What’s it like to learn with AWC?

Honestly, this course has opened up a whole new world for me, as a beginning writer and a reader and just in terms of the way I look at life!

Very helpful feedback, targeted the writing very precisely, gave me confidence but also showed me clearly and in a positive way that I have a lot of skills to develop and hone to master this craft.

Major learning for me was that writing is a complex and difficult craft to master but at the same time hugely fulfilling when you see yourself developing some of the skills required. I feel that I can develop myself as a more open person and try to see the POV of others in order to explain what's going on in a variety of life situations.

Thank you for your wonderful offerings. I am a fan. I feel that I can trust AWC to deliver valuable courses motivated by the goal of developing and supporting writers. The course I did was brilliant. There is a course for every developing writer - go for it!

Pamela is an amazing tutor; this is the 3rd consecutive course I've attended run by her and I'm consistently impressed by her extensive knowledge of writing as a whole. I love receiving her detailed and insightful feedback on my assignments or ideas and she's helped me gain a deeper understanding of my characters and story, and offered some fantastic suggestions for how to improve my novel overall.

I think the assignments actually were the best part as they were a fantastic opportunity to delve deeper into specific elements of my story such as worldbuilding, magic systems and character, and then to discuss in more detail with Pamela and the other students in the following week was great.

I came away from this course with some tangible pieces of writing based on the assignments which explored for instance my magic system in far more detail and clarity than I'd previously been able to achieve, and this actually led to (with a niche suggestion from Pamela) something of an epiphany in connecting some of the dots of my story to make it feel more real and complete than it ever has.

I would say it's the best thing I've ever done, not just in terms of my own writing, but I took these courses after leaving the ADF and struggling with some depression and other issues related to transition out of the service. Engaging with AWC, Pamela and the other students (particularly on this course, Fantasy, Sci-Fi & More) has done wonders for my mental health and has allowed me to reinvigorate my passion for writing, to the point I'm considering pursuing it as a career more seriously than ever.

Thanks to Pamela and Filia for their great communication throughout the course when there were changes to the schedule or technical issues. It's been fun and I look forward to my next steps in AWC to get my novel finished.

I've always enjoyed writing and when I was young wanted to be an author. I have been considering taking this course for a long time and am currently on maternity leave with my second child and decided I wanted to do something for myself and finally take the plunge.

I thought Cathie delivered very clear and helpful feedback. She was honest and kind in her delivery. The course content was well written and easy to understand.

The fact that the modules can be listened to make it so easy to get through the content so I was able to listen and re-listen to the modules whilst I was breastfeeding.

Now when I read a picture book with my kids, I always read the dedication because it makes me consider how much hard work has gone into writing the book. I'm a lot more conscious reading the language and analysing just plot points.

The fact that you listen to the modules makes the content more achievable to get through. The course is really practical and contains the perfect amount of content. The tutors are very established in your field and the way they deliver feedback to you makes you feel like you're on your way to achieving your writing dreams!

I really enjoyed the course and found Cathie to be a wonderful tutor with so much expertise.

I enjoyed Cathie's straightforward approach to feedback. She is very experienced so it was amazing to get such in-depth feedback.

There were many parts of the course I enjoyed but in particular, the way that the feedback was provided by video with Cathie outlining areas of improvement to my work.

It has given me the confidence to see that I have the ability to write and the tools to improve my writing. Now that I have completed this course and even though I have a long way to go, I have the ability to get better at it.

I would say that this course is a comprehensive foundation for someone wanting to learn how to develop their writing. The course contains in-depth information and a combination of videos, written material and video feedback from the tutor which makes learning more enjoyable. The recommended work needs to be done to get the most out of the course.

I wanted to learn more about crafting humorous stories for kids. My aim is to write picture books, so I wasn't sure if the content would be geared more toward junior fiction and middle grade, but I needn't have worried. The same concepts apply, and I have learnt a lot.

I enjoyed the videos, examples, and exercises - which is pretty much everything, really!

It has taught me a great deal about different types of humour, and got me thinking about how to use humorous techniques in my writing.

Jump on board! There is an amazing array of courses, with something to suit everyone.

I'm a retired teacher with grandchildren. I'm currently immersed in children's picture books and enjoy them. I needed a challenge. The course outline was enticing.

Having done a number of academic degrees in my past, I was pleased to see the rigour in the course design and the professional industry focus.

I gained a much greater appreciation of contemporary publishing in this genre. I was impressed with the very comprehensive information and detail provided. The realities of contemporary publishing were comprehensively explored and I really appreciated that.

The courses are intelligently designed, with a comprehensive coverage, and genuine professional insights into the industry. They give value for money. For me, the online option is gold. My health doesn't allow attending multiple conferences and courses as I have done in my more youthful past.

I found Kate's down-to-earth approach warming. It made me think about many aspects of writing that I had not understood before.

I'd completed several AWC courses and they were all amazing, so I knew - when I had an idea for a picture book - that I had to sign up for this course!

I wondered if it was really necessary to take the course as, after all, how hard could it be to write a children's book? I was wrong! There are many principles and lessons to learn to plan, structure and write a picture book. There is also a lot to learn about pitching your manuscript to publishers and the production processes involved, including the importance of trusting the illustrator to enhance your story through "show don't tell".

I really appreciated Cathie's voice of experience, and practical observations and advice, as a picture book editor and publisher, as well as a judge of prestigious picture book competitions.

Completing the assignments was my favourite part of the course... firing up the creative juices and trying to put myself into the mindset of the children and their gatekeepers.

Since completing the course, I can read published picture books more analytically, noting what works particularly well, gaining insights and greater confidence in my own writing as a result.

Whatever writing genre you're considering, don't hesitate signing up to an Australian Writers' Centre course. Just do it. You'll be so glad you did!

Thank you Cathie, Valerie and the team at the AWC. Your courses and podcasts are so enriching for aspiring authors!

There was so much information that I was ignorant about prior to this course. I would recommend this thorough course to any writer/author needing a webpage.

This course exceeded my expectations. It was so packed with the info I needed. It helped me to get a very realistic understanding of the components involved. Demystified the subject in a measured, informative style. Well-paced.

Do it, it's SO worth it!

L. A. Larkin was great. Very personable and natural. While she was teaching us, it didn't feel like we were being dictated it.

I enjoyed the interaction with the tutor, the Zoom meetings and the breakout rooms to discuss with fellow writers. It was a very supportive environment.

It's a really interesting and useful tool to have course information at your disposal before you get too far into your book. It has put me in a better direction to specifically write a crime/thriller novel, not just a novel.

Absolutely incredible course! I've now got the tools to take on writing a novel and feel inspired to finish that first draft.

The tutor was amazing. Nat's feedback was awesome and she has the perfect personality for online classes. Her feedback was invaluable for me and my novel will be better thanks to her.

I think I can actually write a novel now! I'm feeling inspired and my imagination is running so high I feel like a kid again. Worth every penny. Learning skills WHILE getting inspired, absolutely invaluable.

This is the best course I've taken at AWC. Huge thanks to Nat and everyone who put the course together.

I had heard wonderful things about AWC courses and was wondering if my writing needed more structure (turns out it did!) so I invested in the course.

It's made me see how my own writing lacked proper structure and allowed me to be able to build it in.

Nat was amazing. I thoroughly enjoyed every moment of this course and found her to be a stellar professional and diligent to a tee. It was like I had my own personal editor helping me write better, but then watching everyone else's feedback taught me even more. She was wonderful. Talented and exactly right for the role.

I especially enjoyed workshopping with all my student peers. I finally figured out show don't tell.

I've signed up for the longer 6-month course and will finish my novel. I am committing to get published.

If you want to be a writer, start here.

Although I had started writing and planning a novel in much the way Kate outlines, she gave me ideas about how I could deepen and make it more thorough and systematic. The course gave concrete steps but stressed flexibility.

Do it. You won't regret it for a moment.

I liked the tutor's approach. I liked the way she was just straight with the feedback and if something wasn't working. I enjoyed having the writing prompt/assignment every week and having a deadline. I've really looked forward to doing the course each week and I'll miss it now.

I loved the reminder that novels don't just get written in the first draft and that it takes grit and subsequent drafts to get there.

This is my 3rd course with the AWC. My first (the copywriting one) led to me changing careers. I've loved reading and words since I can remember, so I'm thrilled I now get to write for a living. For that, the Australian Writers' Centre will always have a special place in my heart and I'll always recommend it to others.

The exercises and handouts have great content, and I like that we can go back to them at any time.

It reminded me how I love writing, after not doing it for so long. It makes me want to get back into and ideally start/finish my idea for a novel.

The course is super flexible. It allows you to listen to the audio classes any time during the week. The exercises and content are really insightful and reusable for you to use in the future. The assignments were super achievable and not too overwhelming.

I was on the fence about using Scrivener, but think it's going to be an excellent program to write with. I will now use it and hopefully it will save me time and streamline the writing process.

The AWC is an awesome resource for writers of all levels. Such a great support and champion for writers.

I always thought of dialogue as the easy part, but never felt it came out well. So I took this course to see what I've been doing wrong.

The great examples and light tone make the course easy to follow.

I now know the elements around dialogue (paralanguage especially) and how they affect the scene.

AWC tutors are published authors and it's welcoming and fun.

I was drawn to this course by the opportunity to get feedback on my writing and learn about the fundamentals of writing from professionals. The weekly assignments also drew me in as I know I need external accountability to work towards my goals.

Surprisingly, I found receiving feedback the most enjoyable since I wanted to know if my intentions came across in my writing. I also liked reading my classmates' writing as it inspired me.

I feel more confident sharing my writing with other people for feedback.

If you want to learn the fundamentals of writing and get some practice in without it being too overwhelming, this is a great course! It's also great for people who need external accountability to write consistently.