positive about how much room I had to improve. Her humour in her video feedback was great fun.

I enjoyed the workshopping aspect - I learnt an enormous amount by pulling other people's work apart and now view my own work very differently.

I actually call myself a writer now!

I had started writing my novel but had stalled. This was the incentive to get back into writing.

Nat is awesome. She is entertaining and her feedback is hard-hitting. Especially entertaining when she acted out most of the facial expressions I'd included in a scene.

The Australian Writers' Centre has courses that suit most writers' needs. The tutors are approachable and know their stuff.

LA Larkin was excellent! I didn't realise she was a thriller specialist before starting, but as this is the genre of my book i was very happy about it.

I enjoyed giving and getting feedback. It was very interesting to see how other writers wrote, and how that came through in their feedback on my work.

The course increased my confidence in writing, and has given me some very practical immediate help in building the plot and structure of my novel.

Please keep going, it's all useful! Definitely worth doing.

The format is terrific with the opening and closing zoom and the weekly writing and workshopping. Loved it. Great to have tutor moderation and feedback too. Also love the weekly lectures. It was all a great learning curve that was spread out.

LA Larkin (Louisa) was fantastic. Very engaged, supportive, encouraging and knowledgeable. Wonderful that she's a published author and also remembers her journey as a beginning writer. Very consistent and reliable and always felt like we were in expert hands.

It was really positive vibes in every respect as well as facilitating great break throughs and confidence building. Inspiring to meet other students at the same stage of their journey, great to do the structural synopsis to gain clarity, great to submit chapters to get feedback on writing style, great to have the lectures to carry you along week to week. All fantastic.

I feel like the breakthroughs and learnings have probably saved me three rounds of drafting. The course helped me identify my main character, helped me realise what needs emphasising to meet the structural requirements, helped me realise my scenes need to be orientated to real-time-action rather than reflection/flashback/exposition. So I feel like the 10 weeks has saved me a few years of writing in a less focused way. Was also a very gentle way to get over the fear of showing people my work. This feels really significant for the future.

Just an enormous thank you!!! I have felt so supported in my writing journey and so grateful for this phenomenal resource. Everything about the AWC is so incredibly well conceived and executed.

It's brilliant and invaluable! Do it!

I had done Creative Writing Stage 1 and really enjoyed the structure. I finally have the time to do more writing, so I decided on NWE so that I could try to get a story I've been thinking about for years started.

I was worried I wouldn't have the time, but I decided that everyone else in my family (husband and three kids) have things that they like to do that they just do without worrying about if it'll be too hard for everyone else to manage around, so I could do that too :) And it turns out that they can all manage without me while I'm writing (although it did take a few weeks of "would you interrupt Dad while he was working?" until the kids understood that I was doing something important to me).

I thought I'd struggle to get the 20k words. I've just hit 37k, and it doesn't feel like it's been that much of a challenge.

I was really impressed with Louisa. She was upbeat and honest and talked us through her writing processes and what she does when she's working on a novel. Her feedback was clear and helpful, and she gave me a lot of ideas to work with.

I've started writing regularly and enjoying it again. And when I'm not writing, I'm thinking about the scenes I need to write, or what my characters might do in a particular situation and it's fun.

It was a fun and manageable way to get back into writing and the coursework was so helpful to make me think through my story and my characters.

The tutor was so helpful. Always very constructive, and helped me pick up on a lot of big picture issues that I had missed completely. e.g. My story didn't have a protagonist!

For me having deadlines and accountability is the most helpful part.

I only had about 500 words beforehand. I'm now nearing the 20,000 goal because I actually believe it is possible.

Do it, do it now.

Excellent! Nat's passion is infectious and her feedback is concrete and specific. I also really appreciate Words@Dawn!!

Feedback is not as scary as I thought. It made me more confident in giving feedback and helped me meet more writers at a similar stage.

Great course, the materials were also very useful! A great way to build on writing craft, meet good people and learn how to give feedback.

I was looking for structure and accountability to finally make progress on my first draft, and this course seemed like the perfect fit!

At first, I was worried about how this would fit with full-time work (but you honestly just make time, so it was worth it!) and I had a few concerns about the online format and how the feedback would work, but those worries quickly disappeared once I got started. The setup was fantastic, and the feedback I received was incredibly helpful.

Nat was absolutely brilliant! She has such an eye for detail and spots things I would never have noticed. Her feedback was invaluable, and I felt like I was learning something new every week. She was encouraging, insightful, and brought out the best in everyone.

I absolutely loved the sense of community that developed among my coursemates. It wasn't just a writing course—we're still in touch with our WhatsApp group now and still go on Zoom writing sessions once a week. The diversity of stories was so rich, and the feedback from both Nat and my peers was always thoughtful and encouraging. I felt supported at every step, which kept me motivated and excited to write each week. Honestly, I would do it again in a heartbeat!

This course had a profound impact on both my life and my writing. I've not only become more disciplined, but I've also learned to trust my instincts as a writer and gained so much confidence in my voice. The community support made such a difference; it's helped me feel more connected and inspired to keep pushing forward with my work.

Every week felt like I was unlocking something new about my writing process, whether it was learning how to deepen character arcs, refine plot points, or simply approach feedback in a more constructive way.

150% YES DO IT NOW! You won't regret it! This course is hands down one of the best investments you can make in your writing journey.

Overall, I can't say enough good things about this experience. I wish the course had been longer, but I'm grateful for everything I learned and the community that came with it. Thank you!

I really enjoyed connecting with other writers during the course. It was reassuring to know that others shared the same fears, hopes, and dreams as I did.

Nat was a fantastic tutor. Her feedback on my novel was insightful and educational, helping me grow as a writer. While I didn't get the chance to listen to the feedback she provided to the other students during the course, I plan to go back and review it now that I have the time, as I'm sure it will be incredibly valuable. I highly recommend Nat as a tutor.

Completing the course reignited my passion for writing. I had reached a point where my enthusiasm had waned, and I even started doubting whether I was a decent writer, considering giving up altogether. Nat was refreshingly direct in reminding us that every writer feels that way at times. The feedback from my fellow students was not only encouraging but, at moments, it made my heart sing. I'm still unsure if I'll pursue publishing my work, but I know I will continue to write. Best of all, I'm enjoying the process again.

My 'aha!' moment came when I realised I had developed a bad habit of word dumping in my stories. Addressing this issue has greatly improved my writing, and I now understand how much more you can convey through dialogue while keeping readers engaged. I also have to thank Nat for pointing out that I never used the word 'said'. Years ago, an editor advised me to avoid it, and I took that advice to heart. It was like being hit with a four-by-two when I discovered it's perfectly fine to use 'said' - something I should have been doing all along. Thanks, Nat!

I would absolutely recommend AWC, and in fact, I've already done so at a recent work conference. I shared how completing a course with like-minded people feels like finding your online community. Even if you never go on to write a full novel, you can still learn, grow, and gain so much from the experience.

Nat was brilliant. I enjoyed reading her feedback, getting to know her & the class. All being at a similar level & learning together.

I feel more confident & skilled.

Do it!

I really enjoyed the course and learnt so much from the modules, giving feedback and the feedback from Nat and the other students.

Nat is an absolutely wonderful human. Her energy is so positive, engaging and non- judgmental. She made the group feel like a little family, was welcoming from the outset and really kind in providing constructive and detailed feedback to help all of us become better writers.

I'm now 17,000 words into my novel, and have the inspiration, drive and skills to keep writing and get it done by Christmas!

Do it!! It will be the best decision you can do to develop writing skills and connect with writing community.

Thank you so much for a fantastic course. I can't wait to do Write Your Novel next year!

All aspects of the course have been helpful and enjoyable. Being able to read and comment on other students work has been great - there has been an interesting and engaging range of story ideas in development. I also really enjoyed the additional module about diversity - Valerie has a great presentation style that worked well for this sometimes tricky topic.

Nat's feedback has been invaluable. The idea of show don't tell really crystalized for me during the feedback on my work and on other students work through examples and through Nat's advice about imagining yourself in the space, seeing what the character sees, feeling what she feels, thinking what she thinks and so on.

AWC courses provide a truly supportive community and practical, expert courses that have helped me improve my writing.

The bonus 'words at dawn' sessions are fantastic and have really helped me build a regular writing habit.

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.

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.