What’s it like to learn with AWC?

I wanted to learn about writing picture book stories for very young children. This course looked interesting and comprehensive in the topics it covered. The course duration of five weeks and being able to study in my own time appealed to me.

Suzanne's feedback was insightful, constructive and revealed a deep knowledge of this area of writing and the publishing industry.

There is so much valuable information in each module, and I found being able to download the handouts, audio lessons and exercises very useful. The assignments are well thought out and it was great to be able to listen to the feedback on other classmates' assignments.

I feel that I have learned a lot about writing for very young readers, and the course has given me the confidence to keep on writing.

I would recommend this course to anyone who wants to learn about writing picture books and what publishers are looking for.

Kate Forsyth! I was so excited to hear what such an experienced author had to say about writing in these genres.

I thoroughly enjoyed Kate's teaching style, her warm and approachable delivery, and her beautiful slide decks.

I felt as though I was part of a community of engaged and knowledgeable learners. I absolutely loved this course.

I now have a deeper understanding of how writers approach writing and storytelling in different genres, and I am already able to look at a text and identify various techniques. I also now have a beautiful set of additional books to read courtesy of Kate's recommendations.

If you are ready to take the next step on your writing journey, this is the course for you. A key thing you'll learn is how different genres approach key aspects of a story. You'll also workshop extracts from published books, and explore how successful authors harness these features. The best part though is that you will be taught by an absolutely amazing industry leader who will delight you with their insight and experience!

I just wanted to thank both the AWC and Kate Forsyth. This course was so enjoyable. In terms of the technology, everything worked the way it should - the course page was accessible, and the Zoom links worked with no glitches or oddities. The student cohort were lovely, and are a tribute to the AWC and your ability to attract such engaged and interesting people to the courses. Most of all though, I wanted to thank Kate, who was just amazing. She was so warm and welcoming, her slide decks were both informative and beautiful, and her delivery was fantastic. Oh, and I have so many new books on my reading lists courtesy of Kate's analyses and recommendations! Everything was just brilliant!

Pamela was excellent. I learned a great deal from the lessons. So many good tips on writing that I never considered previously. and the assignments were a good motivation.

I now feel confident to write stories.

I did this for purely personal reasons, and not necessarily with the expectation of wanting to be a novelist. I wanted to get memories of places and people and be able to weave them into a story. I feel I can do that now. Thanks, AWC.

Do it you will love it.

Bernadette's feedback is always encouraging and constructive. She is clearly very experienced but also relatable, with a good sense of humour and lots of personality.

The lessons were practical and progressed logically. The assignments were not too onerous and provided the opportunity to be creative and have fun with putting the theory into practice.

It was always good to be reminded that you don't have to know exactly what you're doing to make a start. It also helped me to think about my writing ability being a service to others rather than a sell!

It's given me practical information and encouragement to boost my confidence to a point where I am ready to launch my own copywriting business - stay tuned!

Just a huge thanks to Bernadette and the AWC team for the support and encouragement!

The tutor was very good. I enjoyed hearing the feedback verbally rather than just in writing. I enjoyed the practicality of writing a feature.

It was better designed than my Master of Writing online.

I am now actively seeking publication as a freelancer.

Kate is passionate, knowledgeable and enthusiastic. I absolutely loved each session.

I enjoyed the analysis/deconstruction of various texts that showed the underlying writing process, and how punctuation and word use create various aspects of a text.

I have run writing workshops for over twenty years and am also an avid writing course attender; Kate is excellent.

As a newbie freelance writer with a long-ago career in advertising, I needed to dive into copywriting skills. A few years ago, I enjoyed learning with Bernadette in a Local Government upskilling initiative plus my husband's business has engaged her for a workshop. To be honest, I was uncertain I would learn anything new!!! How wrong I was.

Bernadette's delivery style was warm and engaging, and her content was highly relevant. Leveraging her industry experience, she provided practical insight and useful steps in each learning module. Generously sharing key copywriting tips and skills, there were many powerful 'aha' moments!

I enjoyed unravelling copywriting concepts and re-learning what I thought I already knew, but didn't! I have a bag of new tricks! I'm looking forward to practising the skills I learned and adding them to my offer.

AWC courses pack a punch! I've done 5 courses so far, and every session, topic, module and presenter has provided me the real tools to improve my writing practice. If you're thinking about tweaking an area of your writing, or even if you just want to get started but don't know how, just dive in. No regrets!

I've listened on and off to So You Want to Be a Writer, and have been aware of the AWC courses for some time. A recent redundancy gave me the time to enrol and learn a new skill.

Bernadette was fantastic. Her feedback was amazing, and being able to listen to the feedback for everyone was very instructive.

I enjoyed trying something new, learning a new skill, feeling more confident with my own abilities.

It has helped me realise how transferable the writing skills I have developed through curriculum writing are to different genres.

The teachers at AWC are top-notch and really know their stuff, the personalised feedback is invaluable, and the flexibility to do it in your own time helps anyone fit the study in.

This course was fantastic. The worksheets are handy, and the tips very helpful. It gave me insight into the formation of my characters. I would definitely recommend this course to build your characters.

Thanks.

I really enjoyed undertaking the course. It wasn't too onerous for someone working full-time but it was pressured enough to keep it a focus and to ensure that I completed it. I'm very much looking forward to the Write Your Novel course.

I had an idea bouncing around my head and I knew I needed help to refine the language and pace. Now I have a few other ideas!

I did not expect the brutal truth but I got it and I appreciated it. The way Suzanne delivered her constructive critique was firm and considered. You can tell she has years of industry experience and cares for the students.

The feedback made me reflect and adapt. I've been able to change my style without losing too much of myself and I'm confident in my newfound writing skills.

I've always wanted to write and this course has allowed me to feel vulnerable and excited. It's given me the fundamentals I need if I pursue publishers and certainly exposed me to the expectations which I didn't know existed about publishing.

Just do it, stop overthinking about your ability and just do it.

Thank you, thank you, thank you.

I love listening to the SYWTBAW podcast and find Val and Al very laid back and engaging. I was looking for a course to spur me into some writing action, after procrastinating for years, before realising that there is *never* going to be enough time. I debated between this one and the crime writing course and went for this one because there was no specific commitment to a particular day or time, it was self-paced - and that fitted better with what I could make time for right now.

The tutor was excellent. Great feedback. It must be really difficult to do this with a fairly diverse group without stepping on anyone's toes! But good advice on structure, particularly.

I enjoyed actually doing the writing. I was amazed how it just flowed out. Just committing to the course has moved me out of planning/procrastination stage and into actually writing. And (this may be self-delusion, but while the glow is there I am claiming it) I think I can actually do this...

The Creative Writing Stage 1 course is a great way to kickstart your writing! The course is well planned and covers some good ground.

David Leser has such an amazing way with words and descriptions. I loved listening to his anecdotes but also appreciated the way each one demonstrated a point, rather than just a writer 'name dropping'. He was really engaging and even though I wasn't there in the room, it felt like I was. I WISH I was!

I also really enjoyed the selection of David's profiles that were included for reading. It's amazing how a well-written article can keep you intrigued - and on people and topics I would never usually have been interested in.

The workbook / toolkit is going to be incredibly useful but above all, I found the course really inspirational and thought provoking. I don't think I've ever listened to someone so interesting or who made me think so much about the craft, and responsibility, involved in profile writing. It was a great follow-up to the practical focus of the freelance course.

I think I learnt something about myself in this course through listening to David's own experiences. I couldn't pinpoint why I wasn't terribly interested in writing 'newsy' articles, or even travel-based articles given that I love travelling. Then David explained that profile writers are inherently interested and fascinated by people and people's stories and what drives them. He pointed out that profile writing is actually a very creative form of writing and described and demonstrated the anguish that can be involved in the writing process. It really resonated with me. "That's me!!" I was saying to my computer!

Now I have both the practical, industry-based knowledge, AND the inspiration to pursue what it is I'm most interested in.

I'd been searching for more information on writing picture books, and at last saw this course. I just wish I'd come across it a few years back. I found myself learning things I hadn't even realised I needed to know!

Suzanne was great, very clear, and her feedback was spot on.

I loved that it was purely picture book focussed. I'm not interested in writing chapter books right now, so was happy to be putting all my energy into a course that was so totally about this one type of book.

I now know what I've been doing wrong, and how not to make those same mistakes in the future! Believe me, I am sincerely grateful!

If you want to know about writing picture books, DO THIS COURSE! It's not too expensive, not too long, and has invaluable information.

I loved it and have learned heaps. Thank you so much!

The course content was invaluable - loved the work on structure and writing skills - the nuts and bolts. The lesson on 'show not tell' was crucial for me. The entire content is more useful than any other course I have done. It gave me more than I expected and I will extend a lot of the skills into my other writing.

Suzanne was excellent - loved listening to her feedback on our work. She has valuable insight, experience and knowledge. She was fair and provided very helpful feedback - constructive and positive. She speaks beautifully and I am grateful for her feedback!

I have learnt so much. It was great to be able to work one story throughout and continue to improve on this each week after feedback.

It has opened my eyes to the complexities involved in picture book writing. Coming from adult novels where showing visually is important, learning to allow the pictures to do this was new to me but made sense of course - it is a picture book!

I have been wanting a course that helped with the nuts and bolts of writing - language, structure, and basic skills. One of the big lightbulb moments was when Suzanne pointed out my point-of-view error in my story.

Highly recommend.

I will look to do another one of your courses in the future. I may not be great at picture book writing, but I will practise! Thank you, Suzanne!

I was really impressed with the content covered in the course and I feel as if I have learnt a lot.

I loved the feedback from Suzanne after assignments and felt it was really informative and worthwhile. She had great advice that I was able to take on board. She was really active in the chats too and seemed to be approachable and involved and really interested in what everyone was doing.

I enjoyed being challenged with my writing and looking at it all in a different way. I feel as if I have grown more as a writer and I'm excited to keep putting all I have learnt into my writing from now on.

It opened my eyes to the wider world of picture books. It's not just writing the story but so much more. I learnt so much about writing the actual story and how to make my stories stronger and more interesting or appealing.

The AWC is such a worthwhile place to find courses to suit wherever you are in your writing journey. I really enjoyed and was challenged in my own writing. Just do it.

Well done to all involved. It was such a worthwhile course and so informative. Thank you.

Feedback was really constructive and it was useful listening to the feedback provided to each person. I appreciated the encouragement and validation of my idea.

I enjoyed the simple, practical and straightforward modules. I enjoyed the online chat and engagement with Suzanne and the other participants. I especially enjoyed producing and evolving my story, and being held accountable to do this!

I never thought I would actually be able to draft a full picture book - yet I have finished the course with a working version. I am really proud that I have taken a small idea and turned it into a passion project and I'm excited to keep developing it. I feel really motivated.

Thank you, it's a wonderful course!

Be brave and give it a go!

A wonderful course, wonderful option -- very helpful. Thankyou.

I enjoyed completing the story - i.e., refining it be professional, readable. Previously had plenty of loose short stories written but nothing tight enough for others to read. The course fixed that!

I now have the confidence, or can at least see the path, from writer's desk to reader's eyes.

If you're serious about writing but don't have the time: try AWC. They will get you there.

This is the first course I have taken in writing. I have just started out "Reinventing Myself". The best place to start - at the beginning!

I don't think I am a great writer but I always had a little voice in the back of my head saying I need to write a book. I was really worried about the feedback from the teacher. I must say I was pleasantly surprised. I actually think I did ok and got some encouraging feedback from my teacher and some great helpful criticisms and tips. It helped me to see where I need more experience and knowledge.

I am proud that I completed the course. I am looking forward to doing another - just trying to choose! I want to further develop my dialogue, structure and layout - and use the correct grammar when writing dialogue.

The teacher was really encouraging and felt like she really cared about each student's writing. She gave some great feedback.

I could listen to Valerie Khoo talk all day long. I hung on her every word! She gave so much insight to writing.

Thank you for creating this course - Thank you Angela for your time and encouragement. Good luck to all the students - I hope to see them on the best seller list one day!

I finished it - and I am proud of the writing that I produced. I can do it! Starting out at 45 is really hard! I really want to write something and be published. Now I believe that I am good enough to actually do it.

Be brave and just do it. Just start.

I have a large manuscript and have been using a trial version of Scrivener for approximately three years without really understanding how to use it. I guess I never wanted to commit to the novel I was writing. I'd like to commit now so I figure I better learn how to use it.

I liked seeing how Natasha used the label functions, explained the corkboards and just generally organised her research. Thank you for generously sharing your manuscript, Natasha.

Setting up your binder and learning how to use the functions in the Scrivener program will make it easier for you to complete your project. I also liked some of the good habits she suggested, like renaming and writing a synopsis straight away.

AWC has good quality courses presented in a thoughtful way.