What’s it like to learn with AWC?

This course really provided a step by step on how to get started. I thought it was excellent.

Everything I was learning was relevant and the assignments were taking us through the steps we needed to learn to go out and be freelance writers. I enjoyed seeing what other people were writing and seeing how they were approaching their assignments. I also enjoyed the interview!

Alex's comments were always positive and insightful.

I know if I want to get started I have enough tools to 'have a go'. It's no longer a mystery.

Professional advice from professionals, presented in easily consumable pieces that are current and relevant. You won't get better writing courses in Australia.

Thankyou Valerie and Alex!

Carli was informative and helpful at every stage of this program. Her calm and approachable nature made her easy to talk to and I felt comfortable asking questions.

I found this whole course enjoyable. I particularly liked the readings and examples that were provided in the reader. I also enjoyed listening to Carli's firsthand experience as a successful food writer and the little stories she would pepper into the lesson.

The pitch email writing lesson was very eye opening and really cleared up a lot of questions that I had about pitching ideas to magazines etc. I now have a much clearer understanding on what is expected of a good writer and what the industry looks like as a whole.

The course is short but impactful. The vibe of the course was relaxing and was not stressful or daunting like some online classes can be.

A big shoutout to Carli for sharing her own personal experiences as a food writer. Her stories and anecdotes were fun and informative. She made sure to not pressure us and took it nice and slow to ensure we were getting all the information we needed.

Carla was so positive and friendly with her responses. All her suggestions were useful and provided food for thought. It was useful to watch the feedback for every writer because I learned lots from each bit of feedback.

The course content was very informative and useful, but putting it into practice and getting feedback on it was invaluable. Plus I loved reading the other stories too, so that was fun. I also appreciated the examples of how a middle grade book and writing for children differ from writing for adults or young adults.

This course was easy to follow. It had lots of useful handouts, forms, and exercises to improve my writing. There are lots of tips for writing for children that are very relevant and useful. Our tutor, Carla, was always kind and friendly with the feedback on assignments, which made it less stressful when submitting them. Sharing work can sometimes be scary, but Carla made it a safe space.

I was really pleased I did this course. Although some of the information provided were things I'd already learned from other AWC courses, I still found this course really useful due to the focus on the younger reader.

It sparks the joy of writing in me and makes me want to pick up my pen again. It has made me think about my characters in new ways which I am sure will have a positive impact on my storytelling.

I enjoyed being prompted to think more clearly about the way I write my novel. I can now see the obvious way to improve my story. I'll be revising this course a few more times. After the first two modules, especially, I wanted to run straight to my story and fix it. But I think I have a few more mistakes to work through before I get it right.

I have enjoyed the longer courses I have done with AWC, especially since I did not begin as a writer. But their shorter courses (eg. POV) help me to slow down to take in information that I haven't always understood the first time around.

Coming from a professional writing background, I have learned that I need to adopt a totally different writing style for feature articles. I feel more skilled and enthusiastic to pick up my blog that I've abandoned and also empowered to write for areas of interest to publications.

As a busy working mum, it was an easy to complete course with really helpful insights on not only how to write, but how to pitch articles and get published.

I love reading romances so wanted to look at how to write them!

I wasn't sure romance was a genre I wanted to really write in, but the great thing about this course is that it has a lot of information that can be applicable to other genres.

I enjoyed all the bonus interviews and inspiration from successful romance writers.

I now know what is needed in a romance story and feel like I could dip my toe in and give it a go.

All of the AWC courses I have done have been interesting, informative and inspiring. It is obvious that they are there to help you be successful and that is a really nice feeling.

It made sense, and I loved the information about backstory. As Pamela was talking I could see my villain come to life.

I now have a very clear picture of my villain in my mind. Before this session I just couldn't get my head around him. So the session exceeded my expectations.

If you're stuck, or not writing, I would encourage you to do a course with the AWC... you will be writing again in no time.

This is EXACTLY what I was looking for in a course about structure! So very thorough, well-organised, clear & concise, and with lots of worksheets to guide the student along the way. I definitely feel my understanding of structure has improved, and I'm eager to apply this knowledge to my work-in-progress and future works. Thank you so much!!!

I enjoyed EVERYTHING!!! The content, organisation, audio recordings, handouts... All EXCELLENT and very thorough! Fantastic value for money! I also really liked that this course covered multi-book storylines & structure!

I'd hit a roadblock with my work-in-progress, primarily because I felt the structure and pacing were off. I've done several courses in the past that dealt briefly with structure in theory, but never came away feeling satisfied on the practical application of the subject to my own work; I knew what The Hero's Journey, 3-Act Structure, etc. were, but still found it difficult to shoehorn my story into those structures. I really love how THIS course takes the student STEP-BY-STEP through the process of discovering their theme, building their structure & increasing the narrative tension -- all with supporting worksheets & exercises to further understanding & practical application.

Hard to limit it to just one 'aha'! But if I had to choose, then it would probably be understanding the differences of dual storylines and subplots, and how these interweave within a story's structure, as well as how to apply these concepts to a multi-book storyline.

Australian Writers' Centre offers affordable, detailed, and high-quality educational courses that help both the budding novelist and the seasoned pro to greater understand the fundamentals of writing, and how to practically apply these fundamentals to their own writing. A++! Highly recommended!!

I was looking to increase my knowledge and skills in short story writing and the outline of this course looked like it would provide a helpful structure and guide. I love that it is a self-paced course and the option to submit a story and receive feedback was what convinced me to enrol.

Having a structure to follow has made writing so much easier and more enjoyable. Knowing what elements make up a short story has made me feel more confident with my writing as well as giving me the confidence to enter competitions.

The course is full of practical information, set out very clearly and was a joy to complete with all of the examples and tips included. The self-paced and online mode was so convenient and allowed me to complete the course in my own time.

Looking forward to completing other courses available.

I love Pamela's presentations - her joy and passion for writing are always evident. I learnt new insights and picked up tips that will be useful.

I now understand the nuances of my villains.

Take an AWC course, and build on it. AWC is like a 'lolly shop' for writers.

Pamela explains each of her topics well, succinctly and with humour, and I always find I get ideas for my story when I listen to her. She is a born teacher and a font of knowledge.

I am attempting a novel with a clear antagonist, however I needed guidance on getting the balance right. I was a bit concerned the seminar would deal in cliches but it didn't and I got a great deal out of it. I enjoyed Pamela's energy and the Q&A.

Makes me think and create in a much more focused way.

Insightful and accessible seminars that don't cost the earth.

Pamela's style is pleasant and encouraging, as well as informative. I always come away thinking 'yeah, I can do this,' as well as picking up some practical tips.

The general approach to developing the antagonist is something that I think will improve my story.

Two key take aways for me, that I hadn't considered previously, are (a) the difference between an antagonist and a character who is simply unpleasant or nasty and (b) the different ways of thinking about the personal and the impersonal antagonist.

The courses I've done with the AWC have all helped me improve my writing. The advice is practical, giving you scope to dive deeper into a particular aspect when needed.

Nat was excellent. She was positive and encouraging without shying away from issues in the writing. I found her enthusiasm infectious and looked forward to assignment feedback every Tuesday. I wanted to submit something she couldn't find anything to highlight, except the good stuff; didn't quite get there, but it is great fun trying. I love her attention to detail and clear "reader's eye". She certainly picked me up on some lazy habits I have and a big take out is to be vigilant and focus on every word. I also loved that she loved the dingo in my last assignment, because that "character" is a favourite of mine. :)

Loved the assignments and feedback. I also loved Valerie Khoo's audio lessons. She reads so well, with tone and texture and variation. I am a visual learner so thought audio would challenge me, but Valerie kept it colourful and engaging. Thank you!! Similarly, Nat's video assignment feedback sessions were at times a riot, as well as amazingly helpful and instructive.

It was value for money and relevant and I have learned a lot.

I have to take myself seriously as a writer and do another edit until it's right. I've done several edits of the two stories I've written, and now can see a mountain of work to look at them with my newly trained eyes. This is daunting, but I now appreciate how I have to commit to this.

The learning tools are excellent. The load is just right. The feedback is respectful, relevant, and fun. You can interact with other learners and writers. The team (Valerie and Nat) are clever, accomplished, and easy to follow.

I've been writing but felt like I needed a bit of guidance and someone to hold me accountable. It was flexible because it was online and there were a lot of courses on offer.

Nat was fantastic, always open for questions and great with her explanations. Firm and fair approach and she has a real passion for it that shines through - so so great!

The information was really great and Nat was a fantastic tutor. I enjoyed (and was nervous) about getting feedback, but really enjoyed submitting something to a group of strangers and putting myself out there.

It's been great to be around enthusiastic people! Also, it was great to see others work and to see their feedback/growth in real time.

For me, it was really great to focus on having everything you write to help progress the story - often it's a big world and it's hard to know what to write, which details matter etc, but that was a good moment, to see that everything you write can serve the scene/story.

Do it! Great course, great tutors, passionate people!

I loved the practical guides and worksheets and the easy, accessible styles of audio-based learning.

Tracking your research! I so often get lost in a sea of information, it was so helpful to see how to organise your information once you find it.

It's practical, easy to follow and you never know what little gems you may find to help you along your writing journey.

I enjoyed the presenter's style. The handouts and slides were most helpful. I am writing in a mystery genre and received some great tips on character development.

I have just completed my first draft and I will be reviewing the characters it in light of the seminar.

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.

Carla is a breath of freshness! She's balanced in her feedback. She's respectful and sensitive to the 'heart' students put into their work. She is pragmatic and makes her suggestions clear and simple.

Thanks to Carla, I feel I've grown in my writing, feel encouraged and re-energised.