What’s it like to learn with AWC?

Michelle explains things well. I am not tech savvy, but she made the process seem manageable and even fun.

I enjoyed the step-by-step instructions about how to set up and then maintain your own author website. Breaking down a challenging process into doable pieces.

I realise that I have to put some time into self-promotion as well as writing and it confirmed my need to start a newsletter so that I can connect with future readers of my books.

The AWC is a great place to find online courses that you can complete in your own time.

I enjoyed hearing how other authors make it work, and their different approaches. It reminded me that even authors who have multiple published books still have to work to fit writing in, and not many actually write full time.

Definitely try an AWC course. There is such a wide range of different courses available, as soon as I finish one, I can't help looking for what's next.

I wanted to get some baseline info about Scrivener before purchasing the program.

Natasha explained things in a way that was extremely clear. I was able to pick things up quickly and rarely needed to pause or rewind.

I am still early enough into my manuscript that I have words down and a general idea, but not far enough to have a full grasp on things. Trying to keep track of notes, ideas and direction has been so difficult and putting me off writing at all. I had an idea Scrivener would suit me but after completing this course I am really looking forward to importing my WIP and get organising - I can already see how easy it will make things.

Having now completed a few AWC courses, I feel confident in recommending them. I find the structure very easy to use, especially when you have other commitments and need to stop and start. I have also liked all of the tutors and found them easy to learn from.

I really struggled with choosing the right scenes to write, and somehow they never came out how I intended for them to when I was first planning them. I knew I needed to improve my scene writing, and after doing a course with Pamela, I was convinced that this course would be able to help me. I was right!

The way that this course provides you with specific information, specific ways of structuring scenes, and specific ways to use scenes throughout an entire novel was invaluable. And the module on settings is bound to improve my writing so much!

I especially enjoyed module four, which went through common pitfalls and how to fix them. This gave me a new way of looking at scenes, which helped me identify what was missing from a scene I'd just finished writing in my work in progress.

Having quit my full-time job with a strong corporate writing component, I am starting on my freelance writing journey. I wanted to learn more about running a business. Having now completed the course, it was definitely the right one for me.

I enjoyed the fact that all the videos were in short, bite-sized chunks. It was easy to watch a few and feel like you're really making progress. Valerie is a wonderful teacher. Thank you for sharing all your knowledge on this.

The AWC is a great place to start on your writing journey. It's a great way to gain confidence and get a sense of the skills you need.

There are so many different types and angles. It makes it easier to target a specific type of writing.

Having the easy templates available in pdfs was great - easy to refer back to when practising writing those certain angles.

I really loved getting feedback from Jo - she was always really balanced and provided great insight into the work required to write a book.

The most enjoyable part was realising that writing a book is within everyone's grasp - even mine! Given me confidence, and also the skills and knowledge to get started.

Great practical steps and support to help anyone get started in writing a book.

Cathie's feedback was really good. She was encouraging while detailing what I should improve. I enjoyed seeing my writing improve over the different assignments.

I was already a writer of fiction but I had never done any course and felt that I learned a lot in this course. I want to go back to my published book and use what I learned, even if it's not a picture book.

If you want to improve your writing with professional advice, don't hesitate and register with the Australian Writers' Centre.

It really sharpened my skills and with the feedback helped me see my writing in a fresh way! If you want to get serious about your writing, this is the course for you!

Thoroughly enjoyed the course! Fun! Educational, inspired and 'on song'.

I was drawn to this course by the fact that it was beginner friendly and so open to anyone and everyone. I also liked the idea of being accountable, with weekly tasks to complete. My only concern is the one I have every time I sit down to write, which is 'Am I good enough?' This course reminded me that in some ways that doesn't matter. I love to write and the main thing is to be in it and doing it.

I loved Jo's kind but constructive approach. Her video feedback was warm, personal, humorous and gave us plenty to consider.

I enjoyed it all! I loved learning through the recorded modules, I love that I have the handouts to refer back to repeatedly, and I loved how we could see the diversity of one another's work. I just wish I hadn't been travelling as I would have liked to have more time to reciprocate and feedback on my classmates' work. I do intend, however, to use the bonus exercises to extend this course and keep flexing that writerly muscle.

I want to keep going and do more courses. It's also forced me to finally start writing the story I've been daydreaming and making notes about for a very long time. That can only be a good thing.

Don't hesitate or wait for the right time. If you want to write, scratch that itch immediately and just make it work. The AWC teachers are kind, constructive and established authors who know their stuff. They will provide you with the guidance you need to propel you along whatever path you may end up following.

I have loved this course so much it's made it hard to even like my day job that much anymore! Working through the lessons and assignments has unearthed a passion I knew I had, but I had relegated it below several layers of everyday life and responsibilities. There's no way it's going back into its hiding place now!

I think this is a good, solid start to thinking about and practicing creative writing with a group of aspiring writers. It is a good length and value for money. There is a lot of material to digest, so I want to spend the next month going back over it and completing more of the optional exercises.

I liked getting the assignments each week and completing them. It activated something in me; I respond well to deadlines. I loved seeing what other people had done and I started to gain confidence that my work was okay. I loved it when Jo said, 'time for feedback', and I would rush to the video link to see what she'd said.

The course has shifted my internal mindset of fantasising about becoming a writer to imagining it. Writing scenes, showing classmates, showing close friends and relatives has triggered something positive. That I can do this. I print out my words and I imagine them in a book, 500, 1000, 10,000, 50,000. The building blocks. I have a regular writing ritual, I am reading more and critiquing what I read in terms of what I have learned. Your course has contributed enormously to my self-belief.

Just thank you. I feel I have found a community. I am more open to workshopping ideas and putting them out there, I want to give more feedback to my classmates' work and I intend to, as analysing is a great way to grow and I really appreciate when people take the time to read my words. I feel energised and excited, and I want to keep up the momentum. Something that seemed unattainable before feels a little bit more attainable. It is a comforting, absorbing pursuit. Thank you all.

My tutor was Jo and I thought she was wonderful. She had a lovely, lovely style. Always very positive in her feedback as well as constructive criticism for each individual student as well as for the class as a whole. When I work my way back through the course, I intend to take notes on all the feedback that Jo provided for us all to make sure I have captured it. I also liked Jo's appreciation of different genres and her ability to connect genre conventions to tone and style. She also is extremely well read and made lots of suggestions of similar books to read depending on what each of us was aiming for. Jo made the writing assignment process very nonthreatening, welcoming and inclusive. I enjoyed it very much and looked forward each week to Jo's feedback.

I really enjoyed the accountability of the writing exercises and then receiving the feedback as well as listening to other people's feedback. I enjoyed seeing how other people interpreted the instructions and produced their own work. I really enjoyed the audios; they were easy to listen to and packed with a huge amount of useful information presented in an enjoyable way with lots of explicit examples. I loved how the course unpacked the technicalities of writing from the characters to their dialogue, then to scenes and structure. I had been floundering in some of these technical aspects (e.g., around POV, tense, structure) for some time and the course offered me excellent guideposts.

I have been working on a novel project for 12 months. I was deeply mired in many possible choices about the POV character and the structure. As a result, I hadn't been making much actual writing progress in the last couple of months. I was stalled. This course changed two things: first, the enjoyment of sitting and working on a scene each and every week (and often every day as I worked towards each deadline); second, the understanding that I should be focusing on the character who changes the most and whose actions bring about the resolution to the climax, especially related to the main theme of the book. Until now, I was focusing more on the character I felt I knew best and could most easily write. Although she was going to change, her change wasn't really about the theme I originally wanted to focus on (the experience of ambiguous loss and the question of whether we ever gain closure on heartbreak or grief). I feel like this course realigned my compass and gave me a map to follow. I feel reenergised as a result and keen to continue learning with AWC and to continue with my novel project!

The AWC gives you the technical tools to bring a writing dream to life. And, especially for those of us with dreams of writing a novel on the side of our working lives and full time desks, an AWC course can drip feed the inspiration as well as motivate the perspiration to ensure genuine progress towards a complete first draft!

I had already started writing a YA novel but felt I needed to check that I was on task. I also wanted to learn how to do texting in a novel and language and what is acceptable and what is not. I was a third of a way through, and now have a little bit more done basically because I have gone back and rejigged elements of it. Teaching teenagers for years, I felt I had first-hand knowledge of their behaviour but not sure about how to show it.

I thought I might find the course too much work each week, but I loved it - and what I like is that I now have months to go back and revisit sections when I want to.

The techniques on writing were what interested me as I had already fleshed out the whole plot. Pam's presentation was clear and encouraging; she is an excellent presenter.

I now feel motivated to complete the book. Before I felt uncertain of how to go; now I have far more of an idea.

Even though I'd read great reviews about how important the feedback aspect of the course was - I was still not prepared for how much I got out of it. I enjoyed reading other people's work and feedback, and Bernadette gave insightful and useful feedback to all the writing samples.

It has helped me form consistent writing habits and read more analytically.

Constructive feedback from other writers is priceless. I also loved the audios and look forward to listening to them again over the next 12 months.

The Australian Writers' Centre can give you the tools you need to start your writing journey. It can also travel part of the road with you.

Bernadette was fantastic. Easy to listen to - the tone and enthusiasm in her voice when presenting information was great. Her feedback on assignments was fantastic, always positive and with constructive relevant improvement or suggestions.

The learning was fun. The assignments were simple to grasp. The feedback was excellent. The ability to see other people's assignment content and hear their feedback was great. Plus the fact that I could immediately use the copywriting strategies in my work was mind blowing!

I have already recommended the AWC to two colleagues. Learning is great, modules, platform and feedback was great. The copywriting skills and strategies learnt have been immediately incorporated into my work.

I enjoyed the mix of information and practical exercises. I could make real progress on my novel as I completed your course, ending further ahead in my own work than when I started.

I feel much more confident in creating characters and I found that my plot events just fell out of the process of creating characters!

The AWC courses offer expert advice and practical ways for you to write your own novel.

Having only fairly recently made the life-changing decision to take my desire to write seriously, this short course seemed like the ideal jumping-off point.

The success stories were fabulous and motivating.

The course solidified a lot of my own findings, having listened to your podcast etc - brought it all together in one place. It's reassured me that I'm on the right path.

Definitely just jump in! There's literally 'something for everyone'. I look forward to doing my next course soon.

I enjoyed the different writers' thoughts; gave me a different perspective about finding time to write. It's made me aware that I've made a commitment to myself to continue to write. Even just thinking about what you're writing takes time and is just as important as the act of writing.

Don't stuff around; if you're thinking about writing, then just do it!

When I started the course, I only had a notebook full of ideas and half written stories. The course motivated me to choose an idea and run with it and I feel more ready than ever to share my story with the world. The ticking clock on the course expiry catapulted me out of the procrastination zone and into the zone of commitment, consistency and confidence.

There were some things I felt I could identify and amend quite easily - joyful! It's become a 'safe' building block for me to build on, and has encouraged me to keep going with my learning.

It is helpful how the course draws attention to the common mistakes. 1) you can go, ah ha, I do that and 2) you don't feel it's just you!

AWC courses are easy to follow, have great resources, tips and exercises. You have nothing to lose, only something to gain!