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.
The course gave me the opportunity to step away from my manuscript and consider some other stories and ideas. It also gave me a great foundation ... a toolbox full of tools ... that will help me in further drafting and writing.
The tutor was great. Pamela is extremely proficient in identifying the problems with a scene and generous with her feedback.
Apart from the actual writing, listening to Pamela's feedback was amazing. I appreciate her feedback not only making the scene better, but also the lessons I learnt for subsequent scenes. I also enjoyed the feedback from the other students.
It helped me to identify some bad habits in my writing, gave me the tools to redraft my manuscript, and opened up for me a community of great fellow writers I am excited to learn more from.
I was quite daunted at first. Pamela has quite a CV, however her patience and exceptional skill were clear right from the beginning. She managed to challenge and develop us with kindness and honesty.
I really enjoyed the content. It was great to be able to listen to it on any device or print out the materials. The opportunity to read other students' work and the feedback we all received was fantastic.
Learning to write with others is not terrifying or something to be embarrassed about. Turns out it is a great opportunity in so many ways. I didn't think I could write fiction at all - now I am wondering if I might give it a go instead of non-fiction.
I feel like this course gave me all the basic tools I need to write. It's also given me the knowledge to see where I need work. I've heard other people say they wish they'd done it sooner and I totally agree.
Pamela was a fantastic online tutor. She gave information in a way that was easy to understand and feedback in a way that showed me how to improve.
The module approach with pre-recorded audio broke down the different elements and I was able to listen to certain things more than once when I needed to. Doing the exercises and being able to listen to everyone's feedback was invaluable. Being able to comment on each other's work was at first a little daunting but definitely worthwhile and a bonding experience.
I had written a first draft of a novel but it just didn't feel right. After doing this course I can better pinpoint the (many) problems. I'll be doing a complete re-write - but feel happy about it.
A writer needs a good foundation of knowledge to properly craft a story. Creative Writing Stage 1 provides it.
I am amazed had how powerful this software is and have already started using it by importing my manuscript into it. It takes a bit of getting used to but I am finding it very user friendly.
The course covered a lot of ground for an introduction to this software. The fact that I am able to go right ahead and start using it immediately has converted me to a full time Scrivener user. I am sure that I will be able to get my head around the more in-depth features as and when I need them.
In my opinion, this course covered everything that a new user would need to get started right away. I can see no need for improvement at all.
I have just finished my first draft of 80,000 words and was struggling with manipulating scenes and seeing an overview of the whole project. This software has so many ways of looking at a manuscript. I can see everything, scenes, chapter layout, timeline and so much more. As a creative tool it is an amazingly powerful and will save so much time.
After doing this course, I'm inspired to write. I've set a timetable each day (morning) to make sure I get my words down and I no longer find myself stalling or getting overwhelmed by the idea of writing.
The truths about writing were so comforting. I was doubting whether I really wanted to write again, but hearing that the thoughts in my head were normal really helped clarify my desire to write.
Pamela is a great tutor - the feedback she provided was always easy to understand. I especially appreciated that she delivered her critique as a feedback sandwich :-)
Thank you AWC! It's great we can relisten to the content for 12 months. I think that will be really useful to revisit in a couple of months.
PS. I've also been listening to the podcast which is really good.
I enrolled in the course because I had a newly finished manuscript and wasn't sure what to do next to tighten it up. I wasn't sure it was going to teach me enough... (but it definitely did!)
I enjoyed seeing my manuscript get better and better each time I followed the steps.
I love the fact that I can access all of the material after course completion, and review/revisit at my leisure.
Vivienne was fabulous! I enjoyed her simple straightforward messaging and great templates.
The course has given me some very helpful tips, tools and resources to use when writing and submitting opinion pieces/articles. I really valued the great templates that I will continue to use as guide and resource for the future.
The AWC provides a brilliant array of writing courses, tools and resources geared towards helping students reach their long- and short-term writing goals.
I'd heard positive feedback about this course on social media. I'd also heard Louise being interviewed on a podcast and I'd read a few of her crime books. While reading her books I was so impressed by the technique of her writing that I was interested to know more about the mechanics of what made her novels such page turners.
Louise was a positive, encouraging and supportive tutor. She was engaging, had an infectious sense of humour, made me feel comfortable and a valued member of the group and her handouts were thorough and presented in an easy-to-understand point format. The course content was extremely useful and pertinent to my writing.
I loved the group interaction. The homework tasks gave me the incentive and the confidence to plan and structure my current work in progress and this is coming from a serial pantser! Now, I have direction and clarity with my storyline. This course also made me go back to a crime novel I had completed a few years ago, while completing the Associate Degree of Professional Writing and Editing course at RMIT, and re-work aspects of it to give it more suspense and intensity. It was exactly what I needed at this point in time of my writing journey.
This course gave me the courage to be a more daring writer. It gave me the confidence to venture deeper into the psychology of what makes a twisty and suspenseful crime thriller.
Lots of knowledge and Valerie is great voice to listen to, very easy to follow and well-prepared dialogue. I know how much work I will need to do to prepare for publication.
Do this before or whilst writing your book! Don't wait till you've finished as it's a fascinating and comprehensive introduction to how the publishing industry works for novelists and children's books.
The quality and value AWC gives out through its courses are always such high standard - Content Writing is no exception.
The example articles used in the templates are articles that are interesting as well as informative - something I actually want to read! This makes such a difference to have some lively information supporting the lesson to keep the learning experience engaging compared to 'dry / lifeless' information that can sometimes be offered up as examples. Another example of AWC's thoughtful attention to detail.
Sign up as soon as you can! Whatever your journey, it's one you'll never regret - or forget.
Lots of awesome advice that I wouldn't have otherwise known! It will inform my own writing and improve my skills as a writer.
The AWC is a one-stop shop for any writer in Australia.
This was by far one of the most practical courses I have completed. Easy to follow instructions and guidelines with relevant slides to assist understanding. It was down to earth and relevant.
It gave me confidence to pursue Kindle/Amazon as a means of getting my work out there. The last module explained the necessary steps to publishing on Kindle. It was well done, clear, easy to follow.
The AWC is supportive. The courses that are conducted through the Centre are clear, well-articulated and very practical. This is a place for help in so many areas of writing.
Not only was Louisa knowledgeable, she was lovely - friendly and approachable.
I changed the climax of my book to make my main character much more proactive.
The AWC has the best writing teachers in Australia.
I have a background in marketing and loved the insights into the differences in selling homes versus other products. Also I really loved the templates provided. Especially enjoyed the audio recordings of success stories, and generally found the course content very informative.
I realise that it is up to me to make my writing career happen and it is possible!!! Important to know and understand the value of yourself as a copywriter.
Based on the two courses I have completed so far, the support you receive from AWC is amazing. I love feeling part of the AWC community.
I am currently writing a crime novel but needed some structure to help finish it.
Louisa is a great crime writer and I would highly recommend her support as an author to anyone. I loved her handouts and she was very thorough. I feel the course helped me structure my work better.
All the courses I have done with the Australian Writers' Centre have always been amazing in terms of supporting me as an author and being able to do them online with a well-known author is an amazing experience.
I was attracted to the course because it was website-building specifically for authors. All of the emails and info about the course persuaded me, and I'm so glad I did it!
Michelle is a wealth of knowledge and presents everything in an engaging, friendly way. This course gave me the steps and confidence to tackle building my own website - all the way from concept to going live.
My website is live this week, thanks to this course!
I enjoy reading historical fiction including Sir Walter Scott and Henryk Sienkiewicz and thought I'd have a go at writing it.
I enjoyed the detailed advice given about writing historical fiction. I am now more comfortable to have a go at writing about historical topics particularly in Australian history including the Battle of Pinjarra.
If you like reading historical fiction, have a go at writing it. The course will help you to succeed. I thoroughly recommend it.
The online tutor is very competent and answered everything very well. I enjoyed the writing exercises and the breakout rooms.
I want to thank the tutor for her brilliant tuition. It has been enjoyable 5 weeks. I'm self-confident now. I dare to go on writing.
I thought Louisa was a very positive and helpful tutor and provided a lively course. I really enjoyed the lesson on structure as such an important aspect of writing.
I have been keen to write but now will try and achieve the goal.