What’s it like to learn with AWC?

I think Louisa is a great teacher, very personable and clearly enjoys teaching and talking with students. She has a methodical approach and gave a very good introduction.

I would recommend the course for providing a structure and also as motivational. It's nice to hear other stories and views from fellow students, especially those with different backgrounds.

Louisa was fun, engaging, witty, enthusiastic, genuine and led us through the course content with flair. Her humour was infectious. She was generous with her ideas and honest about her experience.

It gave me the structure I need to write my novel. A worthy investment of time and money.

Having been a primary school teacher for many years, I have developed story ideas and hoped I could explore turning them into books!

Cathie was brilliant. She gave great feedback. She was able to point out the strengths and weak areas in my writing.

I enjoyed being given the chance to take a risk and write! It has given me a new dream!

I loved the flow of the course, allowing me to complete all tasks over the week. This was important as I work full time and that has to take priority, along with my family schedule.

I really enjoyed Petronella's feedback, both to me & the other writers in our group. I found her engaging, entertaining and obviously very insightful. The feedback was very helpful and grew the group learning. I also loved the audio modules from Valerie; her voice was very easy to follow along with.

I enjoyed being able to read the other submissions. It was a great way of understanding that it takes all kinds of writers, who see things completely differently, but can appreciate what you have put down. Their feedback was invaluable.

Thank you! I'd been putting off starting a course for months and this has encouraged me & supported me to get my writing mojo started again. I will structure my week to allow myself writing time! I realise that I don't have to have everything in order to start the writing process or to just kick back and read what I love.

If I was recommending the AWC I would say dive right in! You have everything to gain from this course and the exposure to such a supportive environment.

I thought the amount of information given was very generous. Cathie gave great additional information each week, depending on what she was seeing in our work, and was very direct but encouraging.

I love the fact that I now have great printed notes but I can also go back and listen to the audio. I think that there is so much to take in, that you don't get it all after listening just once. It's great that it is available for us to return to.

I feel like I have a structure to work within and I have boundaries about where I can and can't go. It makes my story writing harder and easier somehow. I also feel very inspired to write more and to keep records of what I write. Until now, I've never formally kept records.

I love the fact that you offer such a variety of courses.

I thought Cindy was fantastic. I really valued her input- she always highlighted positive aspects of the work, as well as providing clear feedback on a range of aspects of the assignments.

I enjoyed being able to learn from other people as well as by myself. I really liked the content in the handouts highlighting both excellent and poor examples of feature writing. This really helped cement the ideas taught.

I was sceptical about how much I could learn in the period of time, but it was extremely informative. Having been out of study for a long time I was unsure how I would find online study but it was very simple and I had no issues.

This course is an extremely practical, clear and inspiring way to understand how freelance writing works, and it will equip you with the tools to actually get started. The weekly assignments really help you apply the knowledge from the audio modules, and the feedback you receive from your online tutor is extremely valuable.

This course has given me more to think about when writing dialogue. It has also reinforced the need to really know my characters. Plus, the course validates research, and I love researching.

AWC courses are great. They are easy to understand but are still challenging. If you put the effort in to listen, read and do the exercises, then the payoff is rewarding.

I thoroughly enjoyed this course - I took pages and pages of notes, and I plan on going back through each module again and applying the bonus exercises to my novel which I will finally be able to start writing!

I have been stewing for over 12 months on an idea and characters, with no real clue on how to get them out of my head and on to the page. Now, I feel I have the direction I need and a much greater understanding of the structure of a story, I am excited to be able to put that to practical use.

Petronella is a lovely lady, and the feedback she gave on our assignments was given in a thoughtful and positive way. I was apprehensive in the beginning about receiving feedback for the whole group to hear, but her delivery of it was professional and kind and for that, I am so grateful, thank you.

I gained so much insight into the technical aspects of writing, and all the parts that make for a compelling story - the course modules were chocked with valuable information, and I will do them again, as I'm sure I will get even more from them a second time around!

Additionally, I enjoyed reading the assignments written by fellow course mates - it's amazing how one concept can be interpreted in so many different ways and produce significantly different pieces of writing.

I'm sad it's finished! Thank you for such a wonderful introductory course

If you have the desire to write but don't know how or where to start, do this course. If you have started, do this course anyway! The information and practice you get over the 5 weeks is invaluable in developing your skill as a writer and even your understanding and appreciation for the craft as a reader.

This is a fantastic course that I cannot recommend enough. Petronella is very sweet, supportive and gives really helpful advice to guide us in the right direction.

I like that we can do it at any point in the week and that, despite how daunting it is, all assignments are public so we can compare and learn from other classmates' work.

I had many ideas for my own fantasy novel and the course really helped me reshape my ideas into working ones. I think learning about the 3-act structure was definitely helpful. I'm starting to think more "structurally" about stories, their turning points and climaxes, and it helps me for my own novel to shape the plot.

The Australian Writers' Centre is a goldmine for writers of all kinds - whether you're merely curious about it, or have some experience or even plenty of it, there is something for everyone at the Australian Writers' Centre, and learning from them can only enrich your own writing.

I just want to thank you for this course! I had no idea where to start, and you really helped me in just five weeks. You make me want to do more!

I really enjoyed the way the content was delivered. I found the audio lessons full of useful and concise information. I never felt bored or like it was a waste of time; there was value within every lesson.

I found the tutor very kind and knowledgeable. I was surprised at how laid back the delivery was (I've never completed an online course before so didn't know what to expect) but I appreciated this as it made me feel comfortable.

I enjoyed the assignments and, even though I was hesitant at first about sharing my writing with a group of people, I found that I could learn a lot more this way, not only from others reading my work but also getting to read others' work as well. I also like the positive assurance in the audio lessons. At times it was like listening to a friend in regards to the tone it was delivered in.

This course has given me some much-needed confidence to continue writing in my own time and the knowledge that I am good enough. Especially now I have learned the fundamentals to writing, I feel I can go confidently into my first draft.

The course content is extremely well put together and understandable and it is definitely worth the course fee/investment.

Initially, I was driven by a curiosity to find out what copywriting was all about. I chose this course in particular because of its brevity (just 5 weeks), the promise of writing formulas that would guarantee results and the glowing reviews from former students.

I found the course extremely practical. The formula approach to putting words together and the revelations in every module kept us moving toward the ultimate goal of writing good copy.

Bernadette is great! I love her humour, her stories and the way she keeps the learning process fun, refreshing and down-to-earth. Feedback is honest but always very positive and motivating.

I loved the challenge of the weekly assignments. Bringing together all the things we'd learnt in that week's module and putting them into practice using true-to-life scenarios made me feel I was making real progress.

The course has shown me that there are many more avenues for my passion (writing) than I ever dreamed and that it is possible to turn a love of words into a 'real' job.

Just do it! The tutors are experts in their writing fields and adept at passing on their knowledge. The courses are practical and will teach you the nuggets of wisdom you need to get those words on paper.

Thank you, Bernadette, and AWC! I've loved every minute!

Fabulous course. Bernadette's enthusiasm for the content and her delivery of the course modules help to make the course engaging and enjoyable. The feedback was encouraging and valuable also.

I really enjoyed the course. I looked forward to receiving the feedback each week, not just on my work but for the whole group. Although we were online, I felt a bit of a connection as we progressed. I enjoyed seeing the different ideas that everyone came up with. Most of all I enjoyed learning valuable skills I hope I can put to use going forward.

The courses are formatted really well. The content is delivered in a user-friendly way. Definitely do it!

The feedback I received from Angela and my fellow writers was invaluable in helping me to progress my memoir. Angela was very thorough and provided effective feedback on what was working and what needed attention and, more importantly, how to address any problems. She was warm and approachable as well as being professional which is a great combo.

I completely changed the beginning of my memoir based on the feedback of Angela and other writers. This has changed my course profoundly. I wouldn't have seen it if I was flying solo!

A great big thank you to Angela and the AWC for the wonderful experience that this course gave me. Much appreciated and best wishes to you all.

I'd say if you want to learn the craft of writing or you want to write a book, sign up with the AWC - it'll take you forward on your path.

The tutor was great! Suzanne provides direct, helpful feedback. Things I did not see, faults I was not aware of, she was able to point out very politely.

It has provided me the confidence to continue to write. I have enrolled in Novel Writing Essentials.

If you want to write, and you have yet to perfect anything, you must take a course from AWC. You will thank yourself!

The feedback was of the highest quality and a highlight to each week's lesson to look forward to. Bernadette is the best tutor. Everything was well done.

I liked the feedback via video. I enjoyed the audios and handouts. Also, communicating with the other students and reading their work. I liked Suzanne's friendly manner, and her honest and encouraging feedback which was specific to the assignment. I can never get enough feedback from someone who's qualified to give it!

I found it motivational. I always get the feeling that AWC courses, Zoom sessions etc, have a raw honesty about them.

Go for it! By doing a course, you can only grow as a writer.

The course was continuously encouraging and motivational reinforcing that with focus, commitment, confidence and perseverance I too can be a writer.

Hearing the emotion felt by the people who were interviewed saying how elated they were when they received their first 'Yes' from a publisher after so many rejections - this reinforced that it can be possible and perseverance is key.

I would recommend the AWC and this course to any person who is considering being a writer, shrouded by doubt or questioning their ability and needs a wave of external encouragement and motivation to push them forward.

Nat's presentation style was relaxed and engaging - I can see why she's a hit with the kids!

The practical tips were really appreciated. I loved the emphasis on finding your own brand and personal stories to keep the kids engaged.

I enrolled in Reinvent Yourself and thought if I'm going to be serious about writing I need to learn more skills. I had a draft from some years ago and I thought this course could really help me.

I found the feedback was given on an individual basis, not generalised which I found very helpful. The constructive criticism was encouraging and eye opening for me and has given me a lot to work with.

I enjoyed reading others' assignments and having a writing commitment each week. I've learnt a lot about what is required in many areas of writing.

I feel I can come back to my story with a fresh approach using the skills and information from this course. I also feel more connected with other writers and sources of information now.

I am an artist with writing ideas and I enjoyed being tasked to create new ideas and write 4 stories with a clear guide. I was pleasantly surprised there were extra lessons for illustrators. Communication very personable and you feel supported by staff and other students.

Responses from tutor were quick. Critiques were gentle but poignant. Also commented on good points which help to keep me motivated.

Enjoyable, well structured, challenging, supportive great. Just a big thank you.