What’s it like to learn with AWC?
Each year, thousands of students just like you achieve their writing goals through our courses and world-class presenters. Here they share how their new-found skills and confidence enriched their life.
I loved this course. Nat Newman is fantastic and her feedback was very beneficial for me.
I have learned so much that I will be taking away with me. It's the perfect course for someone looking to get into writing but don't know where to start.
I had started writing my first children's novel, and got stuck along the way. I thought this course might be just the thing to help. I wasn't sure about how much of my work I needed to have completed before I started, but it turns out there was a lot of variety in this and where I was at worked well for the course.
Pamela is such an experienced writer and teacher and it was so helpful to receive her feedback and insights, both on my own work and also on the work of others. As well as the quality of the course materials, I loved the sense of community that Pamela developed during the course.
The chance to see my writing more clearly from the perspective of a reader was significant. I now think more about the relationship between the writer and the reader, and the magic that happens between them.
If you are writing a novel for young children, then this course will provide you with all the essential knowledge you need. As a bonus you will find a wonderful community of others who are also on the same journey.
This course is fabulous! As soon as I finished the course, I knew that this was one AWC course that I would work through again and again while I still had access to the materials. It wasn't just inspiring, it opened new doors to writing more freely and gave me permission to be a more courageous writer.
I felt like I was being taken on a rich and exciting journey. There was so much help and wisdom to find along the way, and by the end I felt ready to try new things.
This course is about so much more than writing, it is about creativity and how to live a creative life. It is full of tips and strategies, all shared in the most generous and supportive way.
This course will change how you see yourself as a writer. I can't recommend this highly enough.
The structure of the course is very suitable for people with a busy life. The course instructor encouraged and motivated us to take this time and enjoy which also provided extra motivation to take time out during the week to focus on something for just myself.
I enjoyed the weekly exercises (although I missed my last one). Having a set task each week kept me on track and up to date.
It encouraged me to take time out for myself each week and not feel guilty.
Definitely worth it for both very amateur and experienced writers. Having an independent person evaluate and give feedback on your style is invaluable.
I enjoyed the push to write in the form of assignments. It always gave quite a buzz to produce them. Also, the writing craft knowledge that came with the lectures and Valerie's conversational, almost confiding style.
Jo provided a great balance between both positive and constructive feedback. She was quite tactful in providing constructive feedback, which obviously can be hard to hear when you're not used to it. I liked that she encouraged us to maximise our benefit from the course and listen to everyone's feedback.
I feel very inspired and encouraged to continue developing my craft and to have a go at some short story contests.
Each time I access an AWC course or seminar I know my abilities as a writer are improving. I've lately called myself a writer to my family. I'm a writer who is passionate about writing and that's enough for now.
Do it. You may think you are a good writer now but the knowledge from AWC courses will make your writing shine.
Thanks for such a fantastic site where we can learn at our own pace and review content repeatedly for 12 months.
I was pleasantly surprised that we covered off the essentials of the technical side of emails, but the focus was definitely on the copywriting. It was a terrific balance. Plus - we covered so much more than I expected in the marketing space... so useful.
Bernadette was wonderful. Very clear, her little anecdotes and stories along the way really kept me engaged and brought the content alive. Her feedback was awesome - so helpful and enthusiastic.
I actually really enjoyed the process of writing the assignments and receiving feedback. They were very manageable and practical, and a good opportunity to let loose without constraints or specifics like tone-of-voice etc, that you have to work to with a client.
I'm keen to do another course soon as I just LOVED this - so fun. I'm actually a graphic designer who has 'ended up' copywriting for lots of clients over the years, and I'm now in a full time copywriting role. This course has taken my content to the next level and helped me to understand what works, what doesn't, and why. Really achievable and great value for money. AND - thanks for the awesome feedback Bernadette, it was a highlight of my week ;).
This course has everything you need, in sufficient depth to be incredibly useful and immediately actionable, but at the same time, it's achievable in the midst of a busy schedule. You'll also learn the important parts of marketing as a whole - which is valuable insight and important context. As Bernadette says, it will make you very valuable to a client and instantly employable.
I was attracted to this course by the opportunity to explore and develop various writing techniques, including character creation, voice, and structure. I was a bit worried about the cost at first, and juggling the sessions with my schedule seemed tricky. But honestly, it was so worth it! I'd totally do it all over again in a heartbeat.
Every session was illuminating, filled with insightful discussions and valuable takeaways on writing, and Pamela's just such an insightful, warm teacher.
Pamela was brilliant! Her insights and guidance were invaluable, and I only wish we could have had more time with her. She was also so generous with her knowledge.
The fortnightly sessions were particularly enjoyable, filled with engaging discussions and a great sense of community. Especially enjoyed the critique/feedback from Pamela, and I loved my groupmates.
The diversity of writing styles and the depth of discussion in each session provided numerous 'aha!' moments that broadened my understanding of writing. The course has deepened my passion for writing and opened up new perspectives and techniques that have enriched my skills. Ready for the next step in my writing journey!
I would highly recommend it for anyone looking to enrich their writing skills in a supportive and engaging community with amazing tutors!
I'm starting out as a freelance writer and wanted to ensure I had all the knowledge on hand about running a business and getting a good income from freelancing.
The information was clear and quick - it could be done in a few hours. I feel prepared to start my own freelance business and I feel confident about it succeeding.
Fantastic courses with an incredible amount of information. As good quality as any uni course.
It was very easy to follow and understand with plenty of supporting materials to solidify the learning journey
I enjoyed seeing the application of principles in real life examples, such as articles and blog posts.
It has set a foundational tone for me to gauge whether I prefer this style or copywriting or another creative style altogether.
Easy to follow, accessible, abundance of resources, very informative and helpful.
The writing exercises were fun, and the feedback sessions very useful.
I used what I learned to write a short story that was published in WQ #285 (Qld Writers Centre Magazine) June 2024. It was the winner of the 1000-word short story competition for "Writing Friday" participants. I was delighted! :)
AWC offers great courses with the benefit of obtaining real feedback from a very experienced author. It's that aspect that sets the courses apart from the many "video" courses available.
Prior to starting, I had written 60K words in my first draft, so I wanted to learn from Louisa by starting a fresh story and then retrofitting it back to my first. This course has been helpful in confirming my first story is on track and providing me with the confidence and tools to finish it. I now have a pitch, structure, character profiles and scene starters all set to go on with my next story.
Louisa Larkin is an amazing tutor with a true passion for the craft. She encouraged all of us along the way, followed up to ensure we were able to complete the set tasks and provided useful thought-provoking feedback.
I thoroughly enjoyed this course and miss the weekly Zoom sessions with Louisa. My fellow classmates were friendly, supportive, and inspiring, with amazing ideas that prove the magnitude of diversity in creativity.
Since starting my writing journey, I've been seeking a writing group with like-minded people. Louisa encouraged our lovely group to make contact and continue supporting each other. We now have a fabulous Writers' Circle, meeting regularly online. And I suspect will be lifelong friendships :)
The classic thriller structure Louise guided us through using segments from one of her own books was generous and invaluable. I found this particularly beneficial as I'd read her books and could clearly relate to the points within the three-act structure.
Go for it - you have nothing to lose and so much to gain!
It is a great course, very useful, thanks! I enjoyed learning the tools of the trade. I know that it will make a big impact as I begin really using it for my clients and my own business.
Bernadette is excellent, and provided great feedback.
What's not to enjoy about listening to Pamela Freeman? Her writing achievements are extraordinary, and when she is speaking to me, I feel like she is in the room with me. I also love getting handouts. I make notes and refer back to them later.
If I were to recommend the AWC to someone, I would tell them that every piece of information is useful, their courses don't contain any "useless fluff," they are always available to provide assistance and their content is up to date. Money well spent.
Thanks to the staff in the background, and the tutors and presenters up front, for their support for struggling writers.
Pamela is brilliant! She is well versed in all areas of writing and her expertise was really helpful. I enjoyed the online zoom sessions. I now have the basis for a novel.
Jump in and do it!
Bernadette is an absolutely amazing tutor. It was a privilege to be taught by someone who has such a wealth of knowledge and experience from working in the publishing industry, and who gives students such helpful feedback and wonderful encouragement. My motivation (and 'feeling inspired-ness'!) to press on with my writing, and to make a start on a kids' chapter book, has greatly increased since doing the course. Thank you, Bernadette!
I've developed a basic plot for a kids' chapter book that I want to write, so am feeling pretty over the moon about that! And am just feeling very encouraged and motivated in general (about starting on the book and about my writing ability, thanks to Bernadette's amazing feedback, and her believing in us and encouraging us).
I really appreciated Bernadette's genuine enthusiasm and interest in our writing exercises; it was just very authentic and encouraging.
I would say AWC have a whole lot of fantastic courses (and awesome one-off workshops too). The courses are very affordable, the tutors are amazing and even if your life is busy, there are courses that aren't too demanding and are very do-able, time-wise.
Thanks again, AWC and Bernadette!
I'm hungry to learn everything I can about writing my book, but lack time. This style of course delivery is great! I get so much out of it. Pamela's concise, informative presentation and notes, her explanations and interaction with others on the webinar. I come away with some new material to digest and plenty of support in grasping it. Perfect combination.
Helped me to understand how to organise and present my story information. Gives me more confidence.
I always tell friends and acquaintances that these courses are well structured, written and presented. For adults who want to learn the foundations, it is a time-effective (and therefore cost-effective) way to do it.
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.
The seminar was like you are sitting having a one-to-one conversation with Pamela even though there are several other people tuned in.
It has added to the knowledge I have already gained from the other courses I have completed.
The Australian Writers' Centre has such a wide variety of courses on offer that there is something to suit everyone.
This course was well set out and had lots of great information. Once I completed the course, I realised I want to pursue my dream and am now eager to take the next step.
The content was more than I was expecting. There were various topics and ideas covered. I enjoyed the interviews with various authors. I found the course was very informative and left me wanting more.